Technical Punto Aftermarket Exhaust Problem

[richard123]

I hope someone can help as I am at my wits end! If you have the patience...read on.....

My missus has a punto 1.2 on a 51. At the start of this year the exhaust started to blow and we were advised a new rear box was needed. First port of call was to Fiat Dealer to see what joke price they could invent. Think it came out a £170! When I laughed at the price the guy said that aftermarket exhausts always knock on the torsion bar of Puntos. I chose to ignore his advice and
had an aftermarket exhaust fitted at my local fast fit for half the price.

You guessed it - a knocking from the rear happened straight away when pulling off in 1st and second and over large potholes etc. Took the car back and the mechanics there twisted and heated the exhaust and whilst it was better never went away. They drove the car and suggested i take the car back to fiat to check the suspension or steering...nothing like passing the buck!

Heres my question/s:

is anyone here able to verify the dealers claim regarding aftermarket exhausts snagging the torsion bar?

How should I approach this with the fast fit center? They are adamant the exhaust is not knocking but I did not explain the torsion bar problem to them and as the car is quite new, they may not have seen this before? Presumably the reason the exhaust knocks in 1st and 2nd is due to the back end sitting down under acceleration?

If i get knowhere with the fast fit center - what can i do, will the exhaust manafactuer be able to help? I have noticed a couple of posts on this forum from people who have had similar problems but nobody has so far suggested what the problem may be and the nec cure.

Many thks in advance for your advice
Richard

 

[garethgje]

The problems not the suspension but due to either:-
1. The exhaust being a bad fit with the bends in the wrong place.
2. Fitted by monkeys (most likely as their trying to pass the buck).
3. Gearbox mount knackered causing the exhaust to jerk (probably not this as you say it happens when you hit potholes).

Keep trying to get the fast fit monkeys to adjust the exhaust but be prepared to bite the bullet and take it somewhere else and get them to sort it out. Anyway welcome to the forum and remember it's always worthwhile putting a post up if your thinking of buying or doing something to your punto as theres bound to be fellow members who will give you their opinions and experiances.

 

[LanciaMad]

I had this with a Devil exhaust and a Sportex exhaust on my Punto Mk2, mind you it is lowered 50mm!

I finally got a Supersprint exhaust and I wish I had just got it in the first place! Loads of room down there now! If you really want it to stop, cut your losses sell your aftermarket zaust youve bought and buy a supersprint exhaust and fit it yourself!

And welcome to the forum!

 

[thefishdude]

yep i have the exact problem now with my rear exhaust section its not a fancy one just a part from a nomrall exhaust place. and sometiems when pulling away or going voer large bumps the exhaust scrapes on the rear axle thingy lol. i had mine adjusted last year and that solved the problem until this year when it had to come off to have some work done. and nwo i have it adjusted 3 times and cant get it to stop catching

 

[richard123]

thanks for all of your comments guys. I am not going to bother taking it back to the exhaust center, I will get a local garage to service and at the same time see if they can adjust it. Let me know if you have any tips on decent garages in south cambs/north herts.
ta