Punto probably seized... some hope for it??

jj92

I have a 2000 Punto 1.2 petrol. It's been sitting in the open for about a year after I got another car.

I want to get it runiing for a friend but sure enough the battery was dead, so I bought new one. Now the trouble is the engine won't crank. I've tried pushing it and then dropping it into gear but the wheels just slip. It loosks like the engine is seized.

The car drove fine before it was parked up, engine was fine. Considering this, is it any way likley that the engine may yet be got to run? If so what is the best way? I was thinking of forcing the crankshaft by turning the wheel mount things (sorry for lack of proper technical language here) with a lot of leverage. Or I could just tow it on tarmac for good traction. I'm worried that these options may damage the internals, though if there is no other economical way i will do it.

If anyone has any experience and advice I would really appreciate the help.

msg11

jj92 wrote: »

I have a 2000 Punto 1.2 petrol. It's been sitting in the open for about a year after I got another car.

I want to get it runiing for a friend but sure enough the battery was dead, so I bought new one. Now the trouble is the engine won't crank. I've tried pushing it and then dropping it into gear but the wheels just slip. It loosks like the engine is seized.

The car drove fine before it was parked up, engine was fine. Considering this, is it any way likley that the engine may yet be got to run? If so what is the best way? I was thinking of forcing the crankshaft by turning the wheel mount things (sorry for lack of proper technical language here) with a lot of leverage. Or I could just tow it on tarmac for good traction. I'm worried that these options may damage the internals, though if there is no other economical way i will do it.

If anyone has any experience and advice I would really appreciate the help.

Is there petrol in the car ?

I wouldn't go forcing a crack to start, you might find yourself without a hand when done.

Dose not sound as if the engine is wrecked. You say you push started it and dropped it into gear, did it just keep rolling or was there any juttering?

I would throw some petrol in the car and maybe change the spark plugs, also any lights on the dash?

carchaeologist

Starter motor may be goosed? We have a punto for field use here and iv fitted 3 to it. It's also been thrashed mercilessly, ran without water and oil(not for v long) and still starts first turn.

sparkle_23

carchaeologist wrote: »

Starter motor may be goosed? We have a punto for field use here and iv fitted 3 to it. It's also been thrashed mercilessly, ran without water and oil(not for v long) and still starts first turn.

The starter had been replaced in my punto twice in the four years I had it! As soon as I seen this thread I thought of my old punto refusing to start

coolbeans

Put it into second gear when you push it. I bet you're trying to jump start in first.

corktina

if its seized you could try taking out the plugs and tipping a little diesel into each cylinder.

jj92

Thanks for the replies:

Is there petrol in the car ?

Yes there is about 1/2 tank in it.

Put it into second gear when you push it. I bet you're trying to jump start in first.

I've tried to turn the engine by dropping it into gear while moving but as I said the engine won't turn and the wheels slip.

If the engine won't turn when a lot of force is being applied through the transmission is there a possibility that it is not the engine that is seized? Is it possibly the alternator seized (then the alternator belt is stopping the engine from turning) or maybe the starter motor is stuck and stopping the flywheel from moving (and hence the engine)?

I'm not trying to actually start it just yet. I'm well away from that. I just want to turn the engine over (manually or whatever) to either unseize it or to know what else could be preventing it from moving.

Thatnastyboy

jj92 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies:
Yes there is about 1/2 tank in it.

I've tried to turn the engine by dropping it into gear while moving but as I said the engine won't turn and the wheels slip.

If the engine won't turn when a lot of force is being applied through the transmission is there a possibility that it is not the engine that is seized? Is it possibly the alternator seized (then the alternator belt is stopping the engine from turning) or maybe the starter motor is stuck and stopping the flywheel from moving (and hence the engine)?

I'm not trying to actually start it just yet. I'm well away from that. I just want to turn the engine over (manually or whatever) to either unseize it or to know what else could be preventing it from moving.

Which gear are you dropping it into?, how fast is the car moving? and what type of surface are you doing it on: gravel/tarmac??

The wheels 'slip' - as in lock up and stop the car?

The alternator belt wont stop the engine turning over.

To turn the engine over, the best way is by dropping the clutch while in gear, it will turn the crank, putting a pull bar on the wheel nuts wont do it.

When you put in the new battery did you get full dash lights? and what happened when you turned the key to start it?

jj92

The alternator belt wont stop the engine turning over.

Thanks for the reply thatnastyboy but I loosened the belt and now the engine will turn. I didn't believe that the seized alternator would stop the engine turning but it did!

Next step is to fix the alternator or get a new one. I'm hoping a bit of WD40 and a hammer will do the trick. Anyone ever had to free up one of these before?

krissovo

jj92 wrote: »

Next step is to fix the alternator or get a new one. I'm hoping a bit of WD40 and a hammer will do the trick. Anyone ever had to free up one of these before?

I have had mixed results in the past, I would use PB blaster as that will remove rust but it takes a good soak to get it moving again. Oh and I would give the pray a good few hours before any hammer is applied. A better option is to clamp in a vise and apply a steady pressure rather than a shock with a hammer.

krissovo

One more point, I would use a good soak of electrical spray after to clear the cr@p once its free again.

Thatnastyboy

jj92 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply thatnastyboy but I loosened the belt and now the engine will turn. I didn't believe that the seized alternator would stop the engine turning but it did!

Next step is to fix the alternator or get a new one. I'm hoping a bit of WD40 and a hammer will do the trick. Anyone ever had to free up one of these before?

Well, you learn something new every day, apologies for my inaccuracy!

Seems like you're almost there now, best of luck with it

jj92

Thanks guys, a fella priced a used alternator at 40eoros. Might just take it as I've freed up the old one but it's still stiff. Bunch of other stuff wrong with this motor, Fiats seem to go to pieces when parked up. Apparently there's a water vent that drops rain water directly onto the alternator....nice!

vectra

jj92 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply thatnastyboy but I loosened the belt and now the engine will turn. I didn't believe that the seized alternator would stop the engine turning but it did!

Next step is to fix the alternator or get a new one. I'm hoping a bit of WD40 and a hammer will do the trick. Anyone ever had to free up one of these before?

I had an alfa with a screechy alternator once. of course being you I thought a good shot of wd40 would do the trick..it did... until i got 40 miles from home and it screeched to a halt.. Turns out the wd40 washed out all the lubricant..