I can finally officially join an owners club! :)

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I can finally officially join an owners club! :)

BethD

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Joined
Apr 10, 2010
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Location
Chepstow, South Wales
Ok, so this isn't the first one I've joined.. But it's the first one I've joined that I can say it's my car.. All mine.. :D

I'm Beth, and I bought my first car yesterday.

A mk1 P reg Punto S 55. 1.1 in I'm not sure what colour.. Pinky to me, but my four year old says brown. (Talk about peeing on my bonfire!)


If I'm totally honest, I'm not 100% certain I'm going to get along with it, I've only ever driven Vauxhalls... But we needed something small (and I was NOT having a Corsa).

Anyway, here's my new baby...
First things first we need to sort the oil leak.. and find out what's causing that lovely annoying clunking noise.

My+Car.jpg
 
I'm sure I will to. :)
I'm looking forward to getting back behind the wheel as I haven't driven in 14 months, so it'll be interesting to say the least. :)
 
I drove her for the first time yesterday, and it was a bit of a jumpy start, literally.

But today she went just fine...
 
welcome. oil leak is probably this https://www.fiatforum.com/punto-gui...ket-without-having-leak-again-week-later.html

clonk could be a few things, from just the exhaust banging on back axle to radius arm. best get a free check at a place like ATS then post here what they say, before spending money

Cam Cover Gasket has been changed... But the leak is still there.
Checked the sump today, and there's a bolt missing.

My Dad's mate is going to have a look at it, and then he'll sort it. :D


Clunk is from the passenger side front.. which will also be looked at by Dad's mate. :)

Other than that though she's a lovely little runner. :)

B
 
Hello Beth and welcome. When I first joined here I was looking for somewhere to get a bit of technical advice if I needed it when I bought my Panda MJ a few years ago. To be honest I've given advice, joined in loads of daft threads, got advice and helped break up a few virtual punch-ups. Actually, come to think of it I think I've started one or two as well, but although I can't say there's never a dull moment, it is fair to say there aren't that many.

Wander round anywhere you like and you'll find there's no such thing as a daft question; unless I'm asking it.

Just a comment or two about your model of Punto. When I went back to driving tuition in 1995 after a break I was persuaded to return to BSM and had a few days without wheels so I decided to hire some. It turned out to be (new) Punto 55S 5-door. I was so impressed with it I can't tell you. The previous small cars I'd driven were my own 1989 Uno 60DS diesel and a 1.3 Metro. The Point seemed quick, willing, light to steer and really so different from the Metro.

I took Mrs. Beard and her parents to The Lakes for the weekend and on an A road up in't hills while rounding a right hand bend, a car came towards us on our side of the road. I swerved and braked with the left hand tyres on the gravel in the gutter yet it slowed down quickly and stayed well under conrol.

When I gave it back I thought this must be how all the latest bunch of small hatchbacks drive and was really looking forward to picking up the new 1.2 Corsa the next day at BSM. Was I in for a surprise? I know why you wouldn't want a Corsa of similar age. The Punto was so much better I really couldn't believe it. Apart from the amount of space inside, a 1.2 Nova was a much better car than the Corsa that replaced it.

Mrs. Beard bought a '98 Punto 60S from my Mother who'd had it from new and ran it without problem until a '05 Stilo hove into view. She bought that and kept it until February this year when the rear end of a Nissan X hove into view and wrote off the Stilo. She is now the proud owner of an '01 Alfa 156 2 litre so we're "keeping it in the family" so to speak.

I'm building a case for her to take over my Panda MJ and me to run her Alfa. So far I'm thinking of telling her that the Panda is cheaper to fuel, cheaper to insure, cheaper to tax, cheaper to service and easier to park. The trouble is that every time I run through that list; I persuade myslelf to keep the little FIAT!! Bugger!!

Oh, you'll also realise that my family motto is "Why use ten words when a thousand will do just as nicely."
 
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What a great post! I smiled all the way through it. :)

I may take a while to integrate into the community (or I may never do so) as I was stung badly on another owners club (in fact the same one I met my other half on so I know it wasn't all bad).

I passed my test in Oct07, and shared my Mam's '96 MK3 Astra.

Then it was a '98 Vectra B, followed for a very brief one journey in the other half's mk3 Astra GSi but I was too scared I'd break her considering she was his pride and joy.

We then bought a 2002 (02) Seat Alhambra in Feb, sold the Vectra a week later and the Alhambra has cost us a small fortune since. :mad: To the point I'm terrified of driving it.

I wanted a cheap car that would be cheap to insure as I'm under 25, and have no NCB (never had my own insurance policy).
I was going to have his mate's M-reg Fiesta, but it's a rust bucket and I'm not too keen on it, so that's where the punto came in. :)

I've already got clear side repeaters, and clear indicators - they just gotta be fitted.
OH has given her a full service and oil change. The oil leak is causing much scratching of heads though. :)

So, yes, there's my essay and history of driving.

B
 
Cam Cover Gasket has been changed... But the leak is still there.
Checked the sump today, and there's a bolt missing.

if the new one is fitted with no sealant they often do leak. 1 missing sump bolt shouldn't cause a leak, some times the sumps do rust away and need replacing. other common leaks are cam oil seal and O-ring seal on the coil pack holder
 
if the new one is fitted with no sealant they often do leak. 1 missing sump bolt shouldn't cause a leak, some times the sumps do rust away and need replacing. other common leaks are cam oil seal and O-ring seal on the coil pack holder

Thanks for all the suggestions..

We used sealant when fitting new one.

The oil isn't running down the engine but coming from underneath.

Thank you for your help. :)
 
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