fiat punto recall - need advice please

rco2000

Noticed on the partner's 2001 fiat punto that there was a kind of thumping/tapping noise coming from the front rhs wheel when you turnes the steering wheel fully.
Just checked with a fiat forum & aparently in the UK there was a product recall way back on 2001 Punto's with a steering column bearing issue i.e.:
Recall:
No. 3 of 8
Recall Ref:
R2001/072
Exact Model:
Fiat New Punto
Description:
POSSIBLE FAILURE OF STEERING COLUMN BEARINGS
VIN:
ZFA188000000299008 TO ZFA18800000359182, ZFA18800004273056 TO ZFA18800004337762, ZFA18800005090823 TO ZFA18800005112105
Build Date:
1st February 2001 to 28th May 2001
Numbers:
21112
Defect:
The steering column upper support bearing may be cracked. This could ultimately affect the directional control of the vehicle.
Action:
Recall affected vehicles to examine the condition of the steering column bearing. Fit new steering column assembly if the bearing is found to be cracked.
Launch Date:
31 May 2001


I cannot find if it applies to Ireland?
I just want to know if anyone else had the same problem & how did they resolve it? Were the Irish Fiat dealers fine to deal with - our experiences is that they like to rip us off e.g. the last time she got it services with the local Fiat dealer they found loads of petty problems with car & left her with a bill for over 700euro. Once bitten twice shy!
I'm now afraid that if we bring it back to them again that they will try & screw us again.

crosstownk

Call your local dealer or Fiat Ireland. Give them your chassis number. They will advise you of any (if any) outstanding recalls. If any are outstanding, they will be done free of charge.

rco2000

crosstownk wrote: »

Call your local dealer or Fiat Ireland. Give them your chassis number. They will advise you of any (if any) outstanding recalls. If any are outstanding, they will be done free of charge.

Tks crosstownk.
I have one fear though that there is a time limit as the recall was published way back i.e. why are we only reporting it now (8 years later)?:)

crosstownk

Usually there is no time limit when it comes to recalls - especially if they represent a safety issue.

I've seen recalls done on older vehicles. VW launched a recall in the mid 1990s on cars built in 1984!

rco2000

Tks again. Will ring Fiat Ireland on Monday.

colm_mcm

Doesn't sound like the problem is the one you're having though.

homer90

CV joint ?

colm_mcm

Yup, that's what I was thinking, the steering bearing failure would just make turning the wheel difficult

klaus23

It does sound like the CV joint which will knock/click on full lock but it may be the biggest job on the car, which is the electric vacuum PAS motor failing on the steering column. It can start to go on heavy load, then it will become intermittent and finally it fails altogether.

A new one from FIAT will be priced €900 but (it happened to me) you can get hold of a trade mag from your local mechanic and start ringing every scrapyard in Ireland and pick one up for €200. More and more Mk2 Puntos are going to the scrappies these days but the first things that go from them are the wiper assemblies and the steering column. If this is the case, accept no more than 1.5 hrs labour - which is what I managed to do it in, and I'm no expert.

rco2000

klaus23 wrote: »

It does sound like the CV joint which will knock/click on full lock but it may be the biggest job on the car, which is the electric vacuum PAS motor failing on the steering column. It can start to go on heavy load, then it will become intermittent and finally it fails altogether.

A new one from FIAT will be priced €900 but (it happened to me) you can get hold of a trade mag from your local mechanic and start ringing every scrapyard in Ireland and pick one up for €200. More and more Mk2 Puntos are going to the scrappies these days but the first things that go from them are the wiper assemblies and the steering column. If this is the case, accept no more than 1.5 hrs labour - which is what I managed to do it in, and I'm no expert.

Tks for that. I got a local mechanic to look at the problem at the last service & he struggled to find the problem I was talking about. Eventually he twigged it & inspected same. He could find little wrong & felt that it just needed some grease inside the boot (eventhough the boot did not appear to be leaking). Anyway, the noise went for a week or so but is coming back again (not as bad as before he had a look at it).

I think I will get back on to him as it looks like there is no point now getting onto Fiat Ireland about the product recall issue.
Tks again folks.