Car Problem

djk1000 · 04-09-2008 4:07pm #1

Hi all,

I'm having a problem with my car, haven't come across anything like this before. I drive a 00 fiat punto, one day recently, I noticed that when I put my foot on the accelerator, the car takes off very slowly. Press the accelerator more and I can here the engine revving, the car accelerates, but as quickly as normal.

First thought was that it's the clutch, but I changed the clutch 2 years ago, there is no burning smell and the problem is the same whether I'm going up a steep hill or going down one.

Any ideas? I'm always a bit nervous about taking the car to a garage unless I can show the mechanic that I know what I'm on about!

Thanks

jimmycrackcorm · 04-09-2008 4:11pm

sounds like clutch slip to me. I experienced the same recently and there was no burning smell.

djk1000 · 04-09-2008 4:15pm

I've experienced it before too (hense the new clutch 2 years ago), but this seems different, I don't think I can get through a clutch in 2 years of moderate mileage!

cabrwab · 04-09-2008 4:22pm

Stinks of clutch to me! I know it'd be what i would be cursing if it was me. Its revving when you press the accel yeah?

If its chugging along maybe fault air sensor or something aong those lines its a garage job i say if you aint a mech!

EDIT: Depends on your driving style or what driving you've be doing over 2years that the clutch is gone. I thought puntos went through clutches?

tdikeith · 04-09-2008 4:47pm

i know what the problem is

u bought a fiat.

best of luck

L-M · 04-09-2008 7:53pm

tdikeith wrote: »

i know what the problem is

u bought a fiat.

best of luck

Lol, we get alot of this on here, and it gets a bit out dated. Do a search for Renault and Fiat and you'll find all these smart comments. I'm sure it's greatly appreciated though, your onto a good start.

OP a clutch can go in a day. It sounds very clutch like. I would say the only thing you can do is to get a mechanic to have a look, as it will be alot easier to diagnose.

crosstownk · 04-09-2008 8:43pm

I'd be inclined to agree with others and suspect the clutch.

crosstownk · 04-09-2008 8:45pm

I'd be inclined to agree with others and suspect the clutch.

And as for the earlier 'Fiat' comment - a clutch is a wear and tear item and will eventually fail on every car that has one fitted.

Mr.Diagnostic · 04-09-2008 8:50pm

There is hardly enough here to make an educated guess but besides the cutch it kinda sounds like the description of a car thats off a cyl. Revs build but no power to match??

Kinda like a quiz.

Hope the OP comes back when its fixed to tell us the outcome.

L-M · 04-09-2008 8:51pm

Mr.Diagnostic wrote: »

Kinda like a quiz. Hope the OP comes back when its fixed to tell us the outcome.

Lol hopefully, seems to be the case with alot of people who ask questions, no one comes back to tell us who's right haha:p

crosstownk · 04-09-2008 8:59pm

Mr.Diagnostic wrote: »

There is hardly enough here to make an educated guess but besides the cutch it kinda sounds like the description of a car thats off a cyl. Revs build but no power to match??

Kinda like a quiz. Hope the OP comes back when its fixed to tell us the outcome.

Yep - I wonder is it a case of pressing the accelerator and the OP can hear the engine under load rather than the RPM increasing.

OP - Look at your rev counter and verify if the engine is actually revving.

djk1000 · 05-09-2008 2:35pm

It's definitely revving, I'll get it to the mechanic to check out. On the bright side, I was looking for a new car even before this happened.

Masada · 05-09-2008 3:00pm

the coil pack is a common failure on them, it could be missing on a cylinder and struggling a little.,

djk1000 · 18-09-2008 10:31am

I got the distinctive clutch burning smell shortly after my post. Took it to the mechanic and it was indeed the clutch!

Thanks for your contributions guys.

Darragh29 · 18-09-2008 11:14am

djk1000 wrote: »

I've experienced it before too (hense the new clutch 2 years ago), but this seems different, I don't think I can get through a clutch in 2 years of moderate mileage!

Easily on a clutch on a Punto, they don't "burn out" so much as they mechanically fall apart, so you won't smell the lining burning. I've also seen something similar recently on the same car and it was the gearbox/diff had fallen apart... You don't need to know what the problem is before you bring it to a garage, that's what they are there for, bring it to a garage that you can trust or that someone else trusts and let them make the proper diagnosis with the right equipment.

You going in thinking that you have all the answers in your head is just going to rub someone up the wrong way...

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