Punto (Mk2/2b) My First Car named Eleanor.

AndyRKett · Sep 12, 2016

KaiserPingo said:
What happened with Brad G and the beautiful Punto ?

Last seen selling it in the classified section.

He found as many on here have found, the 1.2 does not like it's own head gasket, and by the time you've piled £200-300 getting that fixed then you've nearly spent the total value of the car so anything else go and you're in it more Than the car is worth

blu73 · Sep 13, 2016

they don't have a good rep 8v FIRE head gaskets lol... if we are being honest though its more likely dodgy thermostats and fan switches that is the problem, that and lack of general maintenance.

flisko · Sep 13, 2016

blu73 said:
they don't have a good rep 8v FIRE head gaskets lol... if we are being honest though its more likely dodgy thermostats and fan switches that is the problem, that and lack of general maintenance.

tru dat, had one punto that hg blew cuz of closed thermostat

AndyRKett · Sep 13, 2016

blu73 said:
they don't have a good rep 8v FIRE head gaskets lol... if we are being honest though its more likely dodgy thermostats and fan switches that is the problem, that and lack of general maintenance.

Though there are plenty of small cars which get the same level of treatment and they don't have problems with head gaskets.... I have never owned a car that needed a thermostat replacement.

It's still an inherent vulnerability in the fire engine

Scudmonkey · Sep 13, 2016

Had no prob with HG on mine...20,000 trouble free miles so far, did have a minor issue with Thermo but put a new one in. Years ago my Mum had an Uno..same engine and no HG issue with it ever. she had that little car for 15 years.
Like any car, you look after it and you tend not to get issues

blu73 · Sep 14, 2016

AndyRKett said:
Though there are plenty of small cars which get the same level of treatment and they don't have problems with head gaskets.... I have never owned a car that needed a thermostat replacement.

It's still an inherent vulnerability in the fire engine

I'm merely pointing out its not the fault of the head gaskets themselves. It's totally an issue but it's usually failures in the cooling system that makes them blow. And usually a thermostat or rad fan switch. And yes them items fail more than in most cars but that's the key point I was making. Drive any car around that's too hot and you will blow a head gasket.
Referring to abuse the cars get, I meant that if my car got too hot I would stop but lots of people just carry on, then they say the engines crap when it pops which is not really fair.
Further exasperating this issue is that so many people when they have issue use the cheapest gaskets they can find, the cheapest pattern parts and don't skim the head after driving it miles and miles with a blown HG. So it's not a huge surprise when it doesn't last.
So my point stands. The head gasket itself isn't poor if it's a genuine one. Other parts are weak that result in over heating and owners who don't know enough or just don't care then make it worse.
Not something I've ever really had much issue with myself and I've had alot of fire engines. Mostly fixing other people's bodged. One of my cars I suspected had a blown gasket and when I took it apart it had been dismantled and put back with all the same gaskets just smeared in red hylomar lol. Lasted longer than you would expect though.

flisko · Sep 14, 2016

blu73 said:
I'm merely pointing out its not the fault of the head gaskets themselves. It's totally an issue but it's usually failures in the cooling system that makes them blow. And usually a thermostat or rad fan switch. And yes them items fail more than in most cars but that's the key point I was making. Drive any car around that's too hot and you will blow a head gasket.
Referring to abuse the cars get, I meant that if my car got too hot I would stop but lots of people just carry on, then they say the engines crap when it pops which is not really fair.
Further exasperating this issue is that so many people when they have issue use the cheapest gaskets they can find, the cheapest pattern parts and don't skim the head after driving it miles and miles with a blown HG. So it's not a huge surprise when it doesn't last.
So my point stands. The head gasket itself isn't poor if it's a genuine one. Other parts are weak that result in over heating and owners who don't know enough or just don't care then make it worse.
Not something I've ever really had much issue with myself and I've had alot of fire engines. Mostly fixing other people's bodged. One of my cars I suspected had a blown gasket and when I took it apart it had been dismantled and put back with all the same gaskets just smeared in red hylomar lol. Lasted longer than you would expect though.

they used same head gasket?

blu73 · Sep 15, 2016

Yes lol... red hylomar on both sides really thick and then I presume over torqued the head bolts. It did actually last a good while. It was running ok still but was when I did 16v swap. It occasionally had some weird running issues but was mostly ok. I only split the engine out of curiosity really.

flisko · Sep 16, 2016

blu73 said:
Yes lol... red hylomar on both sides really thick and then I presume over torqued the head bolts. It did actually last a good while. It was running ok still but was when I did 16v swap. It occasionally had some weird running issues but was mostly ok. I only split the engine out of curiosity really.

so another myth busted about reusing head gaskets?

blu73 · Sep 19, 2016

lol... erm lets just say its amazing it lasted as long as it did but lets not go recommending it. Try to remember that a new head gasket, even a genuine fiat one, prob costs about the same as a large tube of quality instant gasket.

flisko · Sep 19, 2016

fiat gasket is expensive compared to gasket sealant, and you need to do it in a hurry on a sunday morning and all you got is a tube of sealant

blu73 · Sep 19, 2016

if you are in that much of a hurry do you really have time to take your head off your car....? no, this is never ever ever a suggestion to anyone. Just buy a gasket and get a taxi, train or bus that day.

flisko · Sep 19, 2016

what if it is an emergency

blu73 · Sep 19, 2016

i refer to my previous statement... if its an emergency then clearly there is not time to be taking the head off your car.

By all means fella, if you want to try it then you go ahead but i would never in a million years suggest it. If its an emergency bloody hire a car, its only like £30 a day to hire a car.

In an emergency would you really want to drive your bodged repaired car that could break down any moment??

Punto (Mk2/2b) My First Car named Eleanor.

Introduction

AndyRKett

Distinguished member

blu73

The Force is strong with this one.

flisko

`

AndyRKett

Distinguished member

Scudmonkey

Member

blu73

The Force is strong with this one.

flisko

`

blu73

The Force is strong with this one.

flisko

`

blu73

The Force is strong with this one.

flisko

`

blu73

The Force is strong with this one.

flisko

`

blu73

The Force is strong with this one.

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