[anachronix]

@Sachin,

I would like to ask you this question! Who gave you this information about the car being taken to the Fiat factory to fix something in your car.

Atleast, I havent heard any car being taken to the factory for fixing a issue of this sort. I am not trying to say that its not a serious problem, but... if it was the dealer who told you this story of the car being taken to the Fiat factory for fixing this issue then I am skeptical about this information from the dealer.

To add to all this confusion, the dealer has infact offered you free set of tires during your initial complaint which always raises huge doubts about the dealer trying to hide something big!

Can you clear air on this information and please do take your car to tyre specialists and get the alignment & wheel balancing done. Let them know about this problems and I am sure you will have an answer to this. A GP is not seriously rocket science you see...

[Trust_In_Thrust]

It seems to be a case wherein dealer has given a accidental vehicle .
Better to get in touch with FIAT directly.

[maverickxx2006]

Originally Posted by anachronix

@Sachin,

I would like to ask you this question! Who gave you this information about the car being taken to the Fiat factory to fix something in your car.

Atleast, I havent heard any car being taken to the factory for fixing a issue of this sort. I am not trying to say that its not a serious problem, but... if it was the dealer who told you this story of the car being taken to the Fiat factory for fixing this issue then I am skeptical about this information from the dealer.

To add to all this confusion, the dealer has infact offered you free set of tires during your initial complaint which always raises huge doubts about the dealer trying to hide something big!

Can you clear air on this information and please do take your car to tyre specialists and get the alignment & wheel balancing done. Let them know about this problems and I am sure you will have an answer to this. A GP is not seriously rocket science you see...

I'am also hearing it for the first time that a company asks its customer to get vehicle in manifacturing unit. It has to be the dealer only with whom we have to deal and if its not solved then its dealer's responsibility to contact FIAT and get it resolved. The dealer cannot wash off hands saying pls contact company directly or what ever.

But I'am surprised about this problem. I had kind of similar problem in which my Uno's tyres were getting weared out from inside. The problem was easily located to the tie-end-rod.

It is very surprising and difficult to belive FIAT engineers are unable to locate the problem. Could happen, but we should not be jumping the gun and start abusing FIAT from top of the house.

[neoonwheels]

The dealer he has bought his car from, is one of the best FIAT dealers I have seen (Going there for couple of years. I own a Palio). It does not mean the dealer would not hide things. Chances are the car was never sent back to factory. The car could be a lemon from day one of the ownership which the dealer passed on to Sachin.

If Sachin has a full proof that FIAT took his car to factory and even then they could not solve the issue, then he can very well go to consumer court and push things down the throat of FIAT.

Even though I am die hard FIAT fan and wiling to buy Linea next year, such stories are actually hampering my confidence in FIAT now. Its hard to see your loving car sitting idle in service center more than in your parking lot. FIAT should at least replace his car and then do RND on this car for the fault. For a company its not at all a big deal.

[TC_aashay]

I guess there is something fishy at that TASC.
E-Mail to FIAT should definitely help him.

BTW, even I faced the same issue. well somewhat.

From day one, since I took delivery, my 1.4 punto would slightly go to the left. By slightly I mean it was noticeable on the highway only.

Cutting it short; I drove my car till the 1st service.
On the servicing, I told the advisor about the left pulling issue.

Before delivery he said he found no issue, and since the car is new, he didnt want to mess with the settings. and gave me my car back with just the servicing done.

Since the problem was still there, took her back. He said he changed a alignment setting by just a minor fraction this time.
And since then my punto does not pull to the left anymore.

Hope this helps:
My alignment report sheet. Sorry the quality.. it came like that only from the SC.

[pawan_pullarwar]

I will pass the information to Sachin and I will ask about the update. Dealer had asked him to get the car for inspection yesterday.

@Mod: Sachin tried to join the group twice but the request was rejected both the time. Can you please help him sorting out the Signup issue.

[Ramsagar]

Sachin: apart from the wheel-balancing, did they try replacing the front shocks etc?.

Never mind if they take time in resolving the problem but blaming customers for not being used properly in spite of providing defective parts is intolerable.

One of our BHPian's has the contact no of CEO. Try to fetch the no.

[maverickxx2006]

Originally Posted by pawan_pullarwar

I will pass the information to Sachin and I will ask about the update. Dealer had asked him to get the car for inspection yesterday.

@Mod: Sachin tried to join the group twice but the request was rejected both the time. Can you please help him sorting out the Signup issue.

Going by the data, its almost certain that a lemon is passed to the customer. Its not possible that there is a design defect. Also, its a remote possiblity that FIAT passed on a defective piece to the dealer. I know, and I have first hand experience, where in FIAT has recalled a vehicle due to some issues but not passed it to the dealer.

1.6 yrs back one of the sales man from BU Bhandari got me a FIAT Palio MJD for a test drive with its speedo cut off. He was abusing the vehicle to its limit and later on admitted that it will be eventually sold to a customer.

I mean forget test drives, you should see how these folks take out the car from basement parking (I have seen in Pandit taking my Linea in front of my eyes), these folks literally rape the car.

No wonder that such weird problems come.

As some one has already said, GP is no rocket science. The dealer is certainly ignoring something.

[infinitesadness]

Originally Posted by Seeler_Rebeiro

From the pictures, can't really tell the pattern of the wear. But if I look at the bottom last picture, second column, it looks like there is a wear from inner edge of the tyre towards the center (feather edge). If that is correct, then it seems to be a toe in issue which will also explain the car being dragged to one side and hence the pattern.

However, since I can't really tell from the pictures, if only the inner edge is worn, it could be the camber issue and the car is riding on its inner edge more than the rest of the contact surface.

I noticed my MJD start leaning to the left after around 1500 Km. I mentioned it to the advisor during the first servicing and it seems to be better now. I can't figure out if the slight lean I sense now is real or imagined. However, the tire wear seems to be a better indicator. What exactly do I look for? (Sorry, my first car, and I don't know much).
And if there is uneven wear, what exactly do i tell the service center to rectify?

[pawan_pullarwar]

I have mailed about the tyre wear again after the repairs at Fiat plantMr. Anand Kumar, and we are meeting on saturday 12th Dec for a inspection and thats my birthday as well ... hope Fiat gives me a pleasant B'day gift.

Regarding going to some other *** or Tyre aligment w/shp i would only go for that once the saturday inspection is over, just dont want the Fiat people to blame me ........

Rgarding the direct communication with Fiat- the staff of dealer has shown me his mail showing the letter (draft) he recieved from Fiat..... and also it was mentioned that the dealer should give the letter to me on his letter head.

Regarding the vehicle taken to Fiat Factory - when the vehicle was at Fiat factory I had talked with Mr. Mangesh regarding the progress nad also abou the delivery of the vehicle..... and also that I have official mail communication from Tata & Fiat asking me to hand over the vehicle to be taken to the Factory.

Even at the First tyre change Fiat Engineers were present, the second time the tyres were changed at Fiat Factory (this was the first visit to Fiat factory), the third time Fiat has changed the Tyres and also provided Alloy wheels free of cost ... this is mentioned in the mails from dealer on behalf of Fiat

I required I can produce the mails regarding the same .... mails from Mr. PM Telang (MD Tata motors), Mr. Rajeev Kapoor (CEO Fiat india), Mr. Machale (tatamotors), Mr. Mangesh & Mr. Anand Kumar (FIAPL) Mr. Vikram Sinha (Tata motors), Mr. Rajendra Deasi (Tata motors....

[Seeler_Rebeiro]

Originally Posted by infinitesadness

I noticed my MJD start leaning to the left after around 1500 Km. I mentioned it to the advisor during the first servicing and it seems to be better now. I can't figure out if the slight lean I sense now is real or imagined. However, the tire wear seems to be a better indicator. What exactly do I look for? (Sorry, my first car, and I don't know much).
And if there is uneven wear, what exactly do i tell the service center to rectify?

It could well be imagined. Our city roads are not in the best of shape. So even with a properly aligned vehicle, my car does pull slightly to the left when I drive on certain Mumbai roads. But on other roads, which are in better condition, it is perfectly fine. Tyre pressure is another issue and the people who fill in the air do it in a hurry and sometimes leave you with differential pressures, over or under inflation.Having said all of this you can look for
1) Both Edges wearing off faster than center of tyre - Under inflation mostly but could be other issues too like tyre rotation.
2) Center wearing off faster than the edges - Over infation mainly.
3) One edge wearing off more than the rest (either inner or outer) - Improper wheel alignment, camber, tyres are not vertically stright but tilted causing it to ride more on the edge.
4) Feather edge wear (The ribs of are wearing out from the edge of the car to the center) - This could be excessive toe in issue. Tyres are not perfectly straight but pointing inwards, like the toes on your feet pointing inwards. Front wheel drive should have slight toe out at standstill, so that when the car moves,the tendency is to move the toes in, which cancel the initial toe out.
These are the usual suspects. The others due to faulty suspension , bent chasis are very difficult to detect. Hope this helps.

[Seeler_Rebeiro]

Originally Posted by pawan_pullarwar

I have mailed about the tyre wear again after the repairs at Fiat plantMr. Anand Kumar, and we are meeting on saturday 12th Dec for a inspection and thats my birthday as well ... hope Fiat gives me a pleasant B'day gift.

All the best. Hope your problem is resolved and birthday wishes in advance.

[pawan_pullarwar]

Some more picsof Tyres as on today with @ 1200 Kms run after I recieved.

[Seeler_Rebeiro]

Originally Posted by pawan_pullarwar

Some more picsof Tyres as on today with @ 1200 Kms run after I recieved.

At what tyre pressure do you ride ? How frequently do you check tyre pressure ?

[pawan_pullarwar]

I had been for a inspection to the work shop on 12th Dec and the engineers in FIAT said that though the wear is seen visually the indicators that are there on the tyres are not showing any sign of wear

The two pics are of Fiat GP … Both with alloy wheels and tyres of same company Goodyear, Both the cars have run @ 2500 Kms. The bottom one is of my car and the top one is of a car that had come that day to the work shop for servicing, I asked the service consultant about the running of the other car and clicked the pic as it was same type and @ similar Kms done. You can see the inner side wear in the bottom pic (my vehicle) and the same is not seen in the top pics….. Hope now its clear for you guys that the tyre wear is still there in my car ….. Which FIAT engineers are not accepting…