Hey guys done various things...i have a fiat brava 1.4 12v sx 1998/99....discovered gearbox had no oil so filled i,t new ht leads and plugs...lastly got partner to replace thermostat. Now we discover that the system is overheating due to an air lock. This is infuriating. Can get water coming through bleed screw on right hose as you face car but nothing but steam comming through one on left. Heater is blowing stone cold, and the engine overheats...any tips on how to resolve this????? I need car for my work and cant drive it like this.

Is it going to be best to drain when cold and refill.... do we have radiator cap off, valves open and heater on full when refilling haynes manual tell you nothing.

Ta xx

Start again, drain and refill very slowly with the heater turned to hot (important or the heater matrix becomes a big airlock), all bleed screws removed and obviously the radiator cap off.

My 1.4 has three bleed screws that need removed. Standing at the front of the car looking at the engine bay thats one on the back top left of the radiator, one on a pipe going to the heater matrix at the right side of the engine near the bulkhead, and one on the left hand side of the engine on the pipe that comes round the cambelt cover.

Fill slowly and as coolant appears at each bleed point replace the bleed screw. Once you get to the max line on the expansion bottle replace the cap loosely and run the engine. At this stage with my car I find a wee blip of the throttle can help the car 'burp' any residual air into the expansion bottle - i.e. the level in the bottle drops. Top up if neccessary. Remember to tighten the radiator cap fully and take for a wee spin, watching the temp guage.

Let the car cool, check coolant level again. Job done (though keep an eye on the level over following weeks in case hose you detached to drain is leaking/new thermostat seating is leaking etc.)

Always work on the coolant system when it is cold.

P.S. Also drain it with all bleed screws open and radiator cap removed.