After installing the new clutch I've been out and about and felt confident enough to take a photo down at Dawlish Warren today to post up.

It drives nicely and having worked on the front end it feels much better than it did when I picked him up over a month ago, air in the tyres helps.

Gave it a good wash this morning, polished the front end but couldn't wait to get out so even though the hood was still a bit damp I was off!

Its great zipping around Exeter and brilliant out in the country lanes although I was caught behind a caravan so I had to turn around and start again at one point. What a child!

I'm with you there! My route home is up a windy hill - usually with no traffic, but if I get stuck behind a slow-pokin' cat, I'll pull in and try to time it so that I get all the way home without catching them up!

Hi Stum, glad the car is going well. Having the tyres inflated does make a fair difference to the drive. Being in Exeter is always great but especially in the Barchetta. I come from Exeter originally.

Hi NicB,

I moved to Ex in 2001 and really enjoy being here, all our kids have been brought up here so feels like our home town. I don't know Yeovil very well but for my sins I know Bridgwater very well as I work there!

Great to see that you're having a chance to enjoy your B in this late-summer sunshine. I've been known to do the same trick with slow-moving traffic, too - there's nothing wrong with releasing the inner-child occasionally!

I properly realized today what a pleasant place the cockpit is to be, I used to own an Alfa 156 2.4 and despite costing me thousands that was a great interior and I loved that car. I bought the B to fill that hole and it looks like it is because I now have over heating issues!

So sadly that's me for the year and I won't be out to play until the spring.

I see there are plenty of threads discussing over heating issues so will work through those but no doubt I'll be back here asking for advice and tips, fan not kicking in for starters.

Think I will strip down the cooling system anyway as the strut that the rad sits on is corroded and needs addressing.

So jobs over the winter..... Inspect back end for rust!..... Thorough interior clean, deal with wiper scuff marks on screen, sand and polish headlight lenses, replace broken boot release lever, fix up secondary solution with strong fishing wire, electric release will come later, bodywork polish etc, brakes?!

So any initial tips or advice on this overheating would be welcomed.... fingers crossed its not head gasket, don't want to go there just yet.

Trying to solve the non working fan problem - I've checked the fuses all OK, can anybody tell me where the fan relay is located.?

Is it passenger foot well or engine bay bulk head?

I have manual heater, no air con so no slow and fast relay. Might just replace the relay if I can find it before going further in stripping the fan out to see if it is in working order. Tempted to do the same with temp sensor as well as its not expensive.

Although hoses need replacing as they're 14 years old!

Any info on relays gratefully received.

Stu

Have a look at this thread Stum

https://www.fiatforum.com/barchetta/305026-overheating-fan-thermo-head-gasket.html

Steve

Thanks Bumble,

I see the suggestion in that thread to remove the temp sensor which should start the fan apparently so will try that today, will also look at the resistor at the bottom of the fan.

I'm still interested in where the relay might be located, I have s suspicion that it's either one of two at the back of the engine bay bulk head but don't know which one.

So after messing about with fuzes and relays and temp sensors I get down and dirty under the car to see if the resistor at the bottom of the fan is an issue and surprise surprise the connector isn't connected!

Plug it back in, bring the engine up to tempreture and the fan works - brilliant fault finding on my part!

As I was expecting to be garaging the B for the winter I had lots of bits and bobs disconnected for greasing and inspection so had the wipers off and vallance off to expose the wiper motor, bonnet catch was off, various bits of air intake off so had a mad scramble to get it all back together again to go out for a blast yesterday afternoon with Mrs Stum.

Having checked the back end for rust under the arches (there isn't any) and had a look at tthe wiper motor and mechanism, (it's fine) I've decided to run her through the winter this year so tax and insurance to be organised and MOT is March next year. Happy Days.

Good man, you will love it on a bright & sunny winter day.

Rain, rain and more rain, haven't taken the B out for quite a few days now but I keep going into the garage just to look at it - I don't expect I'm the only one that does this.
Stu

Funny, I just came indoors after doing just that

Ha! It's the only car I've ever owned that I could just stand for ages and look at!

I have to make do with my photo's at the moment, but as soon as the cosmetic surgery is done, I am gonna live in the garage with her!!

Bit of a boring post from me but anyway......as the car is inactive at the moment, she is not going out in the rain delivberately, I gave the interior it's first clean since I bought him and looks all clean and shiny and nice smell now, feels like she/him is mine now!

She/he/him/her - I must admit I don't normally apply a gender to my cars and I see many on the forum call their B's she, I suppose 'boats' are always referred to as she as well - perhaps I need to give it a name! Don't like calling it 'it' either.

If Mrs Stum finds out I'm calling it she or giving it a name I'll never live it down!

Ha! Know what you mean!

Mine's just called Little B, which is nicely gender-neutral.

Stum said:

Bit of a boring post from me but anyway......as the car is inactive at the moment, she is not going out in the rain delivberately, I gave the interior it's first clean since I bought him and looks all clean and shiny and nice smell now, feels like she/him is mine now!

She/he/him/her - I must admit I don't normally apply a gender to my cars and I see many on the forum call their B's she, I suppose 'boats' are always referred to as she as well - perhaps I need to give it a name! Don't like calling it 'it' either.

If Mrs Stum finds out I'm calling it she or giving it a name I'll never live it down!

Click to expand...

Mine is known as 'My Italian Woman' or 'My Italian Bitch' !!

I assume you mean that's what Mrs Sailfin calls your B!

Think I might have a name for mine - Fico - means 'fig' in the Italiano.

My little Fico, I quite like that....or perhaps someone needs to give me a slap.

:bang: A slap is on it's way to you!! :bang:

I got rid of Mrs Sailfin, My Italian Bitch never answers back