Hiya on way home from work today i noticed a sort of scraping sound from what sounded like the rear of the punto. The moise only seemed to happen when i turned right and at speed, i usually have music on so dont know how long this has been happening. Anyone give me an idea of what it could be, it sounds like the rear drivers side doing it. This side had a new Radius Arm fitted about four months ago if that could be any prblem.

Thankyou.

Matt

Hiya rather than start a new thread i'l put it in this one. Gives me a chance to bump this one up.

Anyway my car has really low mpg. I get about 100 miles to 20 quid. Now i been told it could be the lambda sensor amongst other things. But is the sensor cheap and easy to replace? Also what else could be causin the low mileage.

Now i'm going to be doin a full service soon what should i be changing apart from the obvious like oil filter, oil, sparks etc. That a novice like me could do.

Last but not least i'm going to be havin a bash at changing the front shock absorber over the weekend if the weather permits now i've read the haynes manual and i'm pretty confident but what other things should i look out for and any tips on makin it even easier. Wil i need and bits that might break in the process, new bolts, nuts etc.

Anyway thanks for reading and any help will be appreciated.

Matt.

Hi mate,

Firstly the scraping at the rear - Has the car been lowered at all? I would remove the wheel and check to see if you can see any contact marks either on the wheel/tyre or on the body work or suspension components. It may also be worth checking the wheel bearing for any play.

MPG - yes lambda sensor could well be your problem. Have you noticed anything else like lumpy idling? The lambda sensor is fairly straight forward to change and will cost you around £50. They tend to be seized, so soak it in something like WD40 and leave it for a while first. As with any low MPG, you also want to be looking at other things such as tyre pressures, possible brake binding, tracking etc.

Full service - As well as the things you have mentioned, you may also want to consider gearbox oil change, disk and pads change, break fluid change, coolant change, depending on how worn they are or when they were last changed obviously!

Front shock - This is a fairly easy process, but CAN BE DANGEROUS!! Make sure you have a decent set of spring compressors, and dont undo the nut at the top of the shock until the spring is safely compressed by the spring compressors! I once saw a spring fly into the door of a brand new M3 when I used to work for BMW. The damage it did to the door was quite amazing considering, and you certainly wouldn't want it in your face! lol
The bolts at the bottom of the shock are often very difficult to get off, due to being exposed to wet and head and road grime, so again, soak them in something like WD40 and leave them for a while before trying to undo them.

Think thats all of it,

Hope that helps,
Alan

Thanks for your reply appreciate it very much, when the car is idle, to me it seems fine hovers around the 1k RPM mark. I have recently noticed that when i start the car after its not been used for a good few hours it lacks power when i put my foot down, this only happens for a couple of mins so dont know if anything to do with that.

Again thanks for the reply. A lot of help it will be. I am going to do the handbrake cable when i decide to do the brakes, Is this an easy job?

Sorry to be a pain

Matt.

Hi, me again, sorry to be a pain but rather than a new thread il just keep putting problems in this thread.

Anyway just recieved a new Lambda Sensor, going to fit it on friday so hopefully that wil sort it out.

Now my rear passenger side wheel is leaning so far inwards that i cannot get my hand down the back of it, betwwen the wheel and the arch. Now i know it is more than likely the radius arm, but my question is can i sort it out with just a bearing kit or will i need a whole new arm. There is no banging or clunking and i dont think the scraping sound is coming from that but with the gap not being there i am guessing it must be scraping and wearing my tyre down.

Thanks again wouldnt come here if you all werent as hepful and nice as you are

Regards

Matt.