Just been to view a 2011 twinair lounge with 35k on the clock, as sister is currently in the 500 market.

Noticed there was nearly no coolant in the reservoir and the fabric on the under tray and insulation in the bulk head looked damp as though it's had coolant sprayed all over it (propelled by the belt). Still getting heat into the cabin, so obviously not dangerously low. Just wondering if it's likly to be a water pump issue, if this has happened to any other Twinair owners, and what sort of repair cost we could be looking at?

The car is already very well priced as seller is moving to Australia just after Christmas so wants shot (so they say) and just trying to factor this repair into the offer I may make. Still not sure if to walk away or not though.

I'm kicking myself though, as I forgot to see if foot wells were wet / damp :bang: Although I suspect it's an engine bay leak from what I can see. Does the heater matrix feed go in through the passenger side on the 500 twin air like the Panda?

Also, the twinair, has it got a timing belt or chain?

Never heard of water pump or coolant problems on a 500 TwinAir (just some 1.2s) so that's a bit concerning, but not a deal breaker if the rest checks out ok.

Not sure on the heater matrix but would imagine it'd be the same set up as the Panda, unless it's engine specific.

You may be pleased to hear that the 85bhp TwinAir is a cam chain, not a belt. The 105bhp appears (unless Fiat's literature is wrong, which is very possible) to be a belt.

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Just been to view a 2011 twinair lounge with 35k on the clock, as sister is currently in the 500 market.

Noticed there was nearly no coolant in the reservoir and the fabric on the under tray and insulation in the bulk head looked damp as though it's had coolant sprayed all over it (propelled by the belt). Still getting heat into the cabin, so obviously not dangerously low.

Also, the twinair, has it got a timing belt or chain?

Click to expand...

Hi Jon,

could well be a hose connection,
shame the newer coolant doesn't go "furry"at leak points

does ePER give clues to dash construction (1.2 500's)

definitely Chain driven,

probably worth another look today in daylight

Charlie

Mine had a small but persistent leak where the coolant return hose attached to the expansion tank.

TrevC said:

Mine had a small but persistent leak where the coolant return hose attached to the expansion tank.

Click to expand...

Cheers for that, sounds possible, as would be possible to trickle down the pipe slightly and over the belts etc.

Was it the actual pipe, or the join to the return out of interest?

I'm not sure - I may have a minute crack in the spigot coming out of the tank, although I can't see or feel it. It still seeped after a new pipe was fitted, so it's now on with plumber's silicone and two jubilee clips! Seems to be ok now. The leak was very slight, evidence was dried pink coolant around the tank seam and on the engine mount. With the engine running, fluid could be seen seepng from the end of the pipe. Hope all this helps. If my leak returns I'll replace the tank.
It's been the only fault on the car in nearly 4 years and 30,000 miles.

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Just been to view a 2011 twinair lounge with 35k on the clock, as sister is currently in the 500 market.

Noticed there was nearly no coolant in the reservoir and the fabric on the under tray and insulation in the bulk head looked damp as though it's had coolant sprayed all over it (propelled by the belt). Still getting heat into the cabin, so obviously not dangerously low. Just wondering if it's likly to be a water pump issue, if this has happened to any other Twinair owners, and what sort of repair cost we could be looking at?

The car is already very well priced as seller is moving to Australia just after Christmas so wants shot (so they say) and just trying to factor this repair into the offer I may make. Still not sure if to walk away or not though.

I'm kicking myself though, as I forgot to see if foot wells were wet / damp :bang: Although I suspect it's an engine bay leak from what I can see. Does the heater matrix feed go in through the passenger side on the 500 twin air like the Panda?

Also, the twinair, has it got a timing belt or chain?

Click to expand...

The issue with the one you saw seems slightly different to mine, I have a May 2011 TA, at the last service before I finaled the PCP I had the MOT done by the same FIAT garage, they noted the coolant reservoir was leaking. Although it was fine to drive, they ordered the part and reluctantly changed it foc. Have a look at that. Otherwise at 36k on mine the engine and everything else is spot on.

personally in situations like this,
I've ;

walked seller around car pointing out it's issues I'll have to spend money on,
agree a price in principal,

then restock the fluids,
and go for a decent accompanied drive, it'll soon be evident if the low fluid is an issue,


as you said heater still pumps heat, - but "sloshing" on a drive will tell a tale..,
as will any strange running , or temp issues,

Charlie

I'd want to have identified for certain where the leak is coming from before I'd buy this car.

If it's leaking from the expansion tank, or a hose connection in the engine bay, then it's an easy fix & unless there's any chance it might have been run dangerously low on coolant, it's just a question of negotiating a few pounds off the price.

If it's leaking inside the car, then as you know it's a pig of a job to replace anything inside the heater casing & I'd just walk away.

I'm not familiar with the detailed hose layout in the engine bay of the TA, but on the 1.2, like the Panda, the bleed valve is another likely place to look for minor seepage.

There seem to be plenty of cars for sale just now, and prices have softened considerably in the last couple of months - from where I'm sitting, it looks like a buyers market, so if you've any real doubts, perhaps best to pass this one by - particularly if you think your sister would be better with a 1.2.

varesecrazy said:

then restock the fluids,
and go for a decent accompanied drive, it'll soon be evident if the low fluid is an issue,

Click to expand...

Thats the plan later today

It's already a fairly good price, being a private sale, and I'm hoping for further movement on the price.

Might suggest with the savings made sister purchases a aftermarket warrenty for the next 12 months :idea:

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Might suggest with the savings made sister purchases a aftermarket warrenty for the next 12 months :idea:

Click to expand...

Given you can save a good £2-3k on many cars sold privately compared to a dealer, and an aftermarket waranty costs as little a £250 and covers more than most standard waranties, I wonder why people buy from dealers when getting something more than a couple of years old

AndyRKett said:

I wonder why people buy from dealers when getting something more than a couple of years old

Click to expand...

Possibly because buying from a dealer does give some protection against buying a shed. If you have little in the way of mechanical knowledge or confidence, this could be a big factor. Availability of finance will also be an issue for some.

Ellie's story would not have ended as happily had she bought her car privately. And Aleck would appear to be staring into the face of having to replace a turbo on a privately purchased late model TA.

But if you have a little knowledge and some spare cash, then I'd agree that buying privately is the way to go.

jrkitching said:

Possibly because buying from a dealer does give some protection against buying a shed. If you have little in the way of mechanical knowledge or confidence, this could be a big factor. Availability of finance will also be an issue for some.

Ellie's story would not have ended as happily had she bought her car privately. And Aleck would appear to be staring into the face of having to replace a turbo on a privately purchased late model TA.

But if you have a little knowledge and some spare cash, then I'd agree that buying privately is the way to go.

Click to expand...

I would argue that both those cases would come within the scope of a couple of years.

To clarify what I'm getting at is those who buy cars at 3+ years old who go to dodgy daves dicky motors on the corner of the industrial estate, car finance deals are often very bad as 'deals' go, and if you've ever had to deal with these people 'protection' doesn't exist you certainly will struggle to take a car back if it has a fault and often the Waranty doesn't even cover the piece of paper the 'waranty' is written on.

You can't get car finance on a car being sold privately but you can get a personal loan. Law still provides a certain element of protection even on a private sale and the aftermarket waranties are much better than what dealers offer.

Though granted I would agree if you have not an ounce of mechanical savvy then you really should take someone who knows what they're looking at, even then there are no guarantees

Went and test drove the car myself yesterday (Central Norwich, out past the airport, back through Hainford down a very uneven road to test suspension etc) and all seems good. HPi check has come back completely clear also.

Haggled and deposit paid, collecting on Wednesday, seller is going to Australia for a years traveling between Christmas and New year, a steal at £5400 IMO for a April 2011 Twinair Lounge with 38k on the clock.

Going to get leak looked at by Alfashop in Norwich (who I've been very impressed with when they've serviced the Bravo for me) along with a service which is due soon. At the price paid even if it needs something drastic like a water pump etc I think we're still quids in looking at some of the advertised prices for the same car online from dealers / other private sellers.

Here's to hoping shes the honest motor she seems, think it was a case of right place right time, we viewed on Friday evening within a few hours of it being advertised online

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Went and test drove the car myself yesterday (Central Norwich, out past the airport, back through Hainford down a very uneven road to test suspension etc) and all seems good. HPi check has come back completely clear also.

Haggled and deposit paid, collecting on Wednesday, seller is going to Australia for a years traveling between Christmas and New year, a steal at £5400 IMO for a April 2011 Twinair Lounge with 38k on the clock.

Going to get leak looked at by Alfashop in Norwich (who I've been very impressed with when they've serviced the Bravo for me) along with a service which is due soon. At the price paid even if it needs something drastic like a water pump etc I think we're still quids in looking at some of the advertised prices for the same car online from dealers / other private sellers.

Here's to hoping shes the honest motor she seems, think it was a case of right place right time, we viewed on Friday evening within a few hours of it being advertised online

Click to expand...

excellent MEP absolute steal as you mentioned, at that price even if you spend over 500 GBP for repairs (unlikely unless you go to a fiat franchise) you are still in credit = )

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Haggled and deposit paid, collecting on Wednesday, seller is going to Australia for a years traveling between Christmas and New year, a steal at £5400 IMO for a April 2011 Twinair Lounge with 38k on the clock.

Click to expand...

Glad it worked out and hopefully its only a cheap fix, the TA is lovely car to drive. I was selling mine a few months back, May 2011, 36k, red, xenons & fully loaded, could have done a deal with you. Ah well may advertise in spring when the winter tyres come off.

arorat said:

Glad it worked out and hopefully its only a cheap fix, the TA is lovely car to drive. I was selling mine a few months back, May 2011, 36k, red, xenons & fully loaded, could have done a deal with you. Ah well may advertise in spring when the winter tyres come off.

Click to expand...

You're joking, would have been very interested, as I was looking for one with OEM Bi-Xenons and they seem to be none existant :bang:

Ah well, never mind

Winter tyres though - if you're not getting another 500 let me know as I may be interested in your wheels if you've a dedicated winter set for the winter tyres.

Most Easterly Pandas said:

You're joking, would have been very interested, as I was looking for one with OEM Bi-Xenons and they seem to be none existant :bang:

Ah well, never mind

Winter tyres though - if you're not getting another 500 let me know as I may be interested in your wheels if you've a dedicated winter set for the winter tyres.

Click to expand...

I was going to ask how much you were paying but sometimes its not good to interfere, in retrospect I should have asked privately, having said that the car we want to buy may not be out till spring and may not have worked.

I am looking for a non 500, screw it, it's a Pug 2008 allure, 1.2 thp 130bhp, full auto. Engine is not out till spring/summer in the 2008 but its available in 308. Another one is the new Mazda CX-3. Hoping the Pug 2008 will have sportier options taking leads from the Dakar 2008 and option for bi-xenons. The 2008 ECG (aka dualogic) has issues in the 2008 range, although the 1.2 petrol 3-pot was phenomenal a bit like the TA but torquey.

If it happens then yes the 4 fantastic winter tyres will be available.

btw: saw a 500s TA dualogic in Croydon, for some reason they are very reluctant to offer good discounts on pre-reg. If that garage was reasonable we would have changed the TA for dualogic back in May when it was 3 yrs.

Being a bit of a scrooge, I spent some of today outside playing with sisters new acquisition

Coolant leak has been traced, a very small but persistent weeping / dripping from the join where the coolant pipe enters the thermostat. Looks like something has been done around there before as its got a normal jubilee clip and not one of Fiats silly clips on it, so I've tightened that slightly and will keep an eye on it.

Now this is all over the NS of the engine bay above the gearbox which leaves the question of whats covering the under tray on the OS. Removed the under tray and stick my head under and a nice coating of oil over everything. After having a good clean up it appears to be coming from the upper oil pipe going to the turbo (I assume this is the supply as the other goes into the sump, so must be the return) just where it comes out of the block/pump. So at some point tomorrow I'm going to see if I can get a spanner up there (nicely located just behind the CAT so not overly easy to get at) to try and tighten the retaining nut to see if this is loose and causing the leak. After cleaning it all up I've left the engine running sticking my head back under, and its not bad enough to cause major oil loss. Its a minor weep at best as couldn't see any fresh oil in the 10/15 min I left her running for.

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Being a bit of a scrooge, I spent some of today outside playing with sisters new acquisition

Coolant leak has been traced, a very small but persistent weeping / dripping from the join where the coolant pipe enters the thermostat. Looks like something has been done around there before as its got a normal jubilee clip and not one of Fiats silly clips on it, so I've tightened that slightly and will keep an eye on it.

So at some point tomorrow I'm going to see if I can get a spanner up there (nicely located just behind the CAT so not overly easy to get at) to try and tighten the retaining nut to see if this is loose and causing the leak. After cleaning it all up I've left the engine running sticking my head back under, and its not bad enough to cause major oil loss. Its a minor weep at best as couldn't see any fresh oil in the 10/15 min I left her running for.

Click to expand...

sounds like you're nearly there then

good reminder to look around mine - as it's done @16K in it's 18 months,:worship:

PM me if you want /need advice on further remedies on the coolant side,

Charlie