Good plan, szkom. I'll ask the garage guy to check. In a way, I'd rather just get a new 3-part, but since the clutch itself seems to engage and disengage without (noticeable!) slip or drag, maybe it could just be the slave. The other consideration is the possible saving on labour if the car is already having the belts done.

Pete, did you do the dual mass too? we've just had a £600+ quote

No, it wasn't needed, basically it was just the release bearing had not been rotating and had worn down to nothing and almost worn through the diaphragm arms as a result.
Clutch plate was almost unworn.

Eurocarparts are currently doing Valeo clutch kits at £102 and dual mass flywheels for £191.

2 hours or so labour to change.

edit There is normally s discount deal all the time with them if you let them send you emails.

Thanks Pete, I've asked a very nice gentleman who frequents here, to give us a quote

MRS Junior is looking at getting a 2007 Grande Punto 1.2 as a car to learn on (all other cars here are autos) - apparently had belts done at 60k (it's at 70k now - will check how long ago), and it has a new MOT. Will check the usual things and front springs (though, presumably, MOT would have spotted them). Anything else?

1.2 is slow as hell, so slow that the dealership used to refer to their courtesy 1.2 as The Slug.

My 1.3 diesel Grande Punto has been pretty reliable over the nearly 9 years that I've had it. Apart from the front spring breaking, no doubt due to speed humps and potholed roads round here, the one problem was a clutch release bearing failing prematurely.

It didn't seem too bad even with a rather large seller in the passenger seat. The boy is only 17 so slow isn't too bad.

Just been to check it out and it seems OK.

Needs a driver's side window motor

Also only has one key - is that expensive to get a spare?

Generally seemed very honest and straight.

They come with 2 keys, one does everything. The 2nd, which is much simpler only unlocks the doors via the physical locks and works the ignition. PITA having to open the boot via the dashboard button for example if you have shopping as there is no external catch.

If you have the one with a flip out blade, then that is the expensive one. No idea how much though, fortunately I've never needed to find out.

If it's a five door with manual rear windows, make sure they go up and down. If you never use them the wire in the lift mechanism can subsequently break the first time you do.

My son's got a Slug Evo "MyLife" (My word, what a silly name) and it's slow yes, but ideal for learner/new drivers. Not had it long enough or driven it enough to need anything other than new wiper blades, a seat back adjustment knob and DRL bulb. Ours also came with only one key that was falling apart, bought a cheap new key "shell" and swapped everything over (needed a trim to fit properly). Replacement keys are very expensive (£200-300?) from Fiat. We have several cars with only one key, been thinking about adding key insurance to the policy and then making a claim some months later...

Cool - thanks - it has the "big" key - albeit rather shabby. Will get a spare simple one - just in case (my youngest has lost his smart phone, more shoes than seems possible and a pair of trousers recently...)

Well - just bought it - it seems very good.

Do shop around, MRS, as Stepson's example is pretty decent, though it has needed a few things doing at 60k (belts, wheel bearing on the way out).
His 1.4 Sporting costs £560 in insurance before he passes his test and roughly twice that once he goes solo, with Admiral. I just found out today that the Fox exhaust he bought (without even asking) will only cost an extra £22 per year, which I think is pretty good.
I really rate the Grande Punto after seeing the Fiestas/Corsas that his mates have...

There's not much shopping around in the Highlands, Jim. I think I've done OK. A replacement window motor is £30 (if that's what it turns out to be). The only other fault I can find is that the highest speed of the blower doesn't work. It idles so quietly that I thought it had stalled.

I know what you mean about lacking a market to shop in, after years in rural Brittany. Either way, I think it's a really good first car - especially compared with some of the competition.

Thought that also when we purchased our 1.4 Dynamic ("Poverty Pack") Grande Punto. Ours has "cruise control", whereas the later model ("Povo Pack") sold here did not; does yours have it?

Have had no issues with our's other than the usual cam belt replacement, battery, tyres and front pads.

This is the 1.2 Active 3D - can't quite imagine a more basic model (other than in white). But that's not really the point for a first car. 0-60 is quoted as 14s.

Yes, Active is the poverty spec in the UK, Dynamic is the midlevel trim here.

Seems I've also found the source of the missing fan speed. Common reported fault is the resistor connection burning. Have ordered a new resistor but the current one might clean up. Will do diagnosis on window later (if it ever stops raining). Will give it an oil and filter change later too.

Crappy connection at resistor and crappy connection at fan too. Italian electrics!

Over 100,000 on my wife's 2009 now and it's been faultless. My son now has the car so I hope it treats him well too.

Just got home last night from a lovely week in Brittany with MrsC, the stepsons and my daughters.

Back to reality...

Although aware that the battery was possibly not at its peak, stepson's limited finances mean I didn't insist he bought a new one for the Grande Punto after it let him down when he first bought the car. He and MrsC drove to Gloucester today - about 10 miles - with no problem. Rain meant plenty of wipers/fans/lights, etc and the car refused to start - or be bumped - after driving to Cirencester (30 mins from Gloucester, mostly dual carriageway).

I headed out and bought a replacement, fitted it and - as I suspected - the car started first time, with no hesitation.

However...

As we drove the mile back to the garage where I had bought the battery (the mechanic VERY kindly lent me the required sockets and spanners), the battery light came on.

I assumed a hitherto unrevealed alternator problem, which the garage guy agreed could be the problem.
On getting back in the car, which stepson had kept running, there was suddenly no power steering; I checked the fluid level and looked for leaks, but all appeared fine. I switched the car off, started it again and it worked fine, until I went to park 100 yards down the road at the supermarket. Again, zero assistance. Turned off and re-started the car again and back it came.

Went and did the weekly family shop and when I came out 30 minutes later, the battery light had gone off and the steering worked fine. But a warning light came on saying "check stop lights". This went off after braking a few times. The car made it home with no more drama and with no warning lights.

MrsC and stepson flattened the battery utterly while waiting for me to arrive - even the hazards weren't working. Could this cause the ECU to flip out and give all these warnings/temporary failures?

Should all be fine now it's had a few hours with a fully-juiced battery, or might it need more attention (new ECU...?).

What do people think?

Sounds like a typical duff earth. I assume the battery place were able to check the alternator output - what did they read? Yes low voltage gives errors like you've seen.

Re the power steering, I thought they were electric like the earlier models?

Yes the steering assistance is electric so if the battery is failing that will be one of the first things to go as the motor draws a high current.

Lights error again could be battery as it automatically checks power draw on various bulb circuits when they're in use to warn of a failed one.

Thanks for the responses; battery place simply sold me the battery, didn't look at the car at all. I fitted it where the car had stopped, so no check on the alternator.
The power steering and brake light check failures both happened AFTER the new battery was installed... Both now seem to have solved themselves, but I'm wondering why...

Loose battery negative lead, possibly at the gearbox. That'd be my first check.

I think this is a good shout - proved to be the case with my Coupe earlier this year, (discovered after I had purchased a new starter motor)!

Took the car for a drive yesterday and all was perfect - no warning lights at all. But, I'll get it checked out. I'm going to take it to the garage before stepson's 18th in a fortnight to have his coffee-can exhaust fitted and wheel bearings fixed as a present. My mechanic friend rolled his eyes when I told him about the battery issue and ranted about modern electronics.

It's something very simple that you can try at home. Quite literally you're checking that the battery leads are connected securely at the battery and car end. Look at the starter, alternator, battery, body, and gearbox connections. If you're feeling brave then check that the main fuses are all in good order. If you're still feeling enthusiastic you can take a multimeter to the battery and various points in the charge circuit to look for culprits.