Hi guys, new to the forum and Fiats having just purchased a second-hand Punto.....( after previous Rover 214s blew head) Y reg (2001) 1.2L 16 valve elx 128,000 miles 7 months test and 6 months tax in black for £940. The car itself is in fantastic condition both inside and out (IMO) with only the mileage letting it down, although having read up on all the problems punto's seem to go through i'd presume having 128k most of these would have been experienced and sorted by now. I have loads of receipts for work carried out including: replacements air con pipes, coil block and something under the steering column (can't remeber what), also full service history with the last being carried out in 2006 but the only receipt for timing belt I could find was in 2004 at 70k.

Got to say it's a lovely drive considering and very surprised how much room there is for the driver as i'm a big lad at 6ft 4in......Being able to see all the clocks without the steering wheel getting in the way is a big +. It's very comfortable with firm seats and I am finding myself making excuses to go and drive the car.....Things I used to moan at doing ie: taking the wife shopping or the kids to school LOL!

Anyway I have read and learned a lot from this forum just yesterday having gone through loads of threads.....Great info Thanks! and will be purchasing a remote keyless alarm to fit as it's the only thing I miss.

I am happy with the purchase and that's all that really matters at the end of the day....I have had loads of cars and sure this isn't the fastest or the sportiest but i'm getting on now and have become a rather more sedate driver so those things aren't as important as they once were.

So just wondering if anyone has any suggestions, comments or thoughts on the info I have given....mileage, timing belt or anything else.
Cheers.
Ken.

check that the timing belt was replaced at 72,000 miles

Hi welcome to the forum.

I would replace your cambelt and tensioner asap, its better safe than sorry as you dont want it snapping and you loss the engine, the mileage is high, but long as it has been took care of and been serviced every 6 to 12 months it should last you a while, mines is at 107,643 miles it still starts first time and also runs like new.

You say you have a lot of service papers allready but...

Yeah, all the belts and tensioners, full service that is, tyres and their alligment as well as centering (good sometimes my English is bad), brakes (thickness of pads, and take off drums at the reaer brakes and cehck them also)....its what I do as a must when I buy a new car...
Also chek the clutch (slave cylinder), check the fan, these are common faults...Gearbox oil, fluid level in your battery, winter is here.

Sounds like much, but it's not expencive, some stuff you can do yourself, it shouldn't be expencive, and it's a good night sleep and a safe ride

hi welcome to the forum

got a good buy part from the mileage

get the cam belt changed mate

and remember any problems just log on someones always on here lol

Thanks for the welcome and replies guys.....

Shaunyboyuk said:

check that the timing belt was replaced at 72,000 miles

Click to expand...

Yeah, I have a receipt for timing belt at 70,000 in 2004. Will have another look through the last service (06) to see if it had another since.

After reading through the forum I have learned of some of the problems with Punto's......like any other car though there is always something! However, yesterday I found how difficult it is to drive these in a traffic jam....trying to tootle along at a couple of mph is tricky.
Also, and I don't know if it's just me.... as the first time I tried to fill the car up I got nearly a gallon down my leg after it spat it back instead of going down the tank.....and have stank of petrol ever since BUT it seems when I put the blower on I get a faint smell of petrol. Is this me or something anyone else has witnessed?

Thanks again for the welcome.
Ken.

Yeah, mine dosnt like 1st gear also in slow moving traffic, 2nd is fine though?

About the issue when fulling her up it will probably be the anti-siphoning neck/flap in the Punto thats causing the problem, try moving the pump nozzle around a bit until its cut-off is not being affected by the fuel tank neck.

About the smelling petrol, i know this will sound silly but you might not be closing and locking the fuel cap properly, apart from that maybe check the vapour pipe is still firmly fitted into the inlet manifold. Its near the brake fluid reservoir it could be un-connected or have a slit in it.