Technical Removing heat shield to access coolant pipe when bolts are rusted

[stuckinstandby]

2009 Grande Punto, 1.4 8v

The coolant pipe on my GP is badly corroded and starting to leak, but I'm struggling to get access.

The heat shield is in the way and I can't get the two rusted lower nuts off. One nut is rounded and other is just turning.

The middle two holes have opened up so aren't holding it at all, but around the bottom two it seems fairly solid.

Access is really right, so I'm a bit stuck.

Any tips?

 

[jackwhoo]

Hi,
I think you have reached the point of no return.....so rip it off / bend it back and forth repeatedly until it breaks / use tin snips to cut away the part that is in the way....whatever works for you.

Best wishes

Jack

 

[stuckinstandby]

Cheers. Got it off now. Wasn't easy but I didn't have tin snips so probably made it more difficult than it needed to be. Now to change the coolant pipe.

Quite shocking how bad the coolant pipe is. It's like a scene from a dive to the titanic

I can't actually tell how the pipe is secured into the engine on the left end. I assume it's just a push fit with an o-ring. Seems straight-forward if it's the same as the Mk2 ?
[Punto (Mk2/2b)] How to replace the Steel Coolant Carrier Pipe