As some of you will know I had a problem with my Doblo loosing a small amount of coolant. Just recently, I drained it all and put fresh anti-freeze in because there appeared to be none in there. Now the past 2 months I've noticed that my front mats and carpet were wet - constantly! I put it down to a leak from the outside that was getting in, and due to the rain here lately and the big flooding puddles that it was getting in through the footwell. No problem I'll do it over Christmas.

Yesterday I went to wire in the adaptor for my iPod into the Doblo and noticed that it was REALLY wet in the footwells. Upon closer inspection with the dash apart I could see an orange liqid dripping from the heater radiator/heat exchanger (whatever you want to call it) which is situated behind the heater controls... So this is where my coolants been going! Right into the footwells, the smell is terrible and the mist on the windows is unbelieveable. To do such a job is a big one, involving removal of the whole dash including the metal dash support bars, the whole heater system and most of the engine compartment to get at the two pipes going into the cabin.

I'll be on the phone to Fiat in the morning in the hope that this is covered under warranty - Merry Christmas Oz

Ozzie1989 said:

I'll be on the phone to Fiat in the morning in the hope that this is covered under warranty - Merry Christmas Oz

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Kin Ell Ozzie... what have you been doing to get this kind of luck?..... I hope she was worth it:devil: :devil:

What about trying a bodge first? 'Radweld' or some other product might fix it. Must be worth a try if fiat give you the brush off.

When did you buy the car? How many miles since then? Would a reasonable person expect the car to be free from needing expensive repairs at this time/mileage? If so mention it to the selling dealer along with a few other choice phrases like 'unfit for purpose', 'merchantable quality', and 'Small Claims Court'.

Good luck mate. (Won't be around for a few days, taking a holiday, so I'll LTSHYGOAIGB). 1st prize (some Doblo porn) to the first correct guess at this one!

Done loads of heater matrix jobs on doblos Ozzie & its not difficult.Your looking at about 5-6 hours (depending on tea breaks ) and it honestly looks worse than it is.Most of it is stripping down & you can lower the column without actually removing it & pull the dash out enough to remove/fit matrix.
However be very carefully when fitting new matrix as our going in at a slight angle so try not to damage it & make sure the retaining clips are 100% or it will leak.
A word of warning though is dont listen to anyone who says you can cut the support bar etc,thats just damright dangerous & weakens this bar which would be extremely bad news in a accident.
You dont have to remove heater box or touch any pipes in engine bay.

T14086 said:

Done loads of heater matrix jobs on doblos Ozzie & its not difficult.Your looking at about 5-6 hours (depending on tea breaks ) and it honestly looks worse than it is.Most of it is stripping down & you can lower the column without actually removing it & pull the dash out enough to remove/fit matrix.
However be very carefully when fitting new matrix as our going in at a slight angle so try not to damage it & make sure the retaining clips are 100% or it will leak.
A word of warning though is dont listen to anyone who says you can cut the support bar etc,thats just damright dangerous & weakens this bar which would be extremely bad news in a accident.
You dont have to remove heater box or touch any pipes in engine bay.

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We're lucky to have someone this knowledgeable on the site. Nice one T !

Lets hope it covered under warranty first

Let's hope! Nice to see I'm not the only one with the problem T. It's only done 25,000 miles and will be 3 years old in march as it's an 04 plate. So I wouldn't expect things like this to go wrong however note that I didn't think there was any anti-freeze in the coolant before I just changed it all, so could there be a possibility that at some point in it's life it froze and caused a fracture in a pipe/radiator that's now come out because the weather is colder and I'm using the heater?

We'll see what they say in the morning

Its the smell inside,wet carpets & misting up that gives it away and the matrix can leak pretty quickly.Not wanting to mislead you but i'm quite certain (65% ish) that it is covered by third year warranty.

Ok, I have to take the car down to Chepstow (yet another long trek ) for them to take a look and confirm (though they were 80% sure I was right) and if so it will be covered under warranty but the parts won't be in until the new year so until then I have to drive around in it - I will ask them if it really is safe though and that maybe I should have a courtesy car

You can have a courtesy car but if it is the same as Macclesfield you just won't bother because in the case of an accident you are liable for the first £500 of damages.

£500 IF you have a prang!
We have to pay £15 per day to cover insurance, regardless!!

It's £200 from my garage

UPDATE: It will be covered under warranty, just waiting for the parts to come in now in the new year - I'll post another update then once (hopefully) it's sorted

3rd year warranty?

Yes it's covered under 3rd year warranty...

The £200 I was on about was the excess on the courtesy car should you have an accident

Jeez dont tell Niall he'll go mental Not seen him around for few days

He's on holiday at the moment lucky devil!

Ozzie1989 said:

Yes it's covered under 3rd year warranty...

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Kin Ell !!!!!

I assume you must have some pictures involving the dealer principle and some sheep

LOL

Welcome back Niall

Calm Niall..... CALM!!! ("His wife asks him what he's doing jumping up and down and kissing the Fiat badge on the front of the Doblo ")

:worship: :worship: :worship: :worship:

Ok small update on the situation! The garage can do it next Wednesday, a week today, the underlay "may" be replaced but the carpet won't and "may" be valeted (not under warranty but out of good will).

They need it for 2 to 3 days.