Technical Punto with problems

[samsambuckingham]

Hi everyone, I have just joined today as have been trying to find information to help us fix my Punto and this site keeps coming up.

My husband is pretty handy with a spanner but we don't really know where to start.

I have had my Punto since February but in the past month it has developed 3 faults.

Firstly my blower switch stopped working on the lower 3 settings (we have bought a second-hand replacement panel but was a bigger job than expected to fit it so haven't yet done as not urgent).

Then it became lumpy to drive, feels like it is pulling back like I am in too lower a gear sometimes. No idea what would cause this? Blockage somewhere?

And thirdly the speedo sometimes just stops working for a few minutes then starts up again. Is this and electrical fault?

Could these all be related or just coincidental?

It is an S reg (1998) 1.2 16v Sporting 3 door.

If anyone can shed any light that would be a great help thankyou.

 

[DaveMcT]

The heater blower need a new resistor pack. Check them out on ebay.

Lumpy driving could be anything. When was it last serviced?
Also check the coolant level as this is one sign of a blown cylinder head gasket. You can also get the throttle body cleaned and make sure the crank sensor is clean.

The speedo drive is on the back of the gearbox near the driveshafts. Its probably faulty.

 

[samsambuckingham]

Thank you for your quick response.

My husband serviced it in March but does intend to do it again soon.

Is it really not the switch for the blower? We just assumed it was as this has happened on previous cars. Is that a bigger or smaller job to change the resistor pack?

Please not a head gasket, already lost 2 x Renault Scenics due to that

I will relay your suggestions to my husband, thanks again

 

[DaveMcT]

The resistor pack is easy to replace. Use Google "Punto heater resistor" and the forum search to find info on that. Other diagnostic stuff is only guesswork.

Head gaskets are easy enough to do on Fiats especially the 8V engines. But keep a close watch on coolant levels and dont drive if its not 100%. It will drop as the engine heats up and recover as it cools. But if the level is falling each day you have a leak. If you cant find the leak the HG has to be suspect.

The cooling system guides will tell you how to bleed the cooling system. But, if air is getting in there has to be a leak.

FiatECUScan software and OBD cable(s) will allow you to see the ECU error codes. These may give a clue to the poor running. Again, Google and forum search are your friends. Cables are under £30 and the basic software is free.

Another guess for the poor running is the O2 sensor. FiatECUScan will help with that, but you may need the paid-for version.