Hello just need a few bits of info please on fiats please,

I've got a Fiat Punto Mk2 1.2 8v X-reg:

My car has 30,000 miles on the clock (atm).

I've had an oil change and oil filter.
new discs pads,flat wipers blades,wiper linages,exhaust.

1. Will fitting 17" alloys put any pressure on to the gear box?

2. How often do I change timing belt + alternator belt ?

3. How often do I change plugs + leads?

Just any other things I should do to keep in car in tip top condition, for the mileage of my car (atm)? just any other things I should watch out for really?

thanks kev

Hi mate,

1. 17" alloy wheels will put more strain on your gearbox than standard wheels, but nothing too major or that is likely to result in damage.

2. According to the service manual, on your car the timing belt should be changed after 74000miles or 5 years, which ever comes first. The alternator belt should be checked at each service and replaced as an when needed.

3. Plugs and leads should be changed every 40000 miles, but personally I would change mine sooner than this.

You may also want to consider changing you air filter if you havent already. You should also change your break fluid every two years to keep it in top condition.

Hope that helps you mate,
Alan

i have a 1.2 8v W reg punto, i put 17" wheels on, they go straight on no probs, i dont know if they strain the gearbox, tbh i dont really know why it would (but im no mechanic)
in the manuel it says to change the timing belt at 48,000 miles, i had mine done at 44k, its always best to change it too early than late.
they say, if u buy a car and not sure if its had a belt change then to book it straight away.

thanks for info peps + yes info will help

haven't got booklet on my car because my previous owner lost it!

so do i change my timing belt 48k? are 78k? bit of difference?

and only reason i ask about my 17's alloys putting strain on the gear box is because this has happened to me on a previous car!


will do my plugs and leads soon


thanks again kev

Hi mate,

The handbook says 120,000km which is 78k miles for the timing belt HOWEVER, most people normally half it and do it at 60,000km or 40,000 miles, HOWEVER AGAIN, your engine is what is known as a SFAE engine, meaning that if the belt goes, it should not do any damage to the engine unlike on other cars where the valves hit the pistons etc and cause hundreds or thousands of pounds worth of damage. Because of this, it is not as important to change your timing belt ahead of schedule as it were.

Hope that helps,
Alan

i wouldnt trust belt past 50kmiles on an 8v and 40k miles on a 16v

so am guessing every ones different views on a timing belt some says:

50,000?
60,000?
48,000?
40,000?
are every 5 years?
now am getting confused

am going to do plugs and leads so what's the best options to go for makes and reliable?

cheers kev

ive heared you can get coloured plugs n leads? do you think they do them in blue?
fancy jazz-ing up my ingine soon.

Josh.

betrayed said:

so am guessing every ones different views on a timing belt some says:

50,000?
60,000?
48,000?
40,000?
are every 5 years?
now am getting confused

am going to do plugs and leads so what's the best options to go for makes and reliable?

cheers kev

Click to expand...

LOL the punto handbook states 120,000KM for the timing belt change, that is what Fiat say. This extended interval is because your engine is a SAFE engine, meaning that if it goes, no dmage will be caused to the engine.
If you had a 16v or other engine such as 1.4, D or JTD then if your timing belt goes, then engine damage will almost certainly result, and therefore the repalcement interval for them is much shorter. (around 40-50k miles)

The 5 years thing is the same for most engines, as the rubber deteriorates over time.

Yo CANNOT go wrong by changing YOUR timing belt at 40k or 50k or even 10k. Its just up to you if you want to leave it that extra bit longer knowing that if it does go, nothing major is going to happen anyway.

(It should all be written in the back of your manual if you want to check)

Alan

JoshC said:

ive heared you can get coloured plugs n leads? do you think they do them in blue?
fancy jazz-ing up my ingine soon.

Josh.

Click to expand...

you can get light blue ones from motorworld

8v engine might be safe, but having a snapped belt in middle of motorway or on a bend on a dark country road isnt

Very true!

my belts on 80k, ill just replace it if it goes otherwise it can stay on.

rover220 said:

my belts on 80k, ill just replace it if it goes otherwise it can stay on.

Click to expand...

Kewl, so you can have more money for popcorns next time you visit cinema
Do it man, its not that expencive! Or on rover you have no belt but chain?

Had to change plugs and leads tonight!:bang: in the snow/rain!!!
Mileage: 30972

didn't think they would of need changed on a low mileage like mine?
+ it had the original FIAT plugs factory fitted and well used leads!:yuck:

Bosch super 4 plugs + Bosch high vol leads

working cool now!!!

finished off with a splash of WD40 to keep the rain and damp out

Job well done i say and no crap used!:yum:

(on my punto 1.2 8v mk2)

oktopod said:

Kewl, so you can have more money for popcorns next time you visit cinema
Do it man, its not that expencive! Or on rover you have no belt but chain?

Click to expand...

no, on my rover turbo it had a belt which i replaced when needed but only because they are not safe engines.

i see no point in changing it till it goes on the punto.

bosch super 4 plugs are generally cack, either get ngk v groove or standard fiat parts

rover220 said:

bosch super 4 plugs are generally cack, either get ngk v groove or standard fiat parts

Click to expand...

I've ran a few of my cars on bosch super 4 plugs + I've never had any problems at all!!!

So how are the cack? when I've replace the old NGK plugs to bosch cars ran 100x's better!

rover220 said:

no, on my rover turbo it had a belt which i replaced when needed but only because they are not safe engines.

i see no point in changing it till it goes on the punto.

Click to expand...

Not if its 16V engine

I thought you ment you wont change yours till it snaps...either way its cheap, so I would never wait for it to snap in the middle of nowhere, downhill, 5 people in the car, 4AM....

rover220 said:

bosch super 4 plugs are generally cack, either get ngk v groove or standard fiat parts

Click to expand...

'Standard' Fiat plugs are NGK. And v groove are completely pointless on a 8v engine.