From a vague memory, the eLearn procedure was something like put the heater on full, then give it moderate revs while parked until the radiator fan comes on. Repeat 3 times. I think this took about 10-15 mins. I guess this gets it hotter than it would during normal driving (with the air flowing through it).

Good luck, perhaps the problem was the thermostat after all, and it's fixed now the bubbles have found their way out.

Well guys, problem solved. I began to get suspicious of the water pump when I could not get any hot air from the heater, I suspected either the pump or a blockage in the cooling system. I stripped the car down this afternoon and sure enough, the impeller..plastic!!! had come loose on the spindle and was doing nothing, it looked like the bearings were on the way out as well, when replacing the pump I changed the cam belt as well as you have to remove it to get at the pump. I would suggest this is not a job for the uninitiated though, it took me an afternoon to do, I did not have a locking tool for the crank so marked it up with a paint pen. The parts cost me £25 for an aftermarket pump (with cast alloy impeller), £27 for the cam belt and £15 for 5ltr of red anti freeze. The symptoms were: overheating, particularly under load, but there was no water loss or pressurisation of the header tank and the heater did not push any hot air out. So fellow Croma owners beware, mine has only done 46,000 miles, I think this level of poor parts quality is disgusting, I am considering writing to FIAT customer service to complain about the series of problems I have suffered with this car but I doubt they will be interested.

Pleased you got it sorted and well done.

Maybe we need to create a "Watch Dog" portfolio of woes and push directly back on Fiat and when that fails go to the press?

Did I just say this? .....

Seriously though, the problems/issues we are seing for so few cars is not really acceptable.

We could all invoke "inherant fault" law (I assume it applied to cars as well). With so few cars and same problems there is obviously multiple inherant faults and thus warranty period is NOT applicable.

Any legally minded/experienced people out their who could comment further?

s130 said:

We could all invoke "inherant fault" law (I assume it applied to cars as well). With so few cars and same problems there is obviously multiple inherant faults and thus warranty period is NOT applicable.

Any legally minded/experienced people out their who could comment further?

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Thanks s130, I think you are right, is totally unacceptable in a modern car, I am considering making a preliminary complaint anyway but I don't have any legal knowledge.
On the subject of the pump failure, after changing it I decided to try trawling the internet for instances of any similar issues on other makes of vehicle. Surprisingly this problem is quite common on JTD engines, with one particular thread shown on the Multipla section of this Forum, BMW have also had the same issue with this design, I wonder if their customers had any joy?

My heater's useless in the winter, so I suspect mine's heading the same way. I'm not sure though, as I've never thought the climate control worked properly - it just makes a lot of blowing noise but doesn't seem to achieve much. I guess the water pump could be working properly but some other bit of plastic in the air path (e.g. flap solenoid) has packed in.

Mine will be due a new cam belt next year. Am I correct in thinking that the water pump is routinely replaced as part of the same job?

I personally think the Croma's at the crappier end of the quality/reliability spectrum, but it's probably not exceptional. Sadly all bread-and-butter european brand cars seem to be cost-reduced accountant-designed crap these days. It's the "save 1p per car and make £x,000 extra profit per year" mentality. It's all about this year's balance sheet - sod long-term reliability, repeat buying etc. It's the way all business has gone, not just cars.

The Koreans seem to be able to produce a reliable car for the same price, and no doubt the Chinese will catch up within a few years. Then the european car industry will end up going the same way as the rest of our manufacturing - death by accountant.

Just my perception, as a cynical engineer. Apologies to any resident accountants, but when did they cease to be a service to industry and instead take over running the show?

Yes doofer, the water pump should be replaceded as part of the cam belt operation, it is held by two bolts and it is necessary to remove the cam position sensor also, when you do, it will be interesting to hear of it's condition.

bobbyblue said:

Well guys, problem solved. I began to get suspicious of the water pump ... sure enough, the impeller..plastic!!! ... cost me £25 for an aftermarket pump (with cast alloy impeller) ...

Click to expand...

What's the one to go for? Seems quite a list of alternatives: Bugatti, Circoli, Dolz, Firstline, GP, Saleri, QH, Valeo etc

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55 Prestigio 1.9/16v 150hp

Caravadossi said:

What's the one to go for? Seems quite a list of alternatives: Bugatti, Circoli, Dolz, Firstline, GP, Saleri, QH, Valeo etc

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55 Prestigio 1.9/16v 150hp

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The one supplied by my local motor factor (Car Spares Sparkhill) in Birmingham was the 'First Line' brand, it seems quite well made and fitted with no problems, I noticed that the Circoli one is widely advertised on the internet though. I suppose the replacement can't be of worse quality than the original part...hopefully.

On reviewing water pump options I’ve stumbled across a revision. I find on searching for a 1.9/16v 150hp unit, FIAT 46804051 – then the latest issue (2009?) is FIAT 55209993. What’s the difference - & who supplies it?

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55 Prestigio 1.9/16v 150hp

I was quoted £71+VAT for the 55209993 WP today by a FIAT dealer - & £115+VAT for a 71754559 Timing Belt Kit.

Well , I am fed up with the expense of my Croma, driveshaft problems, new alternator, brake problems ( normal wear and tear but not helped by the locating the correct part ) , car protection light on and key problem still not resolved and now an over heating problem.
Pulled in a car park last week and noticed the fan was running but temperature gauge was as normal. Thought nothing of it but then when travelling up a steepish hill a few days later under load the needle on the temp gauge was moving into the hot area before returning to normal, also blowing cold air when the dual climate was on maximum heat, happened once more so booked into a garage on the possible assumption of a thermostat problem. Replaced damaged thermostat, broken inside approx. cost £200, but the garage could not get the coolant flowing in the heater matrix , I think that's what he said so the pump is not working or incorrectly. He said a broken fragment could have entered the pump and damaged the pump or impeller so now the only option is a cambelt and water pump change at a cost of approx £300-£350 which is only a rough quote so I think its time for the Croma to go. The temperature needle is mostly showing normal but I assume the fan is working overtime to cool the engine so time to call it a day !

Ahh the difficult issue of when to give up. I don't think you re there yet. How many miles has the car done? it may be about due for a cambelt anyway. Unfortunatly non-running Cromas do not sell well, it might even be worth getting job done and then sell the car if you are really fed up with it. What would you replace it with and would that be any better? The taxi driver who took me to the airport recently was maoning how his recently purchased low mileage BMW 7 series need a new gearbox just weeks after he bought it and then an ECU of some sort. I admit the Croma is not the most reliable, but failures can happen to any car. At least my Croma has never failed to start or get me home which is more than I can say for the wife's 5 year younger and 1/3 of the mileage Ford Focus.

Robert G8RPI.

Hi, I have had the work done and it was the water pump, the impellor was sheared off. The money we have spent on this car is the most we have spent on any car we have owned as normally we buy a car that has been fully looked after with the majority of work done. We then normally end up scrapping or selling for spares or repair after 6 years or so. Our Croma has just hit 133,000 miles and was just over 100,000 when I bought it over 3 years ago. In the last 2 years we have probably spent £1200 on repairs. In the past we have bought cars with probably 60,000 - 80,000 miles on the clock so in reality I suppose we are inviting repairs due to the age and mileage. On the positive side I do like the Croma, I like the fact that you hardly see any on the road, its a great motorway cruiser although abit clumsy around town. The design and style has stood the test of time and it doesn't look like a 11 year old car infact the front of newer cars ( headlights and grill ) from different manufacturers have similar styling. I suppose now though I fear that another problem will appear soon but fingers crossed