Save up to 15% with Adrian Flux insurance!

Technical New GP Advice Please

Currently reading:
Technical New GP Advice Please

T

twincamms

Italian Stallion
Parked in the garage
Joined
Oct 25, 2003
Messages
8,919
Points
1,353
Location
Metropolis
Hi Guys

I just bought my son a Punto GP and there are a few minor niggles with it that I need to rectify, perhaps you can point me in the right direction.

The steering lock doesn't engage, I've tried and tried???

There's an oil leak but I can't identify where it's coming from, is this a known fault and is there somewhere in particular they're prone to this?

The fuel filler flap is missing, I'm trying to source one via an eBay breaker.

Oh and check running lights is on as an error message, all the bulbs are working, the only fault is one LED in the brake light, would this trigger this fault?

Other than this the car is in tip top condition, or it will be once I've got these fixed!

Cheers.
 
Last edited:
The steering lock doesn't engage, I've tried and tried???
Click to expand...
yes this seems to be a common issue, try to lubricate the barrel mechanism (wd-40 is good only to get it unstuck). If you fail to get it working there is only one way, to replace it (If you think this is useful anyway)

There's an oil leak but I can't identify where it's coming from, is this a known fault and is there somewhere in particular they're prone to this?
Click to expand...

What engine?
common fail on 1.4 is the oil pan gasket and one blank plate (o-ring fail) near timing belt
Oh and check running lights is on as an error message, all the bulbs are working, the only fault is one LED in the brake light, would this trigger this fault?
Click to expand...

yeah LED bulbs are not compatible with the system, nothing serious, you can find compatible ones if you want.
 
cmosfxx said:
yes this seems to be a common issue, try to lubricate the barrel mechanism (wd-40 is good only to get it unstuck). If you fail to get it working there is only one way, to replace it (If you think this is useful anyway)

Yes I've tried that and it hasn't worked, not worth spending money on to fix I think.



What engine?
common fail on 1.4 is the oil pan gasket and one blank plate (o-ring fail) near timing belt

Exactly that, near the timing belt, is this an expensive fix?


yeah LED bulbs are not compatible with the system, nothing serious, you can find compatible ones if you want.
Click to expand...

No not LED bulbs, I meant the high brake light under the spoiler, one of the lights are out, would this trigger this fault?

Thank you for the response.
 
Hmm no I don't think this can cause check running lights error.

Maybe a bulb is ready to go then. You will learn soon which one :)
 
cmosfxx said:
Hmm no I don't think this can cause check running lights error.

Maybe a bulb is ready to go then. You will learn soon which one :)
Click to expand...

I have occasionally had that message come up in my Grande, along the yellow triangle warning light. It comes up when I start the car, but it goes after a few mins.
 
It doesn't come on when you start the car but the first time you hit the brakes the message appears along with the yellow triangle...............

Took the car to the garage, they can't identify the source of the oil leak, so they've booked it in, they said the engine needs washing as it's so covered in oil, then they'll go from there.
 
Remember, ''running lights'' = side lights (there is an other error for stop lights)
Get someone to push brakes with side lights on and inspect the running/stop lights on the back.

There are 4 (2 right+2left) running lights on the back, 2 of them are double type for brakes. Maybe there's a bad connection/corrosion etc.

Took the car to the garage, they can't identify the source of the oil leak, so they've booked it in, they said the engine needs washing as it's so covered in oil, then they'll go from there.
Click to expand...
I don't like the idea of engine washing. Can't you trace the leak? Maybe we can tell you possible common fails.
(what engine is this? 1.2 1.4 8v 16v NA / tjet ?)
 
Last edited:
If it's the 1.4 16v, then we had an oil leak, took ages to find.
Oil was running down the lower half of the timing cover, also along the front edge of the cylinder head, where it was being burnt by the hot exhaust.

If you feel under the top engine mount, ours was absolutely plastered with oil.
It seems to manifest from under the engine mount and run down the lower timing cover.

Turns out, its a rubber 'O' Ring, behind a blanking plate at the top of the head/cam carrier.

I put a write up a while back showing where and explaining how to get at it without removing the timing belt.


https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-pu...ine-block-grande-punto-1-4l-16v-sporting.html
 
Last edited:
Steering lock give it a really good tug quickly and you might find it will engage, mine went through a phase of not locking (think I "unlocked" it a bit strangely once and it wouldnt engage afterwards) that quick tug with a bit of force when the key is out then made it engage and now has worked fine for a good year or so with no further issues.

Check running lights might be a generic message rather than just related to the standard lights (headlight/sidelight), CANBUS system measures the resistance, thats why LEDs (without inbuild resistors) cause/show errors. So - 1 brake bulb would cause less resistance causing the generic message to show and only be noticed when you press the brake pedal as its not a "permanently on" circuit like headlights. Worth replacing otherwise you will not know if another bulb has blown elsewhere.
 
I got the check lights triangle for ages and couldn't work out what was out. Turned out to be one of the numberplate lights at the rear with a dodgy connection (I think the wires are a bit short) anyway a little wiggling and it went away and hasn't come back in a few years now.
 
Thank you for all the responses guys.

The car is booked in next Monday for oil leak investigation, I'll let you know what happens. Just out of interest if it is the o ring gone how much should I be expecting to pay?

Steering lock? Well I took off the steering cowl, WD40 all over the mechanism, went back and forth, lock to lock, jerkily, aggressively, no joy, it's buggered and it can stay that way as I don't like the look of the job, the shear bolts have put me off, it's got an immobiliser anyway and at least this fault doesn't conjure up any error messages.

The yellow triangle error and running light error message persists, I've checked everything and all is in order, I can't make this message go away. The only light that is not right is the middle brake light one of the bulbs in it is out, would a new brake light remedy this issue or would I just be wasting money?

Cheers!
 
Last edited:
I would expect so, as you have a bulb out.. replacing it would make the message of you having a bulb out disappear. I cannot remember if they are single bulbs in the brake light, but they should be pretty easy to work out if they are and then replace one.

Also assuming you had the key out of the ignition while trying to engage the steering lock?
 
Update below...........

twincamms said:
Hi Guys

I just bought my son a Punto GP and there are a few minor niggles with it that I need to rectify, perhaps you can point me in the right direction.

The steering lock doesn't engage, I've tried and tried???
The mechanism is broken so it's staying that way as the fix is too expensive and a pita!

There's an oil leak but I can't identify where it's coming from, is this a known fault and is there somewhere in particular they're prone to this?
Well it's been into the garage and they have identified the head gasket and three other oil seals are gone causing the engine to leak all over, all the seals can be fitted with the head off, a quote of £350 to fix it...................

The fuel filler flap is missing, I'm trying to source one via an eBay breaker.
Got one in the correct colour and fit off eBay for £15.

Oh and check running lights is on as an error message, all the bulbs are working, the only fault is one LED in the brake light, would this trigger this fault?
Found the fault, two lights out in the rear cluster, message cleared.

Other than this the car is in tip top condition, or it will be once I've got these fixed!

Cheers.
Click to expand...
 
Head gasket?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

NEVER heard of oil leak (out of the engine) through head gasket.

Also, three oil seals? Where?

If you can, please, take some pictures of the leak.
 
Yeah I thought that but I've been using this Indy for over 20 years, they've never ripped me off and always been open and transparent, handing back all old parts removed for me to inspect and their prices are reasonable.

Does what they've said sound wrong then?
 
I don't know. Please get some pictures from the leak points.
keat63
Is this even possible? I think oil is leaking from the usual points. Maybe he got confused from all the oil around there?

I've never seen that kind of leak on a 1.4 16v engine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Louie Bee
General New to GP
Replies
2
Views
432
Louie Bee
Louie Bee
AnthonyH
Technical Today the front electric passenger window on my "new" GP gave up the ghost
Replies
17
Views
546
AnthonyH
AnthonyH
D
Technical I shouldn't leave my GP undriven...
Replies
10
Views
227
AndyRKett
AndyRKett
R
  • Question
Technical Please help
Replies
3
Views
312
varesecrazy
V
A
Technical My Grande Punto electronics have gone crazy. I need advice.
Replies
2
Views
124
AnthonyH
AnthonyH
Back
Top