Punto Problem Taking Off

irishproduce

Hello everyone. I've a punto 2001, that has started to throw up a problem in last few days. When I start the engine, it shudders and rattles and when I try to take off, the only way I could describe it would be that it feels blocked, the car takes off slowly and if I don't keep a small bit of pressure on the gas, its rattles more. This will continue and its impossible to get out of 2nd, all the while the car is barely moving. However, if I floor the gas out of gear or in gear with the clutch engaged it eventually "snaps out of it" any ideas what's wrong? Help appreciated

colm_mcm

Head gasket or coil pack I'd say.

Check the oil cap for gunge, this will tell you if there's water in the oil.

If there's a breakdown in the gasket between cylinders (which happens on Puntos) there'll be a misfire. this will be pretty apparent. removing plug leads individually will identify which cylinder is wrong. Best to bring it to an experienced person to have a look.

Anan1

Another possibility is that the catalytic convertor internals are disintegrating.

irishproduce

Thanks. What do you mean by misfire? Strangely (if its any clearer) it could be driving along fine and then if I have to come down through the gears to 1st where i'm stopped, the problem could pop up. It will start this struggling again and i'll floor the gas to unblock or snap it out of it again. It genuinely feels like there's a block it the gas. There obviously isn't but thats how it feels. Am I looking at forking out a load of money in build up to christmas?

irishproduce

Some white gunge in the oil cap.
Called the mechanic, explained it looks like the gasket but said I would let him determine that. Got a phone call there, its the coil pack causing it

€140 for a new one installed. Not too bad I suppose, could have been worse

Muckie

Very lucky, Fiats seem to attract head gasket problems!
Hopefully you'll be trouble free for ages.

Martron

irishproduce wrote: »

Hello everyone. I've a punto 2001, that has started to throw up a problem in last few days. When I start the engine, it shudders and rattles and when I try to take off

i think the main problem is that you think the punto is a plane!

irishproduce

Martron wrote: »

i think the main problem is that you think the punto is a plane!

colm_mcm

mayonaisse like condensation in the oil cap can be caused by doing a lot of short journies and not letting the engine head up properly. If you're not losing coolant then you're probably out of the woods. Hopefuly that's the case.

irishproduce

Are short journies bad for the car? I drive about 2km to work every morning and then drive home about 12 hours later - 2km again. Is this bad for the car?