Hi, I've just sold my 1.2 8v Punto that has done me well for the past year and now I'm moving on to the 1.2 16v sporting.

I'm going to view a couple tomorrow and was just wondering what things that are especially different do I need to look out for compared to the 8v - I know the cambelt is a big thing but almost all of them don't have any recent history of this so I plan to get that done myself.

Also one car I'm going to have a look at has had a new gearbox and crankshaft (With full receipt of this), is this is a good thing or bad?

Thanks.

not much differnce in the two

other than the top end,

make sure cambelt has been changed, and it dont sound tappy top end,
watch out for a lumpy idle too,

oldhammer said:

not much differnce in the two

other than the top end,

make sure cambelt has been changed, and it dont sound tappy top end,
watch out for a lumpy idle too,

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out of the 2 or 3 that I might be viewing, none have recent history of cambelt change..

if it is similar to the 8v then I'm confident of knowing what to look for

Thanks.

KRaikkonenNo1 said:

out of the 2 or 3 that I might be viewing, none have recent history of cambelt change..

if it is similar to the 8v then I'm confident of knowing what to look for

Thanks.

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if theres no history of cambelt change, you idealy want to pay a low price for it,

The cambelt change on these isnt a big mission
but the kits arnt cheap,

stuff like plugs and leads arnt cheap either,
so bare this in mind when buying one,

ive spent 100s on mine getting it spot on -everything soon adds up.
8v is pennys to maintain compared to these,

eg. 40 notes + for spark plugs.

8v is only 14quid.

oldhammer said:

if theres no history of cambelt change, you idealy want to pay a low price for it,

The cambelt change on these isnt a big mission
but the kits arnt cheap,

stuff like plugs and leads arnt cheap either,
so bare this in mind when buying one,

ive spent 100s on mine getting it spot on -everything soon adds up.
8v is pennys to maintain compared to these,

eg. 40 notes + for spark plugs.

8v is only 14quid.

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Was gonna try knock them down for the cambelt,

I thought the parts were quite a bit more expensive!

Will take this into consideration, but I feel like I want a 16v Sporting..surely you know that feeling

Tbh. ibought mine as a none runner,
paid peanuts for it, this was the only way iknew iwas going to get a good one,

it spent months in bits in the garage,

bought anew punto to replace it the otherday..and it dont compare
the new one is going to auction next week, id rather keep the 16v.

its nippy and returns good mpg.


there will be a good 16v out there but they is hard to find,
avoid the ones that have been Modified.

KRaikkonenNo1 said:

Also one car I'm going to have a look at has had a new gearbox and crankshaft (With full receipt of this), is this is a good thing or bad?

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That would put me off, suspicious git that I am. What were they doing to thrash a crank and gearbox especially such a free revving and kinda unburstable unit. Experimenting with invisible oil perhaps. I'd be thinking that instead of sourcing a used unit they put in a used crank on a nothing to lose fingers crossed basis hoping the top was still viable.

Brendan W said:

That would put me off, suspicious git that I am. What were they doing to thrash a crank and gearbox especially such a free revving and kinda unburstable unit. Experimenting with invisible oil perhaps. I'd be thinking that instead of sourcing a used unit they put in a used crank on a nothing to lose fingers crossed basis hoping the top was still viable.

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its more than likely oil seal thats been changed,

These engines are pretty strong, carnt seeing it being crank replaced tbh.

oldhammer said:

Tbh. ibought mine as a none runner,
paid peanuts for it, this was the only way iknew iwas going to get a good one,

it spent months in bits in the garage,

bought anew punto to replace it the otherday..and it dont compare
the new one is going to auction next week, id rather keep the 16v.

its nippy and returns good mpg.


there will be a good 16v out there but they is hard to find,
avoid the ones that have been Modified.

Click to expand...

fair enough, I've only heard good things about the 16v and its gearbox..

yeea tell me about it! I consider it a bit of a project anyway really, just want a solid base to start on

That would put me off, suspicious git that I am. What were they doing to thrash a crank and gearbox especially such a free revving and kinda unburstable unit. Experimenting with invisible oil perhaps. I'd be thinking that instead of sourcing a used unit they put in a used crank on a nothing to lose fingers crossed basis hoping the top was still viable.

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hmm true, there's no way I will be able to see if this is the case on the day? anyway at all I would be able to tell if the job done is of good standard?

KRaikkonenNo1 said:

hmm true, there's no way I will be able to see if this is the case on the day? anyway at all I would be able to tell if the job done is of good standard?

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It would need to be a lot cheaper for me to start opening that can of worms. You could ask why it was needed at which point sellers generally divide into amazingly creative story tellers with uprated blueprinted cranks and racing gearbox tales or become unaccountably vague - dunno guv the garage fixed the noise etc.
With so many others out there without these question marks why bother.

Brendan W said:

It would need to be a lot cheaper for me to start opening that can of worms. You could ask why it was needed at which point sellers generally divide into amazingly creative story tellers with uprated blueprinted cranks and racing gearbox tales or become unaccountably vague - dunno guv the garage fixed the noise etc.
With so many others out there without these question marks why bother.

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True, I would have to disagree as where I am I have been finding it hard to find a good, promising sporting Punto :/

I have just been in contact with the owner of the car that has a new gearbox and crankshaft to ask him why this has been done and he replied: "it had a slight oil leak in the crank shaft so to get to it they had to dismantle the gear box, so they put a new one in whilst they were there"

does this sound reasonable? or a load of bologne?

We might be at crossed purposes her and as oldhammer said earlier this could be a seal thing. Renewing the crank seal would require gearbox removal. This means no new crank. While they were at it, it would perhaps make sense to replace gearbox seals and maybe the clutch but you don't replace gearboxes unless there is something wrong with them.

make sure its not tappety because if it is then theres a chance you wont cure it because previous owner used wrong oil to d save a bob
corrosion of underfloor now becoming an issue on all years
good boots show clean minds and careful owners
interiors not ripped as they are very hardwearing
if any maccy deewrappers or cups in car run away becausecar will havebeen thrashed
flood damaged cars are coming out of wales like a swarm so be careful

I've had mine a week - I love it but have already had a few problems with it. You'll be hooked when you put your foot down on the test drive , I've been told the power steering is one to look out for - make sure the car is smooth turning going from full lock either side. Also try it on City mode to ensure it is the same.

abit of injector tick is the norm,
but if its excessive, sounding like a derv, walk away,
unless its going for peanuts, you can pick up low mileage lumps for a ton,

These will still run with bent ish valves. so look out for lumpy running ones
ignore sellers that say it needs a service/new plugs etc,

once youve sighned reciept, often worded No warranty given or implied its too
late .

id look out for the ones advertised like -no tax due to it being registerd disabled. etc
less chance of it being a ex boy racer car then.

dont bother with city steering yet, never use that feature when clouds open up and **** on us! heard its quite unstable, i might have to try it one day!:idea:

make sure you do all the usual checks when buying a car of this age, dont be fobbed off, seen it happen so many times

good luck!

benny

its like driving on tram lines.

iswitches mine on now and again, (city mode) some say use it or loose it
dont know if thats true,

oldhammer said:

its like driving on tram lines.

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i drive on tram lines 24/7/364 days and 365 days in a leap year!!

if you find it feels like driving on tram lines on city then either your tyres are oldand the compound has gone hard or your tracking is out
if tracking out it will feel skitty on solid white road painted lines as you cross them
i find city gives more feedback from the wheels rather than the numb standard setting