Punto (Mk2/2b) My Orange MK2 Punto

[homeward]

Your rear lights may be as simple as an earthing problem: either in the cluster, or at the earthing point in the boot. Remove the light with the reverse bulb in, disconnect the connector, and see what condition the terminals are in. If they're tarnished or dirty, clean them, and refit. Also make sure the bulbs are tight, and don't wobble...!

On the Speedgear Puntos, you frequently get this fault causing all sorts of mishaps: from the gearbox doing its normal reverse beep, when you brake (because of the short circuit), to the gearbox fault light coming on (looks like an open car boot...)! While you have the light cluster off, clean all fourteen years of cr*p out from there... -- and then move to the offside one. It's amazing how much can get trapped...!

Don't forget the filter for the gearbox oil... -- and get those photos posted now. I love orange Puntos...!

 

[YST]

Your rear lights may be as simple as an earthing problem: either in the cluster, or at the earthing point in the boot. Remove the light with the reverse bulb in, disconnect the connector, and see what condition the terminals are in. If they're tarnished or dirty, clean them, and refit. Also make sure the bulbs are tight, and don't wobble...!

On the Speedgear Puntos, you frequently get this fault causing all sorts of mishaps: from the gearbox doing its normal reverse beep, when you brake (because of the short circuit), to the gearbox fault light coming on (looks like an open car boot...)! While you have the light cluster off, clean all fourteen years of cr*p out from there... -- and then move to the offside one. It's amazing how much can get trapped...!

Don't forget the filter for the gearbox oil... -- and get those photos posted now. I love orange Puntos...!

The connector for the reversing lights is so gunked up with grease that no cleaning has helped and I can see the pin is damaged. I will try and post a picture when I do it. I bought a rear loom from a breaker that is nice and clean so will chop the cables and use a block to connect the new connector.

Is it normal for the 'R' not to show up on the dash when reversing?

I will make sure the filter gets changed too. Think I will do a general oil change too.

Here is a picture from the day I got it. Will take more tomorrow!

 

[homeward]

The connector for the reversing lights is so gunked up with grease that no cleaning has helped and I can see the pin is damaged. I will try and post a picture when I do it. I bought a rear loom from a breaker that is nice and clean so will chop the cables and use a block to connect the new connector.

Is it normal for the 'R' not to show up on the dash when reversing?

I will make sure the filter gets changed too. Think I will do a general oil change too.

Working backwards: might be worth checking the plugs and leads, whilst you're at it. (Sorry to keep adding to your list, though....) :idea:

'R' should show on the dash: so I wonder if it's connected. Sort the lights out, first, and report back. If the reverse light then works, and it goes into reverse, I'm a bit stumped... -- but we shall see. dave might have some ideas.... :worship:

Anyhoo: sounds like you know what you're doing. I shall have my fingers crossed for the loom replacement sorting everything out.... (Just make sure everything is well insulated -- it can get quite damp behind (and in) those clusters....) Good luck...!

 

[homeward]

Gorgeous, and a lot cleaner than mine! :worship:

Just one small note: although front bumpers are interchangeable between three-and five-door models (but not between Mk2 and Mk2b), the rears are different…!

 

[YST]

Gorgeous, and a lot cleaner than mine! :worship:

Just one small note: although front bumpers are interchangeable between three-and five-door models (but not between Mk2 and Mk2b), the rears are different…!

haha, its a nightmare isn't it, all the cleaning!

Ohh I didn't realise that. could look a bit odd with different bumpers? Any suggestions?

Local garage wants £1300 for a respray!

 

[homeward]

haha, its a nightmare isn't it, all the cleaning!

Especially if you have more than one... -- which is why (plus health issues; and living in the middle of nowhere...) I have a reputation for turning up at local meets in a very dirty Punto...! She's always spotless and gleaming for shows, though....

Ohh I didn't realise that. could look a bit odd with different bumpers? Any suggestions?

Mine looks fine with the front bumper from a Sporting on it, and the original rear. If you have a hunt, there are five-door body kits around -- but they're not cheap. Side skirts from a three-door also have to be fettled to fit: but I don't think it's major.... :chin:

[Sorry: I feel like I'm making life complicated for you. You have the twin car of mine, though -- so I hope you don't mind me trying to condense all my learning into these pithy warnings...!]

Local garage wants £1300 for a respray!

That sounds pretty reasonable. My front bumper cost me £180 -- although that included repairing the stone chips on the bonnet, etc. (which have since reappeared -- in different places, though -- of course...). There's a lot of prep needed; and I'm not -- to be honest -- convinced that it's necessary. These are old cars. (Having said that, I did have Betty, my Mk2 Panda, 'blown over' -- but then she's one of a kind: which, of course, your Punto could be, eventually...!) It's probably better to make sure the car is fully undersealed, and any rust treated, etc., first.... :idea:

[Sorry: I'm lecturing again....] :nono:

As the saying round these 'ere parts goes: Look after it, and it will look after you...!

 

[YST]

Mine looks fine with the front bumper from a Sporting on it, and the original rear. If you have a hunt, there are five-door body kits around -- but they're not cheap. Side skirts from a three-door also have to be fettled to fit: but I don't think it's major....

[Sorry: I feel like I'm making life complicated for you. You have the twin car of mine, though -- so I hope you don't mind me trying to condense all my learning into these pithy warnings...!]

Don't be sorry at all! I would rather find all this information out from someone who has experienced it first hand. Very useful! Just looked at yours and it actually looks really nice in terms of the bumpers and so think I will do something similar.

That sounds pretty reasonable. My front bumper cost me £180 -- although that included repairing the stone chips on the bonnet, etc. (which have since reappeared -- in different places, though -- of course...). There's a lot of prep needed; and I'm not -- to be honest -- convinced that it's necessary. These are old cars. (Having said that, I did have Betty, my Mk2 Panda, 'blown over' -- but then she's one of a kind: which, of course, your Punto could be, eventually...!) It's probably better to make sure the car is fully undersealed, and any rust treated, etc., first....

Yeah, I guess I will wait anyway and see how it all looks afterwards. the pain chips are really annoying but rather minor. Don't think I am going to have much choice about the doors though. The black strips are peeling away from the black tape on the car! Need to get them off asap before I am just left with black sticky stripes lol.

Didn't think about the undersealing! so thank you for reminding me haha.


Where did you get your lights from?

 

[s and b]

special paint on those orange puntos
be very careful if you decide to touch it in as you can make them look worse
nice car by the way

 

[YST]

special paint on those orange puntos
be very careful if you decide to touch it in as you can make them look worse
nice car by the way

So I saw. I gave it a quick hand clean just now and you can see where it has been touched up. Looks dreadful on rear bumper! So much so that it doesn't even match the rest of the car. Will definitely need a respray as it will frustrate me otherwise. Love the orange personally

Thanks!

 

[homeward]

Where did you get your lights from?

I honestly can't remember. Sorry. Cost about £120, IIRC. You need to drop the bumper to fit them, by the way....

I think you may need to go Googling...!

 

[oldhammer]

iwill have apair for sale soon,

just wating to find a pair of standard headlights,

keep alook out on Classified adds here on the forum,

 

[David Dawson]

iwill have apair for sale soon,

just wating to find a pair of standard headlights,

keep alook out on Classified adds here on the forum,

Check this out: FIAT PUNTO MK2 99-03 HEADLAMPS HEADLIGHTS NO FOG PAIR - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIAT-PUNTO-MK2-99-03-HEADLAMPS-HEADLIGHTS-NO-FOG-PAIR-/330470269923

 

[oldhammer]

Check this out: FIAT PUNTO MK2 99-03 HEADLAMPS HEADLIGHTS NO FOG PAIR - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIAT-PUNTO-MK2-99-03-HEADLAMPS-HEADLIGHTS-NO-FOG-PAIR-/330470269923

need ones with fogs mate, for active sport,

besides that 72quid for 1 shocking price that,

 

[YST]

Yeah deffo need ones with fogs and that price is nuts. In no rush so will just keep looking around

 

[David Dawson]

Ah didn't realise you needed fogs!

I saw the price,I was just alerting you to the fact that eBay have some knocking around. Also, have you tried breakers or salvage yards?

 

[puntofan01]

Hey!

So back in December I got an orange me 2 punto as my first car. It's a 1.2 16v Speedgear Automatic Yr 2000, now has 61k mileage and I bloody love it. I never thought I would want to do much to it but after browsing the forums and seeing what others have done I have certainly changed my mind! It is going to be a slow process but I am going to make her something else.

I will add photos tomorrow when I can get a break from the madness!

Here is a list of things I would like to do, if you can think of anything else you think would be a nice addition then do let me know. I will post general updates about the car here but will most likely make posts about various things from time to time!

Essential:
Change gearbox oil
Install rear lighting loom due to reversing lights not working

Desirable:
Alloys - not sure what ones yet!
Debadge and remove side strips as they are already peeling off!
Sun strip on windscreen as I hate the sun visors
Carputer (will need a thread of its own for that one!)
Possibly new bumper and side skirts

Nooooo!! Don't modify it!!! Puntos are far to good to be modified!! The mk2 Punto is a fantastic piece of automotive design. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

 

[oldhammer]

Ah didn't realise you needed fogs!

I saw the price,I was just alerting you to the fact that eBay have some knocking around. Also, have you tried breakers or salvage yards?

imake my own breakers yard

im just waiting for cheap punto to chop - to turn up on the good old gumtree.

 

[David Dawson]

imake my own breakers yard

im just waiting for cheap punto to chop - to turn up on the good old gumtree.

Too good to chop, that's why you can't find any

 

[puntofan01]

So here are the pictures. I took her for a wash this morning but she is so grubby that I am going to have to hand wash as the jet just didn't do good enough.

I noticed a few more paint chips today which is annoying so once I have the side skirts and bumpers etc I think I may send for a respray!

That is a beautiful car mate. My dad currently has 1 the same atm, and it's thanks to that car that I have such a massive love for Puntos, and own the pictured example.

The only way you can improve yours is by finding some good condition ELX wheeltrims, or HLX alloys, and paint the strip on the rear bumper black, to match the side strips mate. Anything else would ruin a great example of the mk2 Punto.