Punto (Mk2/2b) Need help please

[Stevemorrell]

I have recently bought a punto 03 plate as my first car. Just after any advice of things that go wrong with these cars it's done almost 77000 miles and sounds and looks fine. I have a few things that I have noticed like the boot levers need replacing and the drivers door seems to have sagged, but the main thing is the gear lever when I lift the thing on the stick to put in reverse it doesn't retract automatically. Any ideas how to fix this would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[portland_bill]

Not sure what controls this, likely to be a spring under the gear lever.
Gently pull the gaiter off and have a look at the mechanism. It could just need a bit of lubrication, or cleaning out of 14 years of fluff. If a spring is broken, there is no listing of individual bits for the lever assembly, so you'd need to find something suitable. I'd guess anything might do, or try to find one in a scrappy. Have a look, see what you find.

 

[flisko]

its spring below gear stick

 

[Stevemorrell]

Not sure what controls this, likely to be a spring under the gear lever.
Gently pull the gaiter off and have a look at the mechanism. It could just need a bit of lubrication, or cleaning out of 14 years of fluff. If a spring is broken, there is no listing of individual bits for the lever assembly, so you'd need to find something suitable. I'd guess anything might do, or try to find one in a scrappy. Have a look, see what you find.

Thanks for the reply.
I've had one look under the gaiter and I think the spring must be broken, I can't see a way of taking it apart to replace it without replacing the whole thing so I will have to try and make some thing or get used to it

 

[nitramtpr]

Common things on a MK2 Punto are...

1. Steering column goes heavy - Warning light on dash.
This can be either the motor, the relays or the battery is starting to fail. Loads of info on here about it.

2. Rocker cover gasket goes leaky.
Just get a new one and follow the guide to replace it.

3. Steel water pipe behind exhaust manifold rots and causes water leaks.
Again, get a new one and follow the guide to replace it.

4. Headlights go cloudy.
They can be cleared up with a kit, I just bought a couple of new (old) ones from a local breakers yard.

5. RUST, if left you can end up with rust under the arches front and rear, also under the sills. If you get rust under the sills or in the rear arches this could lead to an MOT failure if the rot is too close to the seatbelt mounting points.

Um, there may be more but that is all I can think of at the mo.

 

[s and b]

gear knob has to come off to replace the spring
if you take the plastic bit off below the knob off below make sure its replaced the same way it came off as its easy to get this wrong
if gluing gear knob back on be aware not to get it on the slidy uppy down bit

as said treat any under car rust found soonest if it could cause a long term mot failure
wash out rear wheel arches
make sure rear carpets arent damp
check oil and water weekly,head gaskets usually go due to poor maintenance ie leaks rather than going pop

 

[Stevemorrell]

Thanks I'll check for these and fix asap