Can anyone shed any light on what is happening here:

I have a 2000(W) 1.2 Punto and it has begun to overheat regularly after about 20 - 30 mins driving (doesn't appear to be losing water though). It also starts to rev freely whilst sitting in traffic. This is normally accompanied by a loud (and rather flatulant) sound similar to a coffee percolator coming from somewhere behind the middle of the dashboard. Occasionally, when I start the car, I can hear water flowing for about 10 seconds. Is this normal?? Are all these problems related???

I've recently had the cylinder head fixed following a blown gasket. Its been OK for about 2 months after that but now all the above problems have started.

Any ideas whats going on?

Thanks

You can only hear water flowing if it has air in it, it could be leaking into the head through a badly fitted gasket.
Check for air bubbles in the pipes and check the oil filler for mayonaise.

You could just have an Airlock in the water system. There was a bleed screw fitted on the Mk1 on the water pipes that go into the heater matrix in the bulkhead. I would imagine the screw is still there on the MK2.
You may need to take off the airbox and fill the header tank with water and losen the bleed screw slightly until water starts to run out freely. Tighten the airscrew back up and refit the airfilter. If the problem continues then there may be a bigger problem, such as a leeking head gasket. Good Luck.

2000 ELX , (1998 60S got mashed)

I get a watery noise for about 1.5 seconds a few seconds (5 to 10) after moving off if the car has been parked for a while sometimes. I thought (not being very mechanically minded) that it could just be a valve opening to collect/dispense rainwater. The car heats up as usual and there aren't any other issues with the engine...

I have managed to have my Punto overheat twice last year - after sitting in jams for ~45 mins I had to put the heating on hot and let it help cool the engine - but I rarely sit in jams, so it's not an issue...

Punto Mk2 ELX