Tales from the workshop

FIAT PUNTO

Inconvenient clutch failure

► When my granddaughters Nissan was written off by a motorcyclist who was on the wrong side of the road there was quite an urgency to get her back up and going again. As well as the important need for her vehicle for work as a delivery driver she was also in charge or dropping-off and picking-up her younger brother from play school.

A 2005 Fiat Punto was found in the local ads and after a good inspection I gave the go ahead for the purchase. This got my granddaughter back to work and saved me the task of transporting my grandson around. Win win situation.

Unfortunately six weeks down the line came another distress call from my granddaughter – the clutch was slipping on the Punto. With a book time under four hours and the clutch being readily available this was one I could easily turn round in the same day, getting the Punto back to work again.

SAAB 9-5

PAS pump change

► Changing the power steering pump normally involves unbolting a unit which can be manoeuvred out of position quite easily. The biggest problem usually comes when undoing the pressure hose connection, which may be difficult to access.

This 2004 Saab 9-5 2.2 TiD had an easily accessible banjo-type connection to the hose union. The problem was