Hi going to have a wee test drive of a 1.2 16v Punto tomorrow and was wondering if there is anything i should look out for?
Thanks
mountainmachine
Thanks
mountainmachine
General Thinks to check on a 1.2 16v 2004 Punto
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General Thinks to check on a 1.2 16v 2004 Punto
I have had problems with differentials in those, also ive heard they develope a lot of electrical problems, i know it is a bit mean but i wouldnt buy a punto unless i was getting a good deal, eventhough i have 2 puntos
make sure gearbox is resobably smooth and doesn't judder when accelerating and bumbling about (I mean quite a violent judder that you can feel thr the stick, seat, and wheel!).
check ac works if it has it (i.e run it for at least 10mins and make sure it still kicks out cold air after 10mins use).
make sure clutch doesn't judder badly.
engine doesn't overheat.
no panel damage (i/e all gaps line up and are equal, quite popular for crashed ones to make it back onto the forecourt!).
interior doesn't look like someones eaten it, especailly door plastics etc, its very annoying when you spot some massive gouge down a really obvious bit that you previously didn't spot.
no warning lights appear on dash.
bonnet catch isn't seized!!!! rubbish design on teh mk2b's that goes sideways and out of the four I've looked at (jtd versions) they were all seized up, one totally!!!
engine isn't leaking anything, small weeps are OK, large dribbles and patchs aren't.
engine doesn't rev upto stupid revs on its own.
boot release catch works
bumpers and mirrors aren't scuffed, mismatched, broken, dented. as punto's get a lot of abuse, especially in the car park from other cars, so have a really good look down each side for door marks.
check ac works if it has it (i.e run it for at least 10mins and make sure it still kicks out cold air after 10mins use).
make sure clutch doesn't judder badly.
engine doesn't overheat.
no panel damage (i/e all gaps line up and are equal, quite popular for crashed ones to make it back onto the forecourt!).
interior doesn't look like someones eaten it, especailly door plastics etc, its very annoying when you spot some massive gouge down a really obvious bit that you previously didn't spot.
no warning lights appear on dash.
bonnet catch isn't seized!!!! rubbish design on teh mk2b's that goes sideways and out of the four I've looked at (jtd versions) they were all seized up, one totally!!!
engine isn't leaking anything, small weeps are OK, large dribbles and patchs aren't.
engine doesn't rev upto stupid revs on its own.
boot release catch works
bumpers and mirrors aren't scuffed, mismatched, broken, dented. as punto's get a lot of abuse, especially in the car park from other cars, so have a really good look down each side for door marks.
Cool thanks for the replys, its at 29K and is an 04 plate, but dont know exactly when it was regisered yet. So hopefull that means it'll have a few months still under manufacturers warranty. (just in case! although i beleive its 3yrs or 36K is that still the case)
I've had loads of FIATs over my life so know the major things to look out for and as the 1.2 16v is the same as the one in my old Brava it makes things a bit simpler! As i have replaced the head gasket and valves/belts etc on that! (whith a bit of help - cough lot of help).
Use to own an 1.2 8v Mk1 so hopefully the 1.2 16v should shift quite a bit more as was pleased with the engine in the Brava, although now got the 155 HGT Bravo, so nearly double the horses.
The punto is for my sister down in Derby so i'll check it over well before purchase, and run it for a week or so before she gets the keys!
Although i'll need to relearn the keeping speedup into corners bit and wont leave braking as late as i can in my HGT! I'll save myself a bit of cash of course! My need to keep my eye out for a cheap JTD Fiat, for a runnarond.
I've had loads of FIATs over my life so know the major things to look out for and as the 1.2 16v is the same as the one in my old Brava it makes things a bit simpler! As i have replaced the head gasket and valves/belts etc on that! (whith a bit of help - cough lot of help).
Use to own an 1.2 8v Mk1 so hopefully the 1.2 16v should shift quite a bit more as was pleased with the engine in the Brava, although now got the 155 HGT Bravo, so nearly double the horses.
The punto is for my sister down in Derby so i'll check it over well before purchase, and run it for a week or so before she gets the keys!
Although i'll need to relearn the keeping speedup into corners bit and wont leave braking as late as i can in my HGT! I'll save myself a bit of cash of course! My need to keep my eye out for a cheap JTD Fiat, for a runnarond.
just replace the HGT with a HGT jtd, then your singing
Yup although as i got a bargain and grabbed my X-Reg HGT for alot less than it was worth, i really cant complain, i've seen a 02 JTD HGT at a pound or so under £4K. The savings i've made can pay the difference in my petrol consumption for yrs to come!
Ok so drive 38 miles to see the car, it looks lovely, is a trade sale, can i have the keys sure.. first thing i do is pop the hood its an f3ckin 8valve! I go back into the wee office, i say thats an 8valve - is it he says, whats it say it is on autotrader - a 16valve and so did the person i spoke to yestarday.
Does it matter its an 8 valve he says... why the hell do you think i'd drive all this way to see it! Grrrrr! You should have double checked he says! I check autotrader website, there ownb website and phoned up... ohh well he says and walks away!
I see they've changed it now but a letter will be getting sent. As that was a 72mile round trip wasted at 33mpg. I'll be sending one to them and one to trading standards as that was false advertisng, if my mum or sister had went on there own they would have bought it thinking it was a 16 valve!
So to name and shame:
Wightman
10 Bothwell Road
Uddingtston
G71 7EU
Does it matter its an 8 valve he says... why the hell do you think i'd drive all this way to see it! Grrrrr! You should have double checked he says! I check autotrader website, there ownb website and phoned up... ohh well he says and walks away!
I see they've changed it now but a letter will be getting sent. As that was a 72mile round trip wasted at 33mpg. I'll be sending one to them and one to trading standards as that was false advertisng, if my mum or sister had went on there own they would have bought it thinking it was a 16 valve!
So to name and shame:
Wightman
10 Bothwell Road
Uddingtston
G71 7EU
they did it knowingly.
I think a lot of these people that use autotrader. ebay etc just think its some kind of a joke, you can tell them when they are using a computer, they sort of look at it like its full of weeny little pixy people.
well they don't but you know what I mean, their always smug about it!!
that fella that bought a mk2 16v abarth, and when he got it home, took loads of pics for us, and then the comment, err thats an 8v!!
poor lad, he was devastated, then he took defensive action and kept it!!!! dealer would have made a pretty penny and the kid was too devastated to retur it!
I think a lot of these people that use autotrader. ebay etc just think its some kind of a joke, you can tell them when they are using a computer, they sort of look at it like its full of weeny little pixy people.
well they don't but you know what I mean, their always smug about it!!
that fella that bought a mk2 16v abarth, and when he got it home, took loads of pics for us, and then the comment, err thats an 8v!!
poor lad, he was devastated, then he took defensive action and kept it!!!! dealer would have made a pretty penny and the kid was too devastated to retur it!
Yup the car i looked at today was £500 underpriced as a 16v and spot on as an 8v! You think if i ripped them off £500 they'd have something to say about it. Have had 2 garages now advertising 8v's as 16v's thankfully one was local!
The local one i started up, said that doesnt sound right poped the hood and low and behold! - an 8v! They look at you like there's no difference! Why do you need a 16v... because i've owned a damm 8v for the last six yrs, and its underpowered with 2+ peeps in the car, never mind the better acceleration mpg etc, also owned a 1.2 16v Brava! So can comment on both!
After all the 8v engine design must be pushing 10+ yrs, as all they seem to have redesigned of late is the air box!
The heart of the beast! Now to find the ones of the 1.2 16v when i had the head off!
The local one i started up, said that doesnt sound right poped the hood and low and behold! - an 8v! They look at you like there's no difference! Why do you need a 16v... because i've owned a damm 8v for the last six yrs, and its underpowered with 2+ peeps in the car, never mind the better acceleration mpg etc, also owned a 1.2 16v Brava! So can comment on both!
After all the 8v engine design must be pushing 10+ yrs, as all they seem to have redesigned of late is the air box!
The heart of the beast! Now to find the ones of the 1.2 16v when i had the head off!
Ok well now phoned up about 6 or 7 seemingly 16v punto's.. All turned out to be 8valves! So i guess the key thing to check is that the lying robbing (insert foul language) of a garage has actual got a 16v and isnt just blaming autotrader when it turns out to be an 8v!
So CHECK ITS A 16 VALVE as more often than not its an 8V!
So CHECK ITS A 16 VALVE as more often than not its an 8V!
