Hello,
For my troubles i kept my old punto (1996 55 s) - now it won't start.
The engine cranks but won't start so don't think it is the battery, nothing been left on and car used last week so no reason for it to be low, lights turn off automatically so can't have left them on.
Have tried to spray the spark plugs with WD40, not sure if i did them all correctly, anyway made no difference.
Nice man in the street (old mechanic apparently) checked the spark plugs and said they are attached, also checked the fuses which were fine.
I topped up the petrol last week so that's fine and oil level fine, it's a brown colour (no white stuff which i hear could be sign of head gasket failure).
Has had problems starting previously but usually caught when pressed gas, now makes no difference.
** Coolant system losing water - use car only one return journey a week (2hrs total) - each week i have to top it up. Previously just difference between max and min, now most of the visible coolant tank. No obvious leak though. Had a new water pump changed in Jan. Have previously tried running engine and looking for leak with torch but nothing obvious.**
Previous compression test in Jan indicated 100psi in 3 of the cylinders and only 60psi in the other. Has been running relatively ok, sometimes seems to lose power going uphill. Strangely completely fine on the last use so not sure why sudden problem.
Any ideas of what i should be expecting? I'm not at all experienced with cars so really looking more for an idea of what it may be and rough cost of what different scenarios would be. Weighing up whether to repair or scrap, think if call out recovery truck and they can't fix it there then i will likely need to decide there and then whether to tow it to a garage so want to get an idea first.
All advice welcomed!
For my troubles i kept my old punto (1996 55 s) - now it won't start.
The engine cranks but won't start so don't think it is the battery, nothing been left on and car used last week so no reason for it to be low, lights turn off automatically so can't have left them on.
Have tried to spray the spark plugs with WD40, not sure if i did them all correctly, anyway made no difference.
Nice man in the street (old mechanic apparently) checked the spark plugs and said they are attached, also checked the fuses which were fine.
I topped up the petrol last week so that's fine and oil level fine, it's a brown colour (no white stuff which i hear could be sign of head gasket failure).
Has had problems starting previously but usually caught when pressed gas, now makes no difference.
** Coolant system losing water - use car only one return journey a week (2hrs total) - each week i have to top it up. Previously just difference between max and min, now most of the visible coolant tank. No obvious leak though. Had a new water pump changed in Jan. Have previously tried running engine and looking for leak with torch but nothing obvious.**
Previous compression test in Jan indicated 100psi in 3 of the cylinders and only 60psi in the other. Has been running relatively ok, sometimes seems to lose power going uphill. Strangely completely fine on the last use so not sure why sudden problem.
Any ideas of what i should be expecting? I'm not at all experienced with cars so really looking more for an idea of what it may be and rough cost of what different scenarios would be. Weighing up whether to repair or scrap, think if call out recovery truck and they can't fix it there then i will likely need to decide there and then whether to tow it to a garage so want to get an idea first.
All advice welcomed!
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