Technical Replacing strut mount

[AnthonyH]

I guess, i've never had a stone chipped windscreen of any consequence on my 4 Puntos so far. So it feels like Punto windscreens are made of metal lol.

It is bad luck really, i didn't get much sleep last night, nothing exciting just been busy. If i'd left this for another day the windscreen would still be intact.

Such is life!

 

[AnthonyH]

I've just started on this again.

The crack in the windscreen has gotten bigger, too big to consider repairing, so it'll have to have a new one. How did that happen?

Currently fighting with some rusty bolts!

 

[Greasytrucker]

I've just started on this again.

The crack in the windscreen has gotten bigger, too big to consider repairing, so it'll have to have a new one. How did that happen?

Currently fighting with some rusty bolts!

You love rusty bolts Cracks in screens often grow overnight due to changes in temperature, very common

 

[AnthonyH]

The strut is different to that on a Punto, so i managed to unfurl the spring on the car, that gave me a startle, and the driveshaft a jolt! Nothing broken or damaged though. The main problem is...

The strut mount doesn't fit. It is an Amazon confirmed fit supposedly, its the top one in the picture. The ball bearings fell out of the old one.

I've not checked the strut to see if its still alive or not. So this job has a part three or four...

 

[AnthonyH]

The strut itself is in good order, it looks very rusty but is competely functional. Looks original too. When i changed the front springs on my GP the strut gave up the ghost so i'm a bit surprised this one didn't.

A new strut mount has been ordered and should be ready to collect from GSF tomorrow for £59. The non-fitting strut mount from Amazon has gone back, that was only £37.

The new bolts arrived.

 

[AnthonyH]

I went to collect the strut mount from GSF but they couldn't find it...so I then ordered it online and it was delivered today. Its the right part and will fit.

I discovered why the old strut mount failed, the previous mechanic had changed the springs and not put the dust cover back on properly. The owner of the car then took it being a Fiat 500X Cross a bit far and drove it cross country over a load of sand. The old strut mount was filled with that sand.

I should also add that the old mount had a rubber band preventing ingress of dirt. Not the best design.

I can make some progress tomorrow

 

[AnthonyH]

A few days ago I came to try to put the mount on the strut, only to find my spring compressors are too short, they're fine for a Punto but not a 500X. So then I bought some longer compressors online and had another go today. It was kind of painful, what would be a 15 minute job with a garage compressor took me 90 minutes. Arrrgh. The compressors were on and off so they didn't block anything, then my rattle gun battery died so i ended up doing it all by hand lol. Punto struts are much easier to do.

The mount is on now, and i can try to get the strut on at the weekend.

There's nothing like spending 10 days doing a single strut eh? lol. And breaking your own windscreen. If i'd taken this to a garage they'd just fix the strut mount and break something else anyway, so not much difference!

I imagine the other strut mount will be dying before too long, so i'll know how to do the job quicker next time.

 

[AnthonyH]

The new strut mount went on without any problems. The car is chucking an engine management light at me and running a bit rich, i've had that before and its probably because the car has been sat there doing not much for too long.

Cheapest quote i've had for a new windscreen is £300.

 

[Greasytrucker]

The new strut mount went on without any problems. The car is chucking an engine management light at me and running a bit rich, i've had that before and its probably because the car has been sat there doing not much for too long.

Cheapest quote i've had for a new windscreen is £300.

Glad you’re having a bit more luck now Have you not got a fault code for the EML? £300 is what i’d be expecting for a screen outright

 

[AnthonyH]

Glad you’re having a bit more luck now Have you not got a fault code for the EML? £300 is what i’d be expecting for a screen outright

I've not checked the codes, it feels like if I do and there's a big problem then i'll want to fix that and not get the car on the road, so i'll drive it with the EML at least for a while LOL.

The windscreen is still paining me, i've not made an expensive mistake like this before so i'm being a little avoidant of getting it fixed. It must be done next week though

 

[Greasytrucker]

I've not checked the codes, it feels like if I do and there's a big problem then i'll want to fix that and not get the car on the road, so i'll drive it with the EML at least for a while LOL.

The windscreen is still paining me, i've not made an expensive mistake like this before so i'm being a little avoidant of getting it fixed. It must be done next week though

If it’s running a bit rich but still driving ok i’d take a punt on it being the pre cat Lambda sensor, I doubt it’s anything serious tbh. The windscreen is just a life lesson, something that will most probably never happen again. I wouldn’t recommend driving for too long with the EML on as it will be using more fuel, and also won’t be doing your catalytic converter any good. A Lambda sensor is much cheaper to replace than a Cat, trust me I’ve learned the hard way on that one

 

[AnthonyH]

It has done this before, the battery went dead, i took the battery out to charge it, when i put the battery back on it ran rich for a while and gave me the EML. After a while it sorted itself and the EML went out, possibly the battery is low, but not dead? Not sure but i'm not concerned at this time.

Oddly the throw out bearing on my GP has stopped scratching/buzzing when i press the clutch. That was time pressurising me to get the 500X on the road because i thought i had to get a new clutch on there ASAP. But its now shut up?! Any idea what thats about?

 

[Greasytrucker]

It has done this before, the battery went dead, i took the battery out to charge it, when i put the battery back on it ran rich for a while and gave me the EML. After a while it sorted itself and the EML went out, possibly the battery is low, but not dead? Not sure but i'm not concerned at this time.

Oddly the throw out bearing on my GP has stopped scratching/buzzing when i press the clutch. That was time pressurising me to get the 500X on the road because i thought i had to get a new clutch on there ASAP. But its now shut up?! Any idea what thats about?

Might just be the weather being a bit damper has quietened it down for a bit, normally that sort of noise returns again one it’s reared its ugly head unfortunately

 

[AnthonyH]

Might just be the weather being a bit damper has quietened it down for a bit, normally that sort of noise returns again one it’s reared its ugly head unfortunately

Aye, won't be long and it'll be buzzing again i expect, its handy that it has given me a brief reprieve though! The exhaust on the GP sounds like a tank too lol. I'm not sure if the backbox has broke internally or has a hole from inside to outside. It might fall off *shrug* lol

 

[Greasytrucker]

Aye, won't be long and it'll be buzzing again i expect, its handy that it has given me a brief reprieve though! The exhaust on the GP sounds like a tank too lol. I'm not sure if its broke internally or has a hole from inside to outside. It might fall off *shrug* lol

Is that the one with the drinks can repair? If so treat it to a new one you tight ar*e!

 

[AnthonyH]

Is that the one with the drinks can repair? If so treat it to a new one you tight ar*e!

Nah thats on my EVO and already fell apart, that is now kept together with garden wire! lol