right firstly there is a loud speaking coming from the engine, doesnt seem to follow a pattern just sqeeks every so often. also there is a sort of rubbing noise (maybe not the best description) sounds like its coming from some where between the airbox and the batterie. ill try and get a video up to give a better idea

Y reg punto 1.2 8v.

recently had the head gasket done.

Sounds like a belt/tensioner on its way out, dont let one die or youl be redoing your head gasket and a few more things!

thing is it was serviced at 72k now done 83k and during the service the tensor and belt was changed by the garage i paid a bit over £100 for it, if i remember rightly the noise only started after they had done the job too. its just more money again lol really annoying me

chances are it isn't tight enough then, the deflection if you were to push on it should be ROUGHLY 1cm, they might have changed one or the other and claimed to have done both (happened to the previous owner of my car, tensioner started dissintegrating withing 2k miles and it was a £13 and 1/2 hour fix including fetching the part!)

cheers for the help mate really appreciated, how would i go about checking to see whats what then? any guides you know about etc? thanks again

https://www.fiatforum.com/punto-guides/145691-how-replace-timing-belt-tensioner.html explains how to replace the tensioner, the belt can be 'diagnosed' by looking at it mine had all the original writting still on it and didnt appear to be very old at all but it's hard to explain how to spot that!

when i had the belt "replaced" he showed me the old tensioner so im guessing it was changed but ill have a look at them both and go from there, i have no idea about the mechanical side of cars but always willing to learn

They may have been replaced quite easily, it'd have to be a tight fisted mechanic to claim it and not do such a job (though I wouldn't put it past one or two I know). Chances are the nut wasn't quite tight enough and it's slackened off slightly

so just to clear it up for a complete noobie here, what exactly do i need to do or what you'd recommend. cheers

Ok you need to take the timing belt cover off and see how much the timing belt will deflect by pushing it with your thumb, don't just push really hard, be gentle incase your heavy handed and snap it!

If you have a friend who fiddles with engines or does their own repairs alot, it's probably worth asking them to come and check what your doing (only learn if you do it yourself normally)

ive been thinking about somthing, when the head gasket was on its way out there was alot of oil that looked like it had been hittin the belt then thrown around, would this oil weaken and could eventually cause the belt to snap? just a thought maybe i need to clean the oil off with some cleaner maybe? thanks

J005h said:

ive been thinking about somthing, when the head gasket was on its way out there was alot of oil that looked like it had been hittin the belt then thrown around, would this oil weaken and could eventually cause the belt to snap? just a thought maybe i need to clean the oil off with some cleaner maybe? thanks

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It might do, I'm afraid I don't have the expertise to be able to say yes or no though!

no worries mate ill see if anyone replys i got the morning off work tomorrow so im goin to have a bash at removing the cover and see whats what and go from there

Removing the cover is easy, getting it back on isn't quite so but the fact it was dark didn't help much! On the mk1 engine there are 2 bolts on the front, 1 at the back and one down the side.