Team-BHP - Fiat Grande Punto : Test Drive & Review

This is an important question, not a stupid one esp if you live in a city where BS-III cars can still be registered and are planning to buy a petrol Fiat Punto/Linea.

"Month and Year of Manufacture=VIN number"
VIN no. is a 20 digit no. in Fiat cars(Linea and Punto) that can be found on a sticker pasted on the car or written in form-22 which you can ask from the dealer.

Location of this sticker:
Go to the left side of the car (front passenger side) and check the quarter glass near the Left outside rear view mirror. You'll see a white sticker pasted on that small glass having some bar codes. Check for a 20 digit code at it's bottom that starts with "MCA" and finishes with "NZ"

e.g. MCAXXXXXXXXXXXXXXFNZ

Here:
ANZ= Jan 2010 made car
BNZ= Feb 2010
CNZ= March 2010
DNZ= April 2010
ENZ= May 2010
FNZ= June 2010
GNZ= July 2010

More information can be had from Wildon's thread on VIN decoding. Search for it.

In Chandigarh, Petrol Punto are BS-III only. No BS-IV available. According to Joshi Autozone Chandigarh, BS-III Punto 1.4 is still manufactured and he is willing to give me a June/July made BS-III Punto 1.4. :Frustrati

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaddleShifter (Post 2017020)

So I hope all cars with a date post Apr,2010 should be a BS4 vehicle?
And Diesel cars I hope don't have a stock of BS3..

From what I've learnt from my 1 month experience, petrol variants of Punto are not in much demand as the difference between a 1.4FIRE and 1.3MJD is just about 35k-45k depending upon the offers by Fiat. That's why dealers are finding it hard to clear old stock of BS-III Punto 1.4 and 1.2 in the cities like Chandigarh where a BS-III can still be registered.
This is not the case with 1.3MJD. One needs to try hard to find a BS-III 1.3MJD.

Yes, all the cars manufactured after April 10, 2010 should be BS-IV. Also, BS-IV or BS-III is also written on that same very sticker.

Quick question, has anyone done their punto 2nd free service at 1 year completion of ownership of vehicle based on time and not on 15k km on ODO. My friend has a year old punto and has hardly driven it much Is it a good idea to avail the free service at 1 year completion even thou vehicle has just clocked 4k km in a year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by samsan02 (Post 2018508)

The servicing is to be done either way... any condition that comes first!!
either the 1yr or 15,000 kms for the 2nd servicing.

There is no way out if you want to still hold on to the warranty.:thumbs up

If you dont want to service it, there is not much harm, but you will loose the warranty, extended warranty:Shockked:
And besides to maintain a car, you really need to look after it...

Quote:

Originally Posted by TC_aashay (Post 2018522)

The servicing is to be done either way... any condition that comes first!!

Thanks Aashay! for the info, even I was under the same impression that no matter what it has to be serviced at 1 year but he wants to check with the service center if it can be postponed as his running has been too low, so wanted me to post here first.

Pardon my ignorance , but what's the ideal run-in period for the 1.3MJD? Mine's covered 1981 KMS. Car was taken delivery on 28 JUN.

I am keeping her below 2K RPM and strictly following the the advises given in the run-in thread that's started by our moderator, tsk1979.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandeepmdas (Post 2019769)

Usually running in is for the first 1000km (BHPians correct me if i'm wrong). You have almost completed 2k. I'm sure you can start revving this car beyond 2k and have some fun...

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiat_tarun (Post 2019852)

Usually running in is for the first 1000km (BHPians correct me if i'm wrong). You have almost completed 2k. I'm sure you can start revving this car beyond 2k and have some fun...

In Punto manual, nowhere its mentioned about a run-in period. May be more than the engines, the gearbox & tyres need a run-in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiat_tarun (Post 2019852)

Usually running in is for the first 1000km (BHPians correct me if i'm wrong). You have almost completed 2k. I'm sure you can start revving this car beyond 2k and have some fun...

FIRST change oil. Then start revving the car!

Quote:

Originally Posted by binz (Post 2019879)

FIRST change oil. Then start revving the car!

Going by this logic, one would have to wait for the next service, before one starts revving the engine. I say so cause I just had my first service and there was no oil change not even an oil top-up. Any particular reason for suggesting an oil change before revving it ? Moreover, what are the ill effects of revving the Punto while one is still the sub 2k km period?