Punto (Mk2/2b) Newbie Luddite

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Punto (Mk2/2b) Newbie Luddite

Joined
Mar 7, 2015
Messages
45
Points
9
Location
Yorkshire
Hello all,

My names Mik, im a mature student of Countryside Management in York. In September I bought a Mk2 1.2l, 5 door Punto on an 04 plate with 42000 on the clock.

Before I bought it I got hold of a Haynes, had a look at a few friends puntos. The week after, I was laid on my back in a muddy puddle under the fourth punto I'd seen. A few hours later it was sat on the drive.

It's been a good runner so far. You sort of expect problems when you buy cheap and treat it like an agricultural vehicle. Here's what I have had so far.

+Car had "aftermarket" speakers bodged into the parcel shelf when bought and were spliced onto the factory speakers. Removing them improved the sound of radio 4 :slayer:. Selling them paid for campsite in Cumbria (y).
+Said parcel shelf was snapped and caused an irritating squeak, velcro and aluminium bracket sorted that.
+Front suspension needed sorting, used a garage for this.
+Overheated in traffic, once home, bled cooling system, had air lock. Worried about H.G, turns out bleeding it solved problem, only for Radiator fan to die, spare still being sought.
+Oil sump plug irritatingly stuck fast.
+Bonnet release cable slack.

Potentially interested in CB radio fitting and any tips/ tricks you guys have to keep the little bugger running sound!

Cheers!
 
Welcome to the forum

5 doors are the best, I've moved house with mine, lugged a house worth of furniture from idea and fitted an entire Range Rover leather interior in the back. They are proper little work horses.

My inlaws are near York and the father inlaw is an amateur radio nut so I'm sure if you want I can put you in touch with some local people who could help you with a CB
 
Hello all,

My names Mik, im a mature student of Countryside Management in York. In September I bought a Mk2 1.2l, 5 door Punto on an 04 plate with 42000 on the clock.

Before I bought it I got hold of a Haynes, had a look at a few friends puntos. The week after, I was laid on my back in a muddy puddle under the fourth punto I'd seen. A few hours later it was sat on the drive.

It's been a good runner so far. You sort of expect problems when you buy cheap and treat it like an agricultural vehicle. Here's what I have had so far.

+Overheated in traffic, once home, bled cooling system, had air lock. Worried about H.G, turns out bleeding it solved problem, only for Radiator fan to die, spare still being sought.
+Oil sump plug irritatingly stuck fast.
+Bonnet release cable slack.

Potentially interested in any tips/ tricks you guys have to keep the little bugger running sound!

Cheers!


Hi,
and welcome to FF, :)

good solid cars,
you're doing the best thing.. actually caring;)

keeping an eye on fluids is the #1 really,
then basic common sense, (y)

16V motors can be prone to poor bleeding = airlocks:rolleyes:

and of course cam-belt failure is VERY expensive..,

whereas the 8V are "safe" so fit another belt and all is normally well:worship:


Charlie
 
Hello all,

It's been a good runner so far. You sort of expect problems when you buy cheap and treat it like an agricultural vehicle. Here's what I have had so far.

+Car had "aftermarket" speakers bodged into the parcel shelf when bought and were spliced onto the factory speakers. Removing them improved the sound of radio 4 :slayer:. Selling them paid for campsite in Cumbria (y).
Hi Mik,
Yup, R4 sounds FAR better without Boom Boom Boom (y):slayer:
Potentially interested in CB radio fitting and any tips/ tricks you guys have to keep the little bugger running sound!

Cheers!
Let me know what you want to know re CB etc. there is no mystery to it. Easy as fitting a car radio, easier in fact ;) (I hold a Class A Amateur license from 1982 :eek: yikes !) One tip, treat all antenna claims on web sites as total BS :rolleyes:
 
Thank you all! Looking forward to getting stuck in here. Apologies for three posting, But I am below the newbie 5 posts so cant quote you all in one!

Welcome to the forum

5 doors are the best, I've moved house with mine, lugged a house worth of furniture from idea and fitted an entire Range Rover leather interior in the back. They are proper little work horses.

My inlaws are near York and the father inlaw is an amateur radio nut so I'm sure if you want I can put you in touch with some local people who could help you with a CB

I have bought this car in good faith that "Work horse" is how many describe the cars. Its tackled a few Peak district and Cumbrian farm/ mine tracks. I might have to take you up on the CB radio bit once I have a good idea what I need! Cheers.
 
Hi,
and welcome to FF, :)

good solid cars,
you're doing the best thing.. actually caring;)



16V motors can be prone to poor bleeding = airlocks:rolleyes:

and of course cam-belt failure is VERY expensive..,

whereas the 8V are "safe" so fit another belt and all is normally well:worship:


Charlie

Thanks Charlie, mines the 8v. Its hardly "As new" and the last owner thrashed it a bit. It did struggle at the top end, But a few blasts of redex sorted that and saw a few quid fuel saving too.
 
Hi Mik,
Yup, R4 sounds FAR better without Boom Boom Boom (y):slayer:

Let me know what you want to know re CB etc. there is no mystery to it. Easy as fitting a car radio, easier in fact ;) (I hold a Class A Amateur license from 1982 :eek: yikes !) One tip, treat all antenna claims on web sites as total BS :rolleyes:

:D I did wonder, From what I could see I'd end up looking like a dodgem for what I (Think I) need. I part time as a Agricultural/Environmental contractor, doing fencing and the like. Some of the craic those arable lads have would make comedians look dull. I also could put it to good use at Fell- races, when out ecological surveying and just for general banter. I dont want to limit myself too much as I could be anywhere in the UK come April and might have problems with range.

Thanks
 
Thanks Charlie, mines the 8v. Its hardly "As new" and the last owner thrashed it a bit. It did struggle at the top end, But a few blasts of redex sorted that and saw a few quid fuel saving too.

the sump plug , is essentially a tapered grub screw ( self sealing..,)(y)
should come out..
only issue is if the steel sump body is badly corroded:eek: you could twist it with the torque..!!, :bang:

Charlie
 
the sump plug , is essentially a tapered grub screw ( self sealing..,)(y)
should come out..
only issue is if the steel sump body is badly corroded:eek: you could twist it with the torque..!!, :bang:

Charlie

Luckily, the sump seems sound. Had a good blast down the M180 today followed by a good soak in WD40, after tomorrow's commute I'll give it a go while the teas mashing and the oils warm. Cheers!
 
Here we are! This is my Punto as seen on the forecourt in Bradford two days before buying.



Its been looked after!



A true workhorse.

This week the bonnet release cable snapped, have managed to get it open without breaking anything. Parts are on order, will be using the snapped cable to draw the mains feed for the CB radio through the grommets to the battery. Swings and roundabouts!
 
So! It turns out the bonnet release cable fits snugly in its grommet, no cables can be placed alongside it. However.

Seeing a few posts about amps and fancy sound gubbins led me onto a grommet on the passengers side. Easy to get to, easier to get to the battery. Using a small leather awl, made a hole in the grommet and fibre sheet behind. Used broken bonnet release cable to fish the line from footwell to battery.

Inside the bonnet, 2amp inline fuse to +, negative cable to earthing point behind the passenger headlight.

Inside the car, cable run behind centre console, under carpet in driver footwell. From there I've taken cable into the door using the pipe (?). Quick test and the transceiver lights up.

Next jobs,
Mount a switch into the top of the drivers speaker, to prevent any unwanted drain on the battery.
Pop a hole in the speaker/door pocket divider for antenna cable and power cable.
Mount the transceiver on the inside of the door (let's me use it while sat outside of car...)
Run antenna cable through kick plates to boot, then up inside pillar to roof, out beside hinges to the mag mounted thunderpole orbiter HD. Potential 10 miles coverage.

All in time for the offroaders and agric's to start in summer. It's going to be a hoot!
 
Update:

High pitched squealing coming from front drivers side wheel. Will check wear of brake pads (Fitted in December). I have no heavy brake foot so cant see it being this...

Annoying vibrate appeared. Happens most when slowing and accelerating. Think it could be heat shields on underside of car. But I am no mechanic. Any suggestions on how to secure these?

I am aware not many people will keep an eye on this thread, But iI thought id keep everything in one place.

Cheers in advance folks!
 
It's been a while, things have definitely changed for the better.

So the odo's at 55k,the majority of milage has been done on motorways. However, due to the work I do, this little beast has had to suffer some challenges. Aside from the odd muddy/grassy hill, my punto has been thrown up all the passes in Cumbria.

The worst was a steep part of the Hardknott pass, where part the way up its bum end decided to lift the front wheels off the road (NOT fun). With a little bit of ingenuity (Ratchet strapping everything in the boot to the bonnet) The car made it. Unfortunately that incident caused the exhaust to come unwelded.

Another moment of fun came when using the punto as a Base for a survey near the old cart Road at the Base of Great Dodd. Everyone bet on what they thought was my stupidity at considering taking the punto up there, in the dark. The punto made it with just one hiccup, earning a couple of charities their share of 100 quid. The hiccup? Ground clearance, Not enough of it! But if you take a good run up you can pass all problems.

Unfortunately, unlike the HGT models, no under engine cover is mounted to the punto. Also, the rear suspension tends to panic when the car is pointing upwards. So the next jobs? Van suspension and an engine tray. Anyone got any suggestions?

Finally, Rally Lamps. Not quite Lancia, but done well, they look and work Fantastic on a peat bog.
 

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