My wife has started noticing the cooling fan staying on (for an average of 40 seconds) after switching off the ignition of her Mk. 2 Punto. I've just ran the car on the drive (checking that the fan stayed off for a while after switching the cold engine on) then running it up to normal operating temperature while stationary.


Being a very warm day and there being no flow of air over the rad due to lack of forward movement, the fan kicked-in before the 'normal' mark, as expected. But, the temperature continued to climb until it levelled out at the last 'bold' white marker before the red 'overheat' position. I've never seen the car display anything other than 'normal', even after a long trip, so something isn't right - the question is, what?

Did fan stop and then restart periodically during your test ? Or just keep running?

jackwhoo said:

Did fan stop and then restart periodically during your test ? Or just keep running?

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No, the fan kept going - which I would expect on a hot day, and it still only ran for about 30 seconds when switching off.


The coolant warning light didn't come on.


I just noticed that the manual says that the normal range is 'from 1/4 to 3/4 of the scale, according to the working conditions', so maybe I'm being paranoid?


As a more realistic test, I'll take the car out later to get some air on the rad and see what the needle does.

I would expect the fan to turn on when switch on temperature reached, the fan to cool the coolant sufficiently to reach fan switch off temperature , the coolant to then reach switch on temperature and so on.
In other words I would expect the fan to cycle on and off with engine idling car stationary.
However comments from owners of same car as you would help.
If your car has a smaller hose going to top of coolant header tank check it's not blocked.

jackwhoo said:

I would expect the fan to turn on when switch on temperature reached, the fan to cool the coolant sufficiently to reach fan switch off temperature , the coolant to then reach switch on temperature and so on.
In other words I would expect the fan to cycle on and off with engine idling car stationary.
However comments from owners of same car as you would help.
If your car has a smaller hose going to top of coolant header tank check it's not blocked.

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Yes, I would expect that on anything less than a baking hot day - which it is here at the moment!

Cars are designed for and tested in extreme climates . It may have felt hot to us but it was really nothing in comparison to what cars are intended to cope with.

RoyBGood said:

My wife has started noticing the cooling fan staying on (for an average of 40 seconds) after switching off the ignition of her Mk. 2 Punto. I've just ran the car on the drive (checking that the fan stayed off for a while after switching the cold engine on) then running it up to normal operating temperature while stationary.


Being a very warm day and there being no flow of air over the rad due to lack of forward movement, the fan kicked-in before the 'normal' mark, as expected. But, the temperature continued to climb until it levelled out at the last 'bold' white marker before the red 'overheat' position. I've never seen the car display anything other than 'normal', even after a long trip, so something isn't right - the question is, what?

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Hi. My 1.2 8v goes to about 89℃ then fan cuts in. Just over half of the gauge. When stationery fan will cut in and out to maintain that temperature. Temperature was read by my cheap Bluetooth elm327 scanner. My temperature gauge goes to a quarter in a couple of miles then raises to just under the half mark. On long hills it just goes over half by about 2mm.

AFAIK that is normal. My own Punto 1.2 8V Active 2002 does that during the summer months here in Greece, i.e. June through August. We get temps around 32-40+C during this time period.

Ofc, if you live way up north near Scotland and your Punto does that in December when the Others march up against the Wall (shameless Game Of Thrones reference) I'd venture to guess that this ain't quite normal.

I presume the coolant level is correct? Any airlocks?

you got aircon? fan runs on first speed with aircon on

The fan staying on anywhere upto 5mins id expect to be normal

The ecu doesnt shut down instantly when you take the key out
If it still thinks the temperature is too high then the fan will remain on till its cooled it down below its oreset threshold

Ive never seen a punto go over 1/2 way thats got a healthy cooling system

At half way the coolant is pretty much at boiling point
Any further is too hot in my opinion

If the water pump is pumping
The stat is regulating correctly
There is good water and airflow through the radiator
And no airlocks with full coolant the engine shpuld still sit at 1/2 way

Only time ive seen a punto go over
Was because the fan had blew its fuse
Its been revved hard while stationary and was very very very low on coolant
As i wacked a new fuse in and some water while it was running the temperature started to come back down

No aircon and coolant / engine oil levels ok. Car went out later in the day and needle stayed in the middle the whole time and fan didn't come on after engine was switched off.

Well we're all wrong - turns out the head gasket's going. What should I expect to pay for this to be renewed?

RoyBGood said:

Well we're all wrong - turns out the head gasket's going. What should I expect to pay for this to be renewed?

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compression measured?

flisko said:

compression measured?

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The mechanic didn't mention it. He did say how much coolant had to be replaced to bring it back to the correct level, but since then (a week ago) the level hasn't dropped at all and the temperature needle hasn't strayed past the half-way point. In fact, all seems normal. The car doesn't feel like it's lacking compression on the move - it's as frisky as usual. Am I correct in thinking that if coolant is getting into the cylinder head that steam-infused exhaust should be apparent?

If at this stage it's only a tiny head gasket leak and the leak is allowing coolant into a cylinder, given the warm weather it is unlikely you would notice any steam in exhaust.

flisko said:

you got aircon? fan runs on first speed with aircon on

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Hi Flisco, i have the aircon but just after starting fan runs on at first speed for just about few seconds and then fan continually on at second speed which is high until i turned off the aircon. What is this issue please?.