Hi

I've searched previous threads and the "sticky" on overheating doesn't seem to apply so if anyones got any ideas/similar experience??

I lent the car (57plate 1.4 16v) to my other half and apparently, after sitting in a traffic queue for some time, the temperature guage went up and the temperature warning light came on. She stopped the car ASAP, lifted the bonnet and let it cool down. She said it felt very hot.

On the phone, I told her to drive to the nearest Fiat dealer when cool as everything else seemed fine (no coolant leak/loss). This she did without a problem - though the dealer were extremely unhelpful. Anyway, to cut a long story short, she drove home (100+ miles) the next day without a problem and I have used it this week without a problem. I took it to my local (helpful) Fiat dealer and they could not find any incedent of overheating when they hooked it up to their diagnostics. There has been no coolant leak, no problem since, no mayonaisse in the oil etc. The dealer said the software is up to date and that it could have been a temporary electronic glitch or thermostat sticking.

Needless to say, my other half doesn't want to drive it again - she swears it actually did overheat.

Any ideas, clues, anything?

I had a similar 'false' overheating problem on my GPS. All the idiot lights ablaze, sending one into a right panic, but no actual overheating. The ECU would kick into LHM (Limp Home Mode) also. Total PITA and dangerous IMHO as it makes the car almost undriveable. Turned out to be a faulty relay on one of the twin coolant fans which was sorted FOC under warranty. Good luck.

the cooling fan (s) are ECU controlled and the dealer should of done an active diagnostic...ask them if they did.

Thanks

Does this mean there are 2 types of diagnostics? The dealer connected it up to a diagnostic computer and could find nothing. 4 months left on 3rd party warranty so will go back and ask the question about active diagnostics if necessary. Car still running perfectly.

I had a similar problem with my GP 1.4 16V. The problem disappeared after software updation. In my case the engine was absolutely cool and it was a false message.