Hi, I bought a 1996 Punto 55SX (83,000 miles) from a reputable dealer yesterday (31/12/05). after ten miles the car started stalling when pulling away in first. lots of smoke as well. I managed to get it home only to find out there is no reverse gear. the gearbox goes into reverse (no reverse light) but the car only goes forward. everyone I have spoken to says that if it was the gearbox blowing the gears would grind and crunch so I don't think it is that because biting point was smooth with no grinding. the best suggestion so far is the gearbox linkage. would that explain the smoke as the clutch is burning? has anyone had a similar problem and if so does anyone know the cause and average cost of repair?

what colour is the smoke? after i first got mine started, it'd been sitting for about 3 months, lots of white smoke. i have problems getting into reverse as well... this is a simple thing but are you pushing the gearstick down and then into reverse? i didn't realise you had to do that can thought i had no reverse gear.

as for the stalling? i have no idea

well first thing would get it back to teh dealer quick smart they should not sell you a car that you cant even get home in properly. if there is no reveres when you put in reverseand car goes forward then that does sound like a linkage problem. and its going into the wrong gear. the stalling and smokle when puling away sounds like a sepeerate problem to me

yeah I knew the gear stick needs to be pushed down for reverse but no matter how many times you try the thing won't go. I have just been playing with it and it seems that something has slipped as opposed to having 3 up and down movements the gears also go to the far left as well (so you have 4 up and down movements which all seem to slip into a gear!) the smoke was white (smelt of burning rubber) so I can only assume that the gears were starting me off in 3rd or 5th and the smoke was the clutch burning? going straight back to the dealers on tuesday let them sort it out. best guesses at the moment are a linkage problem.

if you bought it from a reputable dealer then you surely get a guarantee of some type, i would just take it back and get them to sort it

uno_94 said:

if you bought it from a reputable dealer then you surely get a guarantee of some type, i would just take it back and get them to sort it

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:yeahthat: take it back an get full refund, plenty of good ones about for little money

Sounds like there's a fair bit wrong. I would have to agree with dave and try and get your money back and look out for a better one With things like this there's usually one thing goes wrong after another and it's just not worth it if you can find a trouble-free one for similar pennies.

also how much did you pay for the car? hopefully wasnt silly money, you can pick mk1's up now for peanuts

It was only £750 godd condition though. I'm tempted to give them the benefit of the doubt and let them straighten it out. It's probably best to see what the matter is with it first.

yeah see what he says is he is all humble and appologises and fixes for free then go for it if sounds a bit iffy then get ya money back. im sure even the worst dealers would make sure the car got you home ok lol

Well I took it back to the garage today. 10mins and a spanner and it was fixed.

apparently they had forgotten to refasten a link arm on the gearstick when they changed the clutch.

and it passed it's MOT with that.

oh well sorted now......

let's hope thats the only teething problem.

Thanks for all your help all. Much appreciated.

yay, simple mistake glad it all sortedfor ya

where did the white smoke come from then?

How long had it been sitting on the forecourt of the dealership? when these cars are sat for a good while without a start they can sometimes develop a good bit of water in the cat (even though this is a by product of the cat's emmisions) but the burning rubber smell???

I think it must of been me burning the clutch. I think it was pulling away in the wrong gear probably 3rd or 5th. Seems to have stopped now though.

I don't think it was even on the forecourt I caught it the first day it went in the auto trader. Now it's all fixed it's a nice drive.

Glad you got sorted

Nice to hear of a dealer at least admitting their mistakes, accepting blame and fixing the car with any hassle prior to it