Technical Gearbox/Engine

[dav3y]

This is the first winter of having my punto, and im noticing a range of weird things.

For a start, when i got the car i knew the clutch needed changing as it was slipping in third, and you hardly had to lift your foot off the floor for it to bite, so it was a dead give away.

Got the clutch, inspected the engine/gearbox before i went to change the clutch and i found out that it has a slave cylinder, rather then a cable! (surprised for such a old and small engine)

Anyway, i looked in the inspection gap and the clutch is just as thick as the one in the box, so i didnt even bother to begin taking it all apart, and when i refit the slave cylinder, the clutch bit alot higher then before, so im guessing it was the way it was fitted before? I got the clutch still in the box if anyones interested BTW.

Firstly (excuse the punt) first gear is not always easy to select, sometimes it wont go in at all and i have to go from second to first for it to become slightly easier to select, which ive gotten used to, but i know this to be the release bearing (right?)

Secondly, Second gear when changing down (for example, approaching a corner from thrird) unless i slow down to 20MPH, it crunches, and people do half look at me!! lol! I heard its the second gear synchronizer (Right?)

Thirdly, when i drive the car from cold the gearbox whines, whether this is low fluid or not im not sure?

Fourthly (if thats a word lol) when realy cold (only lately it does it) i'll turn the key and nothing will happen, but when i let the key go and start it again, it starts fine. Also when seriously cold, my engine makes a high pitch whine between 2-3000 RPM, i noticed it was weird when my mate asked what supercharger i had, i was like what?! lmao. I read up on the internet alot and i see alot of people mention it was a known punto "thing" some mention of it a water pump, other mentions of a cambelt tensioner wearing? Well it only ever does it when cold, not EVERY time, so do i need to be worried?

 

[PuntoHowTo]

1st gear could be the clutch is still not disengaging properly if it were the release bearing you would hear it rumbling or grinding but you can still usually get the gear ok

2nd gear again could be the clutch not disengaging or the synchro do you ever get crunching going from 2nd to 1st or 1st to 2nd?

Gear box whine could be a bearing or the gears if the fluid it low or old

Given all these problems together I would hang on to your new clutch and maybe consider looking for a cheap good gearbox to replace yours

Not starting weak starter (or starter solinoid) motor or battery? Does it make a loud click the times it doesn't start?

Rubber shrinks and becomes harder and more brittle in the cold makes belts more likely to slip maybe the tensioner is a little wore but then you might also need new belts for the cam and aux drive without knowing what's causing the whine you can't decide if it's something to worry about or not!?

 

[dav3y]

theres no crunching, only when i downshift from third (or respectivly, any gear in moderation) to second, unless i slow right down to 20.

the times when i turn the key and nothing happens, litterally nothing happens, so i assume its the cold thats just got the startermotor. second time perfectly fine, and it only happens every so often but when extreme cold!

Ive actually coasted and slowed to a particular junction i face down the end of my road each day, and when slowing i slowly pull back the gearlever to select second gear and it is SO difficult to engauge, but the slower i go the slightly easier it feels to go in, obviously with the clutch down.

hopefully that makes sence? lol

 

[edwin884]

Change the oil in the gearbox!

 

[hitherematey]

Punto gearboxes don't like it when you try to select first when your still moving, even very slowly and second is the same when your going to fast for the gear.

I had a habit of selecting first when approaching queuing traffic etc at around 10mph (holding the clutch down) until I brought my Punto. On the odd occasion I had to press the clutch twice at a standstill to select first.

 

[dav3y]

i hear you, just have to get used to it arnt i lol.

i might well just invest in some gear oil, but do they not say you should never have to change the gearbox oil, like "a clutch should last the lifetime of the car" :bang:

 

[s and b]

i too think you have a worn clutch and worn dragging diaphragm so i too would be keeping them
as regards the whistle its most likely the tensioner and seeing as these cars have the thinner belt i would be changing it
you can do it in situ in 5 minutes just make sure you take the slack off the belt when replaced, i think it was a 13mm socket to undo it with

 

[DaveMcT]

Ive actually coasted and slowed to a particular junction i face down the end of my road each day, and when slowing i slowly pull back the gearlever to select second gear and it is SO difficult to engauge, but the slower i go the slightly easier it feels to go in, obviously with the clutch down.

This classic worn clutch that is not releasing properly. You dont get a crunch because the synchromesh is trying to make up the speed difference but its taking a hammering and will fail soon enough.

When the revs are matched you dont really need the clutch so the gear engage easily. When the revs drop to tickover it wont engage because the revs are missmatched and the clutch is dragging.

The car almost certainly needs a new clutch. Also make sure the input shaft bearing is carefully examined. ANY slack at all means it must be replaced or have the clutch covered in oil within a few months.