Technical Keep my Punto? Or bad money after good?

[Stevil Knevil]

I've recently been driving my girl friends Punto (1.2l 16v, 2000). It's got 100000miles on the clock and hasn't been serviced in the past couple of years.

There seem to be many miscellaneous problems:
1 Powered steering sometimes switched off (when going over potholes)
2 ICV is drity
3 Injection system occasionally throws an error and switches off.
4 Possible hole in the exhaust
5 General lack of power!

I'm going to splash out on a Haynes manual, and I'm guessing there are a whole bunch of things that could help (oil change, air filter change, gearbox oil change?).

My question is: Is it worth continuing to spend money on it or is it probably due to be put out to pasture? What things could I do easily and cheaply to help it out (and ideally reduce the cost of a service!)

All opinions gratefully received

 

[MikeSalt]

Probably worth putting the car right to be fair. There are a lot of bad cars out there wih a significantly longer 'to-do' list.

1 and 3 could be a common electrical fault. Check the security of the lead between the battery negative terminal and the car body.

2. Remind me what ICV is.

4. Exhausts are consumable, they are only made of poorly galvanized mild steel, could happen to any car at any time (except stainless exhausts)

5. A good service should sort this. When was the last time the air filter was replaced.

If you do choose to put it all right, for God's sake put a new cambelt kit on it. The 16v is an interference-type engine so a broken belt would undo all your good work and then some.

 

[MikeSalt]

Ahh yes, Injection Control Valve. It is easily damaged by direct cleaning. Consider using a fuel additive such as Redex first before direct action.

 

[richie.guy]

ICV is idle control valve and it's not easily damaged by direct cleaning.

 

[MikeSalt]

Damn acronyms! In reading the other thread, I realized that 5mm of travel was a lot for an injection solenoid. Injector cleaner wouldn't be very effective in cleaning the idle control valve.