Technical Overheating - Bravo 1.8HLX

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Technical Overheating - Bravo 1.8HLX

AM_bravo

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Aug 23, 2004
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My 1.8L Bravo has been overheating for a while. If I drive steady and for not too far (Say 10 miles), it will settle just below the red. One sympton is that the heaters blow cold. I have checked the thermostat and thats ok. The fan kicks in at the right time, so thats not the problem. The local garage couldn't check for a Blown head gasket, so if anyone has any tips on that, please let me know.
I have some questions for anyone with answers -
1) Do you know where the bleed screws are on the engine block?
2) I have no bleed screws on the pipes to the heater - there should be some according to the haynes manual - does anyone else have this problem?
3) How does the cap on the expansion tank effect the system?
4) Is there a handy way of checking for a blocked radiator?
I would take it to a fiat dealer, but as I have found them to be a bunch of robbing b**tards, I would like to avoid that for as long as I can.
Many thanks to anyone who can help.
 
Hi,
Bleed plugs on the 1800 should be radiator top left, (header tank side) and on the coolant manifold near the throttle body.
If the gasket is blown, look for the usual suspects, mayo in oil, oil and bad smell in water, white smoke.
It sounds like you have an airlock if the heater is blowing cold and you are sure that the 'stat is ok.
The water system is pressurised, so if the expansion tank cap is not fitting properly you will be losing water.
Quickest way to check for a blocked radiator is to pull the hoses and put a garden hosepipe in. Make sure you get some jubilee clips first as you can't always get the Fiat clips back together.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.
 
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