General Punto HGT?

[arcam_boy]

Hi,

This is my first post so I have several questions?

I've just purchased an 04 Fiat Punto HGT with 8500 miles on the clock

I've never had a punto before and never really had any interest in them I'll just be using it mainly to get me to work and back.

My first question is....how reliable are the hgt's, any known common faults?

Secondly although there 130bhp its not a patch on my previous 206 GTi 180. Are there any simple mods to help give it a bit more go (nothing like turbo's/superchargers please)

Finally what audio upgrades are available? My headunit seems to be built in to the dash and looks like it cant be removed, also it appears to have a factory fit subwoofer in the boot :slayer: I might keep it in as I've not really had a proper listen to the stereo yet?

Thanks for your help.
Mark

 

[beau]

hello and welcome.

the problems they have dont really occur until 60-70k

remember your due a cambelt change now.

make sure the oil level is at its max, check it weekly, the hgt drinks oil, and if left to go a bit low it will eat the variator.

things to make it quicker, not alot really, other than a exhaust, manifold and induction kit things start to get expensive.

the stereo will come out and a fascia adaptor fits in place with a normal stereo but the sub wont work.

 

[s130]

Punto HGT (if I remember correctly) comes with built in SAT NAV as part of the radio system. you migh want to hang onto the unit for that function alone.

Car is a pretty reliable beast. Only ever had two problems, one reoccuring with mine.

1) The water coolant hose that goes from manifold/pipe at top left side of engine just around the head/block interface behind/next to the cam belt persistanly weeped water. This was due to a rought finnish on the casting where the hose attached. Some emery cloth soon sorted that.

2) The oil dipstic on earlier models is on the front side of the engine and goes closely between two of the exhaust manifold branches. Resilts in a blackend, overheated dipstick that gets all floppy in the middle. I never cured this one. Just replaced the stick and tube when things got too diifficult. Not expensive.

Nick /////

 

[arcam_boy]

Thanks for the replies.

Is my car needing a cambelt change already at 8500 miles. The log book said it had a full service 72 miles ago so I presume it should be ok if not I want it doing before receiving the car Monday or Tuesday.

I will have a look in to the stereo I don't want to mess around with the car too much. I'm not sure if it has sat nav or not it doesn't have a screen fitted just a blaupunkt headunit and 5 stacker and a little sub in the boot but it may have one...how do I tell?

I'll have to remember to check the oil, I will only be doing maybe 3000 miles a year in the car but mostly short journeys. I used to change the oil and filter every 6 months on my pug.

As for the engine I may look at firstly adding a new filter panel/induction kit. Are there any that you'd recommend K&N/BMC? Then possibly an exhaust from powerflow???

Thanks again

 

[beau]

cambelt will be 4 years or 72k miles which ever is soonest

k&n and powerflow are not rated highly on here.

 

[arcam_boy]

4 years so thats due now then....best make sure its done

ok.....so what would you recommend please, I'm not wanting to make it much louder just to go better really be a bit of a sleeper as most people think punto's are 1.2's etc....i certainly didn't know they did a 1.8 :devil:

 

[beau]

4 years so thats due now then....best make sure its done

ok.....so what would you recommend please, I'm not wanting to make it much louder just to go better really be a bit of a sleeper as most people think punto's are 1.2's etc....i certainly didn't know they did a 1.8 :devil:

supersprint manifold and cat back will improve power and its quiet but it sounds nice.

 

[arcam_boy]

thanks where would I fine the price etc of these I've found a place called eurostyling who sell them but there website only shows exhausts for VW and BMW

 

[mark16v]

try www.potn.com they mite have some!

 

[Steely]

i dont mean to be the sceptic but dont jump at the cambelt just yet, with 8500k I would be very happy to leave it 6 months to a year, many will replace it because the hand book says so, no one go biting my head off!


The Hgt, good car, yoyu will see a lot of scaremongering about variators and bottom ends, im sure you can see close to 155-160bhp with a few mods, exhaust , induction and possibly a remap, A K&N will do the job spot on AS LONG as its routed to a good place for cold air feed, same with the exhaust, a custom manifold back from a reputable place will also do one to exaclty how you want, powerflow are good as a unit but it depends who makes up the custom pipe for you,,,



been looking at one myself to be honest :chin:

 

[arcam_boy]

thanks steely for the great reply.

i had a powerflow exhaust on a previous car and thought it was excellent. i'm wanting it to look pretty standard to be honest and not something people stare at when I'm driving along just want a bit more grunt when I put my foot down although there was 3 men in the car today when I test drive it!

my first port of call will be an induction kit either a k&n typhoon or BMC carbon one I think unless anyone else has anymore views. this will hopefully help it breath a little better and then i'll look at the exhaust etc.

with regards the cambelt i would hope it is ok but seeing as though the cars still at the garage being prepped i might ask them to change it or at least get there opinion on it before taking it away. i have took a 2 year parts and labour warranty on the car that "should" cover everything apart from brakes/wipers etc etc.

i've been told the re-maps aren't easy as the ecu can't be removed or something but I don't really know

i was planning on keeping it standard but already looking at some light weight 16" gun metal alloys and a new set of speakers lol

 

[ChrisUK]

They are good engines and luckily doesn't suffer from headgasket issues that the 1.2 8v's do. Just keep the servicing up. Make sure Oil is at max and don't drive it like its stolen when cold and your bottom end & the rest of the engine should be fine. Also make sure you get decent oil and not some cheapo castrol crap which is well documented to help wear the crank shell bearings on these engines.

Steely, I'd have to agree with you there. There seems to be a lot of scaremongering regarding belts as you said thats very low millage! I've done that in 3months before!. I wouldn't think twice about running it for 6-12months. I'd perhaps check it for cracking / wear just to be sure.

 

[richie.guy]

180 isn't do-able without spending a decent wedge of cash.

150-155 at a push with basic breathing mods (GSR induction, supersprint manifold, supersprint backbox).

Above that standalone is needed. Dastek unichip and suchlike are a waste of time - they don't work correctly with the hiatchi unit. Emerald, DTA etc.

Easiest way to make the car quicker is to ditch the excess weight.

 

[arcam_boy]

thanks for the replies.

i'm not going to spend to much on it as its only going to be my run around for the next few years really and it was just a cheap newish, low mileage car that looked half decent. it is quite slow but will do for driving about town, i'm a bit past racing about now.

first plans are:

remove the side strips
possibly look in to a new hi fi system (nothing boom boom, just something that sounds nice)

i may also look at adding a new induction kit just to help it breathe a little easier and thats it for now. i plan on changing the oil/filter every 6 months like in the pug. i only do around 3 - 4000 miles a year so not many and i always let then engine warm up properly before going over 2500/3000 rpm so hopefully it should be ok

will post some pics up in the next few days, although i'm sure you've all seen one before!

18 months down the line (when I'm 25) I might find better insurance quotes for an older shape jag xkr which I'd like :worship:

 

[DaveMcT]

An old thread but worth adding my 2p about the cambelt.

They are polymers so they age, hence the rule about 4 years or 36K.

The accessory belt shows signs of cracking on the internal rdges as it ages. Its a good bet both belts are the same age, so that would mean the cam belt is cracking too. Its also running inside a hot cover so under even more stress. A belt change isnt cheap but huge cost/hassle of a stripped/broken belt isnt worth the risk.

A close look at the accessory belt will give you a hint if things are going downhill. But dont blame me if the timing belt fails and the acc looked ok.

 

[KieveBuh]

thanks for the replies.

i'm not going to spend to much on it as its only going to be my run around for the next few years really and it was just a cheap newish, low mileage car that looked half decent. it is quite slow but will do for driving about town, i'm a bit past racing about now.
first plans are:

punto hgts are slow!!??

 

[DaveMcT]

If you dont change the cam belt you WILL be spending ££s A LOT on the car.

The belts will not run for more than 4 years or 40,000 dont push it. **

As its only got a low mileage you can bet its been pootled about and the engine is still tight. Once you start to use it properly that belt will be stressed and your car will stop expensively. But change that elderly belt allow the engine to free-up and be surprised how well it goes.

A performance manifold is well worth doing though not cheap. Junking the manifold precats will have the biggest performance gain. For tuning talk to the Alfa guys who have much the same engine in the 1.8TS.

**Ask me how I know.

 

[ChrisUK]

If you dont change the cam belt you WILL be spending ££s A LOT on the car.

The belts will not run for more than 4 years or 40,000 dont push it. **

**Ask me how I know.

I'm guessing because you put if off even for a couple of weeks and disaster happened when your cambelt snapped lunching god knows how many valves etc and costing ALOT of monies

 

[MikeSalt]

Sometimes, unusually low mileage (8500 miles) can be as much of a concern for cambelts as high mileage. Low mileage can often imply lots of short trips. As well as heat-cycling of the belt, there is also extra pressure on the belt whilst running a cold engine due to the viscosity of the oil against the camshaft. If you want to play cambelt roulette, get an 8v (1.1 or 1.2).

 

[DaveMcT]

I bought my HGT with the cam belt well past its mileage so ordered a belt but got new toy syndrome and used the car. 2 days later the belt stripped some teeth and took out all eight exhaust valves. The valves alone cost £140 plus VAT.

When the engine stops it settles at one of two positions When its parked for long periods it puts permanent curves in the same section of belt. Dont let the low mileage fool you.

I actually got lucky my belt lost teeth and took the final few off when I tried to pull away at a traffic light - most valves were slightly bend and 2 were totalled. If the belt had snapped on the m-way I could have been looking at a new engine. Con rods and main bearings can be bent/dinged.