So I sorted the non running issue on the Punto. HG Failure, gasket changed, car ran fine for a week, probably better than before, until tonight....

No warning lights, no noise, just died. It sounded like it was trying to turn over but not catching, almost turning to fast. I popped the rocker cover off and the cam was not turning, took a plug out and managed to turn it by hand but could feel it slipping / sticking at about 3/4 round. I loosend the cam bolts and managed to get it turning over on the key for a minute until it stopped again.

Oil level was on min on the stick but I noticed a bit of oil around the engine bay so I'm thinking there was a leak.

Question is, Cam, crank, piston or valves. Any ideas on the most likely problem before I start pulling it apart tomorrow.

is there teeth left on the cam belt?

good point to dark to look last night

OK. Belt off and teeth were stripped. Going to check cam next

check water pump hasnt seized, cam maybe fine and only not turning because of lack of teeth on belt.

or you may have fitted head gasket upside down blocking oil feed, take oil feed to cams off an poke some thing down it see if its blocked by gasket

dave said:

check water pump hasnt seized, cam maybe fine and only not turning because of lack of teeth on belt.

or you may have fitted head gasket upside down blocking oil feed, take oil feed to cams off an poke some thing down it see if its blocked by gasket

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Thanks for the tip Dave, pump feels free turning, gasket went on as instructions so I'm pretty confident but I will check anyway. Cam is turning freely with belt off, got a new belt so spending rest of day under car. Any tips on how to get the damn upper engine mount off so I can get to the tensioner?

deep 3/8 drive socket

dave said:

deep 3/8 drive socket

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Got 3 of them off but the 4th is a pig, soaking it in WD40 ATM

was it not off when you did the headgasket? also did you fit new belt when you did head gasket

dave said:

was it not off when you did the headgasket? also did you fit new belt when you did head gasket

Click to expand...

er, No and No (hangs head in shame at the latter).

Good news is I got the mount off, new belt on and timed, engine running.

Bad news, no oil coming through bar, but when I tipped oil onto cam it was spitting back through the drain holes, I'm thinking (hoping) that I need to rotate the HG 180 degrees, a job for the morning.

you cant use same head gasket again