Monday and back to work in B, which has been only run once since Christmas Eve. Nice and chilly outside, but handbrake not frozen on (for once!) and started first time.

Noticed about 20 minutes into the trip that I wasn't getting particularly warm, but then it started to heat up a little. Odd, I thought, but was OK by the time I got to work.

On the way home last night though I noticed that the water temp was rising and rising, and I was only getting cold air blowing through the fans. It peaked just over the last "green" notch on the temp dial, and warm (though not hot) air started to come through. Every now and then though the air would go cold and the temp dial rise.

Similar story this morning, though this time the temp dial was rising much closer to the first small red notch on the temp dial. Not much hot air at all coming through from the heater.

No other symptoms that I can see at the moment. Running fine, not noisy, no power problems. I'll admit I haven't checked fluid levels yet (will do so at lunch today when B has cooled down).

Any thoughts? I did blow up a Fiesta engine once when the heater had been blowing cold for about 2 weeks - turned out there was no oil in the engine.....

Matt

Sounds like very low coolant or an airlocked cooling system.

HP. said:

Sounds like very low coolant or an airlocked cooling system.

Click to expand...

Spot on. Braved the icy conditions to find a damp (but essentially empty) coolant tank. Fortunately I work on a site which has a minibus fleet, so I've topped up the antifreeze and will get to a garage.

I'm presuming there is a likely leak of coolant somewhere. Is there anything else which can cause a complete evaporation of the coolant?

I am a complete noddy when it comes to engines!

Oil levels are low but OK.

Matt

I'd check for furry deposits around the radiator and hoses, which are signs of leaks. Could also be the water pump, in which case you'd have to see if it drips coolant out from the driver's side of the engine.

Any idea how long it's taken to lose the level?

Nothing obvious around the hoses. Checked the oil cap and there is no white stuff around there (others have pointed out that that is a good indication of a blown head gasket). No water in the footwells, so leaking heater matrix looks out of the question too.

Possibly just many pinholes in the radiator. To be honest, it must be about 6 months since I checked the levels (tut, tut) so I don't know whether it has drained recently or over a long period of time. Certainly there are no patches under the car where it is parked though.

Its off to Mangoletsi tomorrow for some diagnosis. If they can find nothing I'll just keep an eye on the levels until the next scheduled service in April.

Matt

Good luck fella, hope it's nothing serious.

You should really get into doing weekly routines like oil, water and tyres. Can end up saving cash in the long run.

I know you're right, I'm just a lazy so and so! Plus (until today) I've never had any fluids disappear, so it always seemed like overkill! Plus getting the bonnet to stay down is a PITA!!

I think I need to enrol on some sort of mechanics course - it would be nice just to be able to change the oil, brake pads etc and at least have some understanding of what might or might not be wrong with the car from time to time!!

I have a recollection that Mangoletsi mentioned a rusting radiator at the last service, though it wasn't critical. Perhaps it is now.....

Thanks for the tips!

Matt

Rad's on the b's are not particularly long lasting, mine is showing signs of corrosion in the corners - another thing on the ever growing list!! Mind you if you have lost as much coolant as you say I would expect to see a more obvious sign of a leak.

You should look for this under your B

Excellent - a big leak!! You sure your not Welsh??

I don't work in a coal mine, I don't sing, nor do I have romantic encounters with sheep - so I very much doubt it

Got home last night in a steamy vehicle and checked the footwells to find some fluid there that wasn't rainwater, so I'm suspecting a leaky heater matrix - presumably the coolant flows through there, so that would be the final destination of the coolant.

Its in the garage now for investigation.

Matt

Expect a large bill...

Like that?

Matt

lol - I thought I'd refrain from posting that pic...

Oh dear....

Blown head gasket

Probably need new radiator too

Variator and timing belt needed doing at next service anyway.

Total quote from Mangoletsi currently around £1500.

Anyone interested in a 1997 B with faults?!?

Matt

Oh dear mate, sorry. I just spent 1000 pounds on mine in the last month so I know what it's like. All the worse when its unexpected...

I'm going to have to make a quick call on this one. With a blown HG (though I still reckon its driveable) and all of the other stuff, I don't really want to take it away from the garage and spend a couple of weeks deciding what to do.

I might have to bite the bullet on a trade in and find another Fiat that will keep me happy. On the other hand, spend £1500 and get a well kitted out and maintained B....

Matt

Not sure fella, all I seem to have done is thrown money at mine over the past year, everytime I think 'thats it, the car is fine' something else comes up!

I have to say that if I get a big expense on mine in the next few months I will be in the same position.......

I don't think £1500's too bad; I'd probably have to pay £1000 to if I were to have the variator and timing belt changed at a Fiat dealer's.

Bad luck, though