Advice Re Punto Engine Rattling

irishproduce

Hi all,

I had a look at other threads (here and other places) where people had rattling problems but symptoms on mine are a bit different.

I've had it since 2007 (It's 01 1.2 3 door) and has given a few problems here and there but i've had no reason to change. As luck would have it, I am hoping to trade it in during summer once NCT goes through.
Problem started yesterday. Started it up after not driving for 2 days and it cut out by itself. Started it again and runs but the engine is rattling a lot!!
When the accelerator is pressed, it sounds like a harley davidson. Smokey airey feel to it. Drove it up the road and first gear is fairly weak, second too and probably the rest but didn't bother coming out of second.
Slight smell of petrol too came into the car at one stage.

Lifted the bonnet, there is oil on the front of the engine head. oil down near the gear box too. Looked under the car and there is drops of oil leaking down but very small amounts.
Checked under the oil cap and there is nothing there, no gunk or anything.
When the accelerator is pressed it feels like air is being cleared out if that makes sense. Loud too like a harley as mentioned.

Supposed to be taking the wife away for weekend this week but going to have to drop this into garage now.
On experience, should I be looking at cancelling the weekend? Is this going to break the bank?

By the way, new exhaust only put on 2 weeks ago. Replaced coil pack, injectors, frost switch, sparks, belt & pump and ECU in last 2 years. One or two other things but can't remember.

Thanks for any advice.
irish

smokie2008

Did it overheat at any stage???

Nightmare for blowing gaskets those engines.

Alanstrainor

I certainly wouldn't be starting it again. Have you checked the oil level since?

analfabets

irishproduce wrote: »

Hi all,

I had a look at other threads (here and other places) where people had rattling problems but symptoms on mine are a bit different.

I've had it since 2007 (It's 01 1.2 3 door) and has given a few problems here and there but i've had no reason to change. As luck would have it, I am hoping to trade it in during summer once NCT goes through.
Problem started yesterday. Started it up after not driving for 2 days and it cut out by itself. Started it again and runs but the engine is rattling a lot!!
When the accelerator is pressed, it sounds like a harley davidson. Smokey airey feel to it. Drove it up the road and first gear is fairly weak, second too and probably the rest but didn't bother coming out of second.
Slight smell of petrol too came into the car at one stage.

Lifted the bonnet, there is oil on the front of the engine head. oil down near the gear box too. Looked under the car and there is drops of oil leaking down but very small amounts.
Checked under the oil cap and there is nothing there, no gunk or anything.
When the accelerator is pressed it feels like air is being cleared out if that makes sense. Loud too like a harley as mentioned.

Supposed to be taking the wife away for weekend this week but going to have to drop this into garage now.
On experience, should I be looking at cancelling the weekend? Is this going to break the bank?

By the way, new exhaust only put on 2 weeks ago. Replaced coil pack, injectors, frost switch, sparks, belt & pump and ECU in last 2 years. One or two other things but can't remember.

Thanks for any advice.
irish

Sounds to me like it's only misfiring. The oil was probably there before, leaking from rocker cover. I'd say it needs coil pack or plugs, maybe new leads. I could be wrong though.

Mar4ix

I had similar with mk1 punto, at the end it turns, that timing belt been slipped for 1 teeth.
Also could be crankshaft sensor gone,
Check coolant bottle, ... while engine working, is too high pressure in cooling system ?? , (if it does, then headgasket gone), also check is any oil in coolant.

Oil leak just could be from engine head cover, or breathing pipe.

Nearly forgot, absolutely similar symptoms for fiat (rattling engine)sometimes cause leak in vacuum pipe. check vacuum pipes.

better off course go to mechanic who you know, and who wont rip you off.

Good luck.

irishproduce

Yes, the oil isn't a huge thing. Its been leaking for a while, say about 6 months and i've known about it because I keep putting oil in (bout 2 litres) but after a month, it needs filling again as light comes on. I only seen that it was leaking tonight because I was rooting around under it. Was on my to do list before the NCT in June.
No, it was running for about 10 minutes and I drove it about 100 metres and no overheating. In fact no lights at all to show there are problems.

irishproduce

Thanks lads for all the advice.
I will just drop it into garage sure during the week and hope for a low cost solution.
Worried though about Alanstrainor's comment, is it dangerous in its current state? Wouldn't blow up or anything :eek:

shamwari

Oil leak is probably no more than a rocker cover gasket and is very easily fixed. Very hard to figure out what the performance problem your having is. Best get it looked at by a mechanic

irishproduce

Thanks shamwari.
I am going to be dropping it into mechanic tomorrow hopefully and I will let you all know for your own experience. I might take a photo o r two tonight and show ye the pictures from inside.
irish

irishproduce

Got it back this morning anyway from local mechanic.
Said it was something about spark heads or spark plugs/ cables or something.
He is not a very clear man. But he sorted it anyway.
He didn't dop anything about the oil leak as he said its not worth it. Will be trading it in soon and it would cost more than its worth.
€50 and its back on the road running normal again.

Only thing is, while it was in with him, the power steering motor went or stopped working. Not his fault understandably so now I have to worry about that!
It went at end of last year for about 3 months but came back again. Looks like whatever he was at knocked it out again.

Thanks for the advice lads.