Bought a 53 plate Mk2 Punto Sporting 16v 10 months ago. Had minor electrical problems since I've had it such as 'Minimum brake liquid' warning light coming on seemingly for no reason, and 'Steering Fail' warning light. After a while, the Power Steering started to cut out once a fortnight or so. This was easily, yet temporarily fixed by turning the engine off and back on. Took it to a garage who told me that with the steering being electric, that it could be a pricey job and to come back if it got much worse. As I only paid £900 for the car, I wasn't willing to fork out loads of cash for a repair. A few months passed with the power steering cutting out every week or so.
Until last night. The engine kept misfiring throughout the night, didn't think too much of it, planned to leave it until the morning and check the spark plugs. On the way home however, virtually everything electrical packed up. All the dials went to 0 apart from the fuel, which was the only dial left working, and the temperature gauge, which went to max. The car then sounded like it was running on 3 cylinders and the throttle became very unresponsive and the majority of the time, not doing anything at all. Every warning light was up on the dash, but the one that caught my eye was the engine warning light. This was flashing as opposed to being on permanently which seemed odd. Managed to nurse it home and there was a definite burning smell coming from the fuse board to the right of the steering wheel. My initial thought was that perhaps a terminal on the battery was loose, or a ground has come loose somewhere. Left it until the morning as it was late when I got back and I couldn't see much.
So I went to have a look this morning. It was, unsurprisingly, no better, but in the light I could see that upon revving the engine, smoke was pouring out of the exhaust and it sounds like it's firing on 3 or even 2 cylinders. My best guess is that maybe the ECU has gone and overfuelled the engine or something along those lines.
Anyone had a similar problem or know what this could possibly be?
Thanks!
Until last night. The engine kept misfiring throughout the night, didn't think too much of it, planned to leave it until the morning and check the spark plugs. On the way home however, virtually everything electrical packed up. All the dials went to 0 apart from the fuel, which was the only dial left working, and the temperature gauge, which went to max. The car then sounded like it was running on 3 cylinders and the throttle became very unresponsive and the majority of the time, not doing anything at all. Every warning light was up on the dash, but the one that caught my eye was the engine warning light. This was flashing as opposed to being on permanently which seemed odd. Managed to nurse it home and there was a definite burning smell coming from the fuse board to the right of the steering wheel. My initial thought was that perhaps a terminal on the battery was loose, or a ground has come loose somewhere. Left it until the morning as it was late when I got back and I couldn't see much.
So I went to have a look this morning. It was, unsurprisingly, no better, but in the light I could see that upon revving the engine, smoke was pouring out of the exhaust and it sounds like it's firing on 3 or even 2 cylinders. My best guess is that maybe the ECU has gone and overfuelled the engine or something along those lines.
Anyone had a similar problem or know what this could possibly be?
Thanks!
