Technical engine not running right.

[fus1on]

Hi, im looking for some help...

I have a Punto 1.1 (1997) thats done about 48000 miles, when i got in the car yesterday and started it up it started fine but the engine sounded rough. When i accelerate there is now power just a rough feeling throuout the car. The exhaust sounds like its put putting.

Ive changed the spark plugs and HT leads also done an oil change (about 500 miles ago).

When checking the oil and coolant levels last nite tho i noticed that both levels have dropped (in 2 weeks) quite a bit.

Also i notice a small amount of oil on the engine under the air box where the engine splits in too (sorry dont know what its called).

Is it the oil thats causing the problem or do i have a problem elsewhere??

Thanks for any help.

 

[Ransoman]

Sounds like the head gasket. This is quite common on the 1.1's and the 1.2's

Approx £250 to fix.

 

[fus1on]

£250...???

That means i will have spent more on repairs than the i spent buying the car,
my m8 did say head gasket i just wanted to check.

Time to buy a new car i think!!

Thanks for your help anyway.

 

[Punto.Power]

Also i notice a small amount of oil on the engine under the air box where the engine splits in too (sorry dont know what its called).

That will be the rocker cover gasket and oil is leaking from it..

 

[Ransoman]

£250...???

That means i will have spent more on repairs than the i spent buying the car,
my m8 did say head gasket i just wanted to check.

Time to buy a new car i think!!

Thanks for your help anyway.

I doubt you will by anything more reliable for less than £250. In my experience 55's are pretty reliable when they are running right.

Once you get the head gasket replaced keep the coolant topped up and keep the revs down for the first 2 miles and it will never happen again.

 

[fus1on]

I doubt you will by anything more reliable for less than £250. In my experience 55's are pretty reliable when they are running right.

Its had a new gear box at 35000 miles (£400 cost), new exhaust 2 months ago, suspension needs replacing, fuel economy is awful to.
So i dont think i got one that runs right lol.

So would the rocker cover leak cause the problems i described?

Thanks again.

 

[Punto.Power]

So would the rocker cover leak cause the problems i described?

No it wouldint mines is the same just the gasket needs replaceing on the rocker cover..

Any water comeing out of the exhaust,mayo on the oil cap,oil in the water..?

Does this happen when you just start the car or once it warms up..? How noticeible is it in gears does it run better when in 4th and 5th or just the same..? Could maybe be the lambda sensor in the exhaust also could be a coil or fuel pump... Do any lights come on the dash.. Ressetting the ECU might help by unpluggin the battery over night..

 

[fus1on]

Any water comeing out of the exhaust,mayo on the oil cap,oil in the water..?

Does this happen when you just start the car or once it warms up..? How noticeible is it in gears does it run better when in 4th and 5th or just the same..? Could maybe be the lambda sensor in the exhaust also could be a coil or fuel pump... Do any lights come on the dash.. Ressetting the ECU might help by unpluggin the battery over night..

I just found out my exhaust is blowing (its a new exhaust) and water is coming out of where it blows, there is no mayo on oil cap and no oil in water.
But this rough drive is in all gears warm or not, and no lights come on on dash.

 

[Punto.Power]

Seems like your head gasket has gone most likely or 2 seperate things a coil pack and heater matrix leak if its the last thing the coolent will be coming out bottom of heater in the car and there will be a fishy eggy smell. Also if you look at the breather pipe from the rocker cover to the airbox and its chocked solid with greasy stuff and also some around the top (inlet) side of the carb and if there is some traces of water too then looks like the gasket...

 

[fus1on]

i didnt think of the smell, the last 2 or 3 days i been able to smell an eggy smell. Just didnt know what it was.

 

[Punto.Power]

Does the windows kind of steam up bad in wet weather.. ?

 

[fus1on]

Does the windows kind of steam up bad in wet weather.. ?

yeah im always wiping them so i can see.

 

[Punto.Power]

Specialy the drivers window will be misty have you checked for any coolant in the foot wells etc.. The whole dash has to come out if it is the heater matrix it also makes the car run rough and no power but heater matrix may leak onto the ECU immobilising the car so i would get that checked out..

 

[fus1on]

no ive not had any coolant in the foot wells. and its the winscreen thats the worst, drivers side window isnt too bad.

 

[Punto.Power]

If you find out (IF) it is the heater matrix sounds like it is though could try a bottle of barsleak its worth a go. make sure you have your heater set to hot so the barsleak will enter the matrix that might fix the leak.

 

[fus1on]

ok thanks, im just waiting for a m8 to finish work for him 2 have a look as i have no idea with cars. hopefully he can shed some light and fix it.

 

[Punto.Power]

Ok as you can tell it could be many things for the engine running rough head gasket,heater matrix,coil ect.. But if you smell a fishy egg smell the last couple of days it sounds like the heater matrix has maybe just started to leak..? While turn to hot white smoke starts to come out from the vent hole under the windshield as well thats another sign for the heater matrix to be leaking but i hope you find the problem out mate...

 

[Sei S]

If you spent under £250 on the car and it is the head gasket it may well worth spending £250 to get it fixed. I had my head gasket replaced last year and its showing symptoms it has possibly gone again although some one said on this thread it wont go again once replaced.

Reliability of the 55? Ive had a few problems with mine in the 2 and a half years Ive had it. New starter motor, new oil tank, new wheel, fuel line, plus rough engine which has meant me changing coil, leads, spark plugs etc a few times. Some of that is obviously servicing costs which you'd have for any car but Ive often found myself saying I'd scrap it if theres any more problems. But then you buy another second hand car and you'll have the same problems. Truth be told its always started first time and its always got me from A to B although sometimes not in the most gracious of fashions.

I'm glad Ive got AA parts and labour cover, for £55 a year they'll pay out up to £500 3 times a year (so max £1500) for most parts and labour and Ive found them to be really good at paying out. All you have to pay is £25 excess per claim. They only do it for cars less than 10 years old and less than so many miles but once your on it you can roll it over even when your cars older than 10 years and done more than x miles. When my head gasket went they paid the full cost and my garage were impressed at their service. I just wish Id had it when starter motor went aswell!

Enough of the free advertising for them but on older cars its probably worth it.

 

[fus1on]

I managed to get the problem sorted anyway, it turned out to be an ignition coil pack that had died. So all works well now.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[Punto.Power]

Glad you found the problem and got it sorted coils also give off a smell like a burnt electrical thats what you might have smelled..