Hi
My wife has an S reg (98/99) punto 'team', I think it's based on the 60S with some sporting interior trim.
The car does not have power steering, and has developed slight play in the steering wheel in the up/down direction, i.e. pushing the wheel towards the widscreen and towards the driver's knees gives possibly 2mm (total guess!) of play. It's easily 'feelable'

There is no actual L/R play in the steering. I looked and it seems the play is very near the steering wheel, and is possibly in the upper column bush or similar, but in order to expose that part of the column, the wheel has to be removed. I checked for obvious loose bolts as far as I could see. Will the wheel come off? (stupid question I know, but I mean what snags am I likely to meet)
How tight is the nut holding it on, and if I do manage to remove it, (and then presumably the indicator cancelling ring? to expose the column), what steps should be taken on refit to ensure it does not loosen? There are two dimples on the nut which could be stake marks, but they are very shallow if they are stakes, and hardly appear to 'touch' the inner thread.
I don't yet have a manual, (will get one soon) and the top of the column is not visible, does anyone know what the problem might be?
Is this a known or common fault? If so any help is much appreciated.
I have searched the forum but can't find reference to this, or maybe I'm using the wrong keywords?

Thanks,
woz

there are a lot more experienced people on here who will give more in depth advice , however its not all that hard to make a start, the (almost)triangular trim in the middle of the steering wheel simply pulls off, if you want to avoid sounding the horn at same time disconnect the battery,, this will give you access to the nut holding the steering wheel on, then there are the allen screws that hold the trim itself around the steering column which are located underneath (three of them if i remember rightly) if you have a light and lie on your back and look under the streering column there are 4 bolts that hold the steering column to the facia and will also give you a look at the uv joint at bottom of steering column, and then if your going to remove the column altogether then you are faced with disconnecting and removing stalk switch assembly

just looked and there is a guide (look at top of page and follow links to punto guides steering column ) great advice from one of the moderators T14086 although think this only applies to later models with power steering

Thanks for the replies, I have already been as far as exposing the centre nut (sorry to the neighbours for the horn!!!) and removing the cowling. I need the detail of how the shaft is bushed at the top and how to secure the big nut when I reassemble. Unfortunately the column guide mentioned does not seem to have those details.
woz

there are 4 bolts holding the steering rack up, these become loose, my sisters puntos steering wheel had alot of play, done these up and done.

i had to remove the plastic casing at the bottom to gain access, can take a while to spot them.

there was infact a recall years ago about this were the standard nuts were changed for nylock nuts

mine did thesame thing

your faced with 2 options really do them up very tight and they wont come undone again

or change them for nyock it's your choice really

but it is a know easily curable problem

Thanks, having taken off the lower plastic cover I couldn't see them but then it was raining and i was lying with my poor old back twisted in front of the seat!! Having now recovered they say i might walk again soon.
I know this sounds pathetic but approx how far away from the steering wheel are they? Is it like a semi circular clamp with two nuts? cos thats what i expected to see.

thanks for the reply
woz

they are located where the steering column meets the facia, best if you have some sort of light and are a bit of a bendy person--the column has an oblong metal plate attatched to it which fits over 4 bolts which are locked into the bottom of the facia and all you will see from underneath are the nuts, but they are there, photo a bit blurred but think you can make them out

Thanks for your help much appreciated. I cant understand how i missed that, like i said the play is very near the wheel and that's where i was looking.
I'll post if and when ive sorted it (i hope!)
ta
woz