Hi my 2010 500 keeps overheating when I'm stuck in traffic the temp gauge returns to normal once I star moving again any help would be much appreciated will check I've the fan is cutting in at weekend when I get back to the car

I'd say thats your first move, check the fan. If it's not, feed it a direct 12v's to make sure the fan is ok., If it is then it can only really be the switch that controls it.

Or thermostat stuck shut but I'd expect it to overheat even on the move. I'd say the coolant is circulating as when you drive it, the ram air effect to the rad is cooling it sufficiently.

Check the thermostat housing. Common problem on the 1.2.

Spike

It sounds stupid check how much waters in the radiator if low there's a leak in which case could be rad, pipes Inc the one running behind the exhaust manifold or heater matrix (like mine failed)

Use a strip of card slipped in the expansion bottle to check level?

Funky Spike said:

Check the thermostat housing. Common problem on the 1.2.

Spike

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Didn't know this. Good tip. Cheers

B7TMW said:

Didn't know this. Good tip. Cheers

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Very common issue, sheers clean off the engine bay if you're unlucky. Happened to mine and it was a cloud of smoke!

Part is cheap from EuroCarParts and a straightfoward repair if this does turn out to be the issue.

With the radio and fan off start the car and listen for "water noises"(try with head near the passenger side foot well) if you can hear a water type noise at start up its a sure sign of low water(air in the system )

Thanks for all the advice the fan is working but the header tank was lower than I 1st thought checked with a torch been on a short drive and left it on tick over for a short while but will drive it sat see how it goes with coolant level

Flipflop12345 said:

Thanks for all the advice the fan is working but the header tank was lower than I 1st thought checked with a torch been on a short drive and left it on tick over for a short while but will drive it sat see how it goes with coolant level

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My Mazda has a tube in the screen washer bottle(lid) you put your finger over the hole and lift it out, this shows the level, I borrowed it to dip the level in the Fiat after I had to replace the heater matrix inside the car, stick it in all the way, finger on, lift out and hold against the now opaque tank to see the level, works a treat, a length of fish tank pipe might work the same way?

If it was low like you said you can guarantee you have a leak somewhere, its finding it, when hot and cold use a bright torch to look for leaks under the bonnet, all over, there's a metal pipe running behind the exhaust manifold whilst mine was not leaking you/I could put a screw driver through it due to rusting.
Do you have any strange smells inside the car ?
Radiator
Metal pipe
Thermostat housing
Heater matrix
Prime candidates ?

When re filling or if the water has dropped quite low, you need to open the bleed valve in the heater hose near the battery, only do this when totally cold and be very gentle with the screw top or it snaps off like I found the hard way once snapped off it leaks all the time