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If getting a Palio serviced was a hassle before, it has become a nightmare now Tata has taken over. I have been trying to get my car serviced for about 2 weeks and still cannot manage to get it done. well, its not totally TATA's fault either, it concerns more or less with me being a little lazy too.

Its just that whenever i get to the TATA service center, its so jammed with like a million cars. and three times, the service manager has told me that he wouldnt be able to deliver the car on the same day. and this is after i get to the workshop at 10.15 AM. it means if i want my car on the same day, i need to get to the service station at 9 AM sharp. this is crazy.

anyways, the purpose of this post is different.
I wanted a couple of opinions regarding the health of my vehicle from some experts here. the car is Palio 1.2 Sports, model year 2004, and has till date done 22k on the odo. Here goes the list:
1. since last week, the car has switched off the ignition on its own around 3 times. now i know this is not a faulty igniton switch as the car switches to battery mode rather than the whole system going down.
2. the car is just not responding to the throttle input. its slow off the line. slow in gear acceleration. its become too sluggish to drive around in.
3. many times, when driving in 1st from a standstill position, the rpm falls to around 600 and then starts to go up. now this is not me making a mistake with the clutch. i have been doing the same since the last 3 years. this is something to do with the clutch. pls tell me what should i tell the service guys?

4. whenever i switch on the ac, there is a loud screeching noise coming out of the engine bay. when i told the service manager, he says all palios sound like this. now i have been living with this car for 3 years and shud he be the one telling me this crap? this noise did not come before and it should not come now as well. pls help on this one.

5. now as i understand this service at 20k threshold is a major one [as told by the service manager], and he suggests engine oil flushing; engine part lubrication and a couple of other fancy things. now i dont mind paying for all these. but i would also like to know whatever else i should get done. pls keep in mind that the car is going for service after around 10 months and 8000 kms.

6. this might not be a problem but i feel that the power steering on the car is quite heavy and is sometimes a pain to maneuver. is it with all palios or is there a problem. the car came with 175 section 14" alloys. i feel that the steering on the 165 section steel rims is better. pls comment.

7. pls tell me if there is anything else i need to get checked too.

i am always a little apprehensive about all these things concerned with my car. I know this is a long post but I would really appreciate if someone could take some time out to help me out here.

thanks a lot in advance.

looks like a throttle body cleaning is in order..... that should put an end to the sluggishness.

the loud screeching noise when your turn on the AC could be from the compressor bearings or maybe the AC clutch ...... sounds like a bearing related problem and i think you should THUMP anyone who says its a common problem.

palio powersteering are generally pretty good. not much to speak about but they do their job. and the same power steering is certainly going to work better on a thinner tyre section. but nevertheless i guess you should have the oil level checked. if i'm right the power steering in the palio was hydraullic.

can you be more specific about these "fancy things" that you have mentioned?? some could be important and useful and others simply an eyewash.

i'l leave now and let the other italians on the site help you with first hand tips and suggestions. good luck!!

the power steering feels quite hard when compared to the likes of santro and wagons.
the fancy things i am referring to here are some of the common service items. please pardon me as i am unable to recall these.

also does gear oil need to be replaced?
and what about service costs. the estimate prepared by the service guy went upto around 5.5k. is it really that costly to get the palio serviced?
i have been doing it previously too but couldnt remember when a bill went this high. the last bill was 5200 bucks in july last year and that included a suspension arm replacement (2300 rupees, i think).

my friend says it takes him 1800-2000 bucks to get his car serviced. pls help as i have to give the car "very" early tomorrow.

i would rather let the FIAT experts and owners answer the service cost question. but 5.5k seems quite steep for a car which has just run 22k kms...... but that said can't really comment unless you give us a proper break up.

couldnt give the car for service today due to certain unfortunate health issues (mine, not the car's). so i guess i have one more day to receive some helpful replies.
pls guys. suggestions needed to point #1 asap.

I'll take the easy one :D.. Loud screeching sound is from ur a/c compressor belt slipping. I have the sound on my Baleno in the morning only, just to wake up all my neighbours!!

And oh.. Palio power steering has always been harder compared to the Jap/Korean siblings. Good for the arm muscles and safe too.

@spadival: yeah the power steering does help save on gym fees. i burn more calories taking a u-turn than i would hammering a dumb-bell for 10 minutes.

and thanks for the ac compressor issue.

also anyone wanting to take on the harder ones as well...???

#1 --> Could be vapor lock due to hot weather. Also, I would still suspect the ignition switch, since it can 'miss' momentarilty so the car comes back into battery mode, but the engine gets swiitched off. Good thing is replacing the ignition switch would not require you to change the key.

#3 --> Throttle body would need to be cleaned. this *may* solve #2 also.

#4 --> all palios are certainly not like this. The Tata service guy is probably misleading you

#6 --> Palio power steering is significantly heavier than the other cars you mentioned. But this is normal.

@amitverma: Which fiat-tata dealer do you visit?
I would recommend you to go to vivek automobiles on mathura road.

Hi,

> now as i understand this service at 20k threshold is a major one [as told by
> the service manager], and he suggests engine oil flushing; engine part
> lubrication and a couple of other fancy things.

Engine flushing is definitely not needed at this stage.

If you have an owner's manual, just check what all should be done at this particular service and do just that as far as your servicing is concerned.

Your sluggishness and falling off the RPM should be solved by cleaning the throttle body.

The screeching is most likely the belt. The loose belt also may be a factor in the tighter power steering if the heaviness has increased recently.

Sluggishness and drop in rpm could be caused by a faulty or malfunctioning ECU. Usually, throttle body is quite clean and does not require any attention except regular air filter cleaning/replacement.

Amit, it would do you good to read this thread. We have pretty much covered it all.

Why not look for a specialist independent garage? I'd do that if I owned a Fiat that was out of warranty coverage.

Nothing to worry dude.
First of all, take the *TATA service* thinking out of your mind. If Fiat has chosen TATA to be their partners, then by all means, you are going to a Fiat service centre when you go to any TATA operated service centre. It's one's duty to nick and pick the best service centre/guys in town for a certain car.
I would definitely look for Palio specialists garage as GTO recommended. That would do better than simply bad mouthing TATA-FiAT service.

Please read thru the link GTO has posted. That will answer many of your doubts. If you have more specific queries, put it up here and somebody will sure help you out of it
(where's FinneyP? He would be of great help here).

i think you mis-understood my post. i was not bad-mouthing TATA-Fiat. the service and spares support has gotten better by all means. what has gone worse is the fact that no matter how early you get to the service center with your car, the chances are slim that you are going to get delivery the same day as the work-load on those poor fellas is astounding. there are so many Tata Indicas, Safaris, Sumos there that the apprehension on my little Palio's face was very evident.
(did i reveal too much....may be i need to step outta the house more often and make some real friends....stupid: )

anyways, coming back to the point, i hope this makes things clear.

@GTO: even i was trying to figure out the same. but it turns out, much of the garages around west delhi are not qualified enough for me to trust my car with them.
if anyone from Delhi can suggest a good workshop, i will send him/her an online christmas card on 26th December, I promise!

I assume you know about all these places anyways, being 3 years ahead of me on Fiat ownership. But still, I'll suggest:

Your car is out of warranty and its not a Stile, why don't you try Samyak motors in Patparganj or Prem Nath Motors on Mandir Marg, though none of them are authorised Fiat Service Centers anymore. I have had good feedback about both, though I can't vouch for it. After all, its Fiat! The good thing for you is that they are both not servicing Tatas. And from Prem Nath Motors you can take the Metro back to West Delhi as its located (or atleast used to be located) a stone's throw from R K Ashram Station of the Metro.

Even Vivek Automobiles seem to be doing a good job. They barely have 10% Tata vehicles in the workshop and I find it interesting to see so many Palios, Siennas, Petras out there. Puts some faith back into Fiat that there are still lots of them running on the roads in Delhi atleast.

A number of people I have met at Vivek come there (or come back there) after not so good experience from the Tata workshops.

How I wish I could get a job in Pune! From what I hear, servicing a Palio is the best out there!:)