Technical Bravo 2008 heater issues / engine heat and fan issues

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Technical Bravo 2008 heater issues / engine heat and fan issues

mattmcnic

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Hi all,

Before I go on, I should let you know that I have read through many of the posts about various heater issues and none sound quite like mine, hence this post.

Basically, my heaters in the car are not working. They have the potential to work, as every now and then I get a few blessed minutes of warmth, but for the most part, it's a cold ride.

I havent found a combination of temp/direction/fan speed that seems any more or less problematic than any other. Basically, when it works, I can direct that heat anywhere, although the heat is more evident when the fans are on lower speed (as if the faster the air is passing through, the less time the heaters have to warm it, so it's not as warm) When it doesn't work, no amount of fiddling with the dials makes a difference.

The thing that concerns me is that since this has been a problem (roughly 3 weeks) I have noticed the main engine fan is working overtime. I must admit in the 18 months I've had the car I never even noticed this fan running before, except maybe when idling in traffic at the end of a long motorway run etc. Now, after anything more than a couple of miles, this fan runs constantly, and continues to run for approx 15-30 seconds after shutting off the ignition.

Are these issues connected? They certainly appeared at the same time. I had hoped the heater issue was as simple as a fuse, and the fan thing would stop once this was solved.

Thanks for reading, I know I go on a bit but I want to be clear about the problem.

Cheers!

Matt
 
Hi all,

Before I go on, I should let you know that I have read through many of the posts about various heater issues and none sound quite like mine, hence this post.

Basically, my heaters in the car are not working. They have the potential to work, as every now and then I get a few blessed minutes of warmth, but for the most part, it's a cold ride.

I havent found a combination of temp/direction/fan speed that seems any more or less problematic than any other. Basically, when it works, I can direct that heat anywhere, although the heat is more evident when the fans are on lower speed (as if the faster the air is passing through, the less time the heaters have to warm it, so it's not as warm) When it doesn't work, no amount of fiddling with the dials makes a difference.

The thing that concerns me is that since this has been a problem (roughly 3 weeks) I have noticed the main engine fan is working overtime. I must admit in the 18 months I've had the car I never even noticed this fan running before, except maybe when idling in traffic at the end of a long motorway run etc. Now, after anything more than a couple of miles, this fan runs constantly, and continues to run for approx 15-30 seconds after shutting off the ignition.

Are these issues connected? They certainly appeared at the same time. I had hoped the heater issue was as simple as a fuse, and the fan thing would stop once this was solved.

Thanks for reading, I know I go on a bit but I want to be clear about the problem.

Cheers!

Matt
Read my post "how do you remove climate control " there a top man on there who answered my exact same questions as you as I have had the same problem for over a year !!
Quick spin to his garage in Southampton (specialises in fiat. Alpha and abarth) sorted it right out
 
Wrong end of the country for me! Thanks though, I read the thread comments and it could be as yours was. I should add to anyone reading this that after posting i went and stood at my open bonnet in my default position, head slumped and looking depressed, and noticed the engine coolant level was very low. I've topped it up and will report back on next journey as to whether or not my engine fan issue is remedied.
 
Wrong end of the country for me! Thanks though, I read the thread comments and it could be as yours was. I should add to anyone reading this that after posting i went and stood at my open bonnet in my default position, head slumped and looking depressed, and noticed the engine coolant level was very low. I've topped it up and will report back on next journey as to whether or not my engine fan issue is remedied.
No probs mate.
My engine coolant was also below the min level.
When I topped it up I thought YAY.. it works as the car went a little warn but that soon faded..
I guarantee you buddy it's those little plastic bits that have broken.
BTW I drove 3 hours from south Wales to get it fixed... well worth it
 
UPDATE,

My Engine Coolant/Antifreeze was almost empty, way below minimum. Strange that my temp gauge has been normal throughout. Anyway, schoolboy error, now rectified. Immediately the heaters returned to normal, demisting a pretty frosty windscreen in minutes. The previous morning it had taken 15 with much internal wiping etc.

I will monitor the symptoms closely for any return of problems, but for now seems ok.

Side question, aside from the obvious potential split hoses etc, what might cause my anti freeze/coolant tank to be empty? I havent noticed anything on the driveway underneath the car.

Cheers!
 
UPDATE,

My Engine Coolant/Antifreeze was almost empty, way below minimum. Strange that my temp gauge has been normal throughout. Anyway, schoolboy error, now rectified. Immediately the heaters returned to normal, demisting a pretty frosty windscreen in minutes. The previous morning it had taken 15 with much internal wiping etc.

I will monitor the symptoms closely for any return of problems, but for now seems ok.

Side question, aside from the obvious potential split hoses etc, what might cause my anti freeze/coolant tank to be empty? I havent noticed anything on the driveway underneath the car.

Cheers!


I was going to say..lack of flowing coolant..:rolleyes:

ok - where's it gone, :eek:
it's either gone out through GRAVITY - waterpump , hoses, heater matrix / rad. = slow leaks

or pressure driven;
forced out through a leaky RAD cap,
radiator / matrix,
possibly head gasket

what engine..??
Charlie
 
Check the top of the gearbox. My car has an extremely slow coolant leak there (leaks from the banjo - the garage have failed twice at stopping it. Will take it somewhere else... eventually). Also check the rad hoses - the engine fan is known to rub holes in them.

I'm assuming you have a petrol t-jet based purely on the fact that it produces enough heat to clear the windscreen whilst idleing. Also, the undertray will prevent any obvious puddles appearing on your drive.
 
Thanks for these replies everybody. I have come out to the car just now and the coolant tank is empty again. So, I will be trying to suss out where it's escaping. It's a bit drier today so I can see on the drive that it the area around the front of the car is or has been wet - obviously I'd missed that.

So, where to begin searching? How does one even narrow down which pipes are potentially the culprit? Is there anything I can check to rule out potential mega pricey disasters? Obviously if it was oil based fluid leaking I would be easily able to spot where it's leaking by looking for big oily spots, but with it being watery I can't see anything obvious. I will check for the gearbox as suggested above, but without collective laughter, could someone point out where to look for my gearbox? (Hangs head in shame).

Thanks,

Matt
 
Thanks for these replies everybody. I have come out to the car just now and the coolant tank is empty again. So, I will be trying to suss out where it's escaping. It's a bit drier today so I can see on the drive that it the area around the front of the car is or has been wet - obviously I'd missed that.

So, where to begin searching? How does one even narrow down which pipes are potentially the culprit? Is there anything I can check to rule out potential mega pricey disasters? Obviously if it was oil based fluid leaking I would be easily able to spot where it's leaking by looking for big oily spots, but with it being watery I can't see anything obvious. I will check for the gearbox as suggested above, but without collective laughter, could someone point out where to look for my gearbox? (Hangs head in shame).

Thanks,

Matt

Im assuming the engine layouts are similar; the gearbox is visible in the gap between the battery and engine. Look down the gap, and it'll be there. In between the top of the engine and the gearbox are a large number of cooling pipes. The hose to the radiator is one, another routes round to the turbo (i think). Just look around there for a leak. From there, follow the pipes around - any leaks will be bright pinky orange - unless you filled your coolant tank with water.

Another point mine has leaked in the past was on the hose on the left hand side of the bay (same side as the expansion tank), down the side of the radiator. I could only see it when the car was on the ramp.
 
Thanks all. I topped up using appropriate antifreeze/coolant. When I said the leak was watery, I simply meant that antifreeze/water solution is not viscous like oils and so the evidence on the driveway was minimal.

On further inspection the drips under the bonnet seem to be emanating from underneath the radiator. I used some Rad Weld type stuff recommended by a local supplier of auto parts when I topped it up again and will monitor the situation!
 
Thanks all. I topped up using appropriate antifreeze/coolant. When I said the leak was watery, I simply meant that antifreeze/water solution is not viscous like oils and so the evidence on the driveway was minimal.

On further inspection the drips under the bonnet seem to be emanating from underneath the radiator. I used some Rad Weld type stuff recommended by a local supplier of auto parts when I topped it up again and will monitor the situation!

Hi again , does sounds like the radiator may have failed.., :eek:

RAD WELD - will coat the entire cooling system in sludge:yuck:

personally I would get the system flushed at the first opportunity,
before the heater matrix gets clogged, and you have other overheating issues.
 
Hi again , does sounds like the radiator may have failed.., :eek:

RAD WELD - will coat the entire cooling system in sludge:yuck:

personally I would get the system flushed at the first opportunity,
before the heater matrix gets clogged, and you have other overheating issues.

Agreed. Replace the radiator, far cheaper than repairing damage caused by overheating.
 
I've never heard anything except bad reports. I'm sure there are cases where it does work as expected and doesn't block the coolant galleries in the head, but who knows. Until the head gasket fails, you just don't know.

So, do you feel lucky?
 
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