Hi Guys

Wonderful forum this is

I recently bought a 2001 punto 1,2 8v. Its run ok, but the engine seem a bit funny. i believe the hg needs to be changed at one point.

But at the moment im having a leak. It came all of a sudden some weekes ago were it ran hot. Since that ive changed
- Water pump (was leaking)
- Cambelt + tensioner
- o ring and the metal tube.
- Thermostat

No visible leak, all pipes are good, water temp feeler is dry

BUT it's stil leaking, not from any of the new parts but looks to be from the gearbox. If i loosing the lid to the expansion tank, it stops after a minut. otherwise it drips for 10 mins or so.

As far i can understand there are 2 possibilities:
Faulty hg
Core plug broken

Can u guide to what is most likely ? i use the car everyday, only have weekends to fix it. Is it a difficult task to change the coreplug? i have most tools, but just 1 jack. How long would it take roughly and will i need anything else than the plug ?

Last thing - there is a bracket, shown in the pics. It looks like there should be sitting 2 bolts, but theres none. Should i fit 2, and could this cause the leak ??
Thank you VERY much

I reckon its the top big core plug has a hairline crack in it. You will probably need to remove a few more things before you can see it. It sits at the right hand side of the engine between the head mounting and the crankshaft. However, it COULD be a fault head gasket at the same end as above though.

HTH

Temperature Sensor / Temperature sensor housing

Its hidden behind the engine
Follow the Bulkhead pipes it'll lead to it
Got a Black body
2x bolts
A Coppery sensor with a green plug

I had a mysterious leak - took weeks to find
Again, when hot and under pressure it leaked
Cooled - sealed up

Coreplug aren't well known on these engines, only if its been mistreated to no anti-freeze and the coreplug has started to rot

Ziggy

leootzen i suggest you beg borrow or steal a water pressure system tester
this will allow you to find the leak under cold water pressure so no chance of scalding
eg http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-an-Auto-Radiator-Pressure-Tester/


the bolt missing is the engine to gearbox support brace and as fiat deemed it a necessity in car production i would suggest you find a suitable nut and bolt to fill the hole
these bolts are usually left out after a clutch plate change by incompetants

s and b said:

leootzen i suggest you beg borrow or steal a water pressure system tester
this will allow you to find the leak under cold water pressure so no chance of scalding
eg http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-an-Auto-Radiator-Pressure-Tester/


the bolt missing is the engine to gearbox support brace and as fiat deemed it a necessity in car production i would suggest you find a suitable nut and bolt to fill the hole
these bolts are usually left out after a clutch plate change by incompetants

Click to expand...

Pressure testers are also great for bleeding too

Depending on models tho
it'd work on a punto

Ziggy

Cool, thanks for the answers. The temp sensor is dry, even after a long run when water is burning of the exhaust, so i doubt this will be the reason.

I will take it by my shop and ask them for a pressure test - just have to take some time off to do it.

Can i check the plug without removing the gearbox ?? and if it is the hg that leaking in that side, is that possible to check without removing gearbox as well ?

Ill put a bolt in the hole