Hi there. I'm new here, but have been on puntosports for a few years. I'm after a bit of advice though.

I have a 2005 Punto 1.2 16v which has covered 6000 miles. I bought it from a Fiat dealer with 4000 miles on, as it was a demonstrator.

Ever since I got it, on idle, it sounds like a diesel. People actually think it's a diesel. I took it to my other local Fiat dealer, and they said, yeah it's noisy, but seems normal.

I was just wondering if anyone else with the 16v engine could let me know whether its normal to make this noise on idle? It's fine when you rev it, and has no lack of power or anything. Everything seems fine, just noisy.
It's had 2 oil changes and isn't due another for 6000 miles, but I thought that maybe a oil change may help?

Thanks in advance.

welcome to here

its not normal, a slight tapping is but not diesel sound, take it back to dealer and say you want it sorted

The 1.8 16v engines can have a diesel-sounding problem (cam variator failure) but I've not heard of it on a 1.2. Definitely give the garage an ear-bending.

Yea mine does it too, mines a 1.4 16v, but its a related engine. Gotta get it sorted sometime soon, although like as with you, mine performs fine. My local dealers are thick and/or lazy and haven't sorted it, however there's a new Fiat service place opening up near me soon who seem to be genuinley interested in Italian cars, so hopefully they'll be able to sort it for me. If not, then I'll have to give them a bollocking lol.

My 1.4 16v (Sporting) sounds a little like a diesel when idle but not really bad.

A petrol engine sounding like a diesel could be a sign of valve-to-piston contact. NOT good at all, if it continues it could completely knacker your engine

Looks like Arnold Clark will have to give me a new engine then! Is there a chance it could suddenly stop workiing or break or anything? I've got 7000 miles on the clock so far, and I'm going down cornwall next week, so plus a few hundred miles.

that definitely doesn't sound good.

i would most certainly take it back and get them to have a proper look at it.

i'm not sure how easy it is on those engines, but it might be worth quickly checking the timing. i know on my GT is very very easy to check. at least that would rule at least one possible cause out.

could it be as simple as a slight manifold blow on idle?

The engine doesn't sound like a proper diesel, just does sound tappy. But what confuses me, is that it has done it since I got it, and the previous owners were Fiat themselves. So presumably if it had a problem, it would have been fixed. I had a GT, and that was always a bit tappy, and the fact that other people with FIRE engines on here have tappy engines, leads me to believe that it's Fiats. I will take it in to the dealer, to see what they say, although I have been once, and they said that it doesn't sound like there's anything wrong! I think I'll see if I can find another 1.2 16v at a dealer, and listen to that and compare!

Well. Just had a trip to the local FIAT dealership. Mechanic came out to look at my car, and said that it is normal, the FIRE engines have a slight tap to them, and showed me another. So no problems there. I do however need a new cam carrier? gasket as there is slight oil seepage there, and the seat need fixing as the cable broke for the handle to move it forward. Thank god it's all under warranty!!