Hi everyone

I was on my way to work this morning and was merrily driving without taking notice of anything when all hell broke loose on my dashboard. The warning system went off and he indicator said that the coolant was too hot and when I looked the temperature gauge was buried in the red.
I immediately pulled over and switched off and checked under the bonnet. The coolant level was fine and so I slowly opened the top of the expansion tank and let the pressure out. There was the usual fluid loss when I released the top of the expansion tank so when it settled down I put the cap back on and switched the engine on and the temperature gauge went back to normal almost immediately.

I carried on driving but the needle was fluctuating between normal and 3/4 so I turned around and came back home. On the way back it seemed to get hot then cool down and then hot again, particularly under acceleration. I have read there may be a software update issue but that wouldn't explain why I had cold air coming out of the heating system when it was at maximum heat. That made me think it could be the thermostat but how do I check it? Also I have seen threads on water pumps disintegrating but I am not sure if mine has a plastic one of a metal bladed pump. its a 2007 model.

Any ideas?

Dave

Water pump/ thermostat sticking or in some case head gasket .. Needs the cooling system checking but cold air coming out of heater points towards pump or head gasket

Thanks Andy

I thought the same but I have now checked the oil filler cap and no cream and definitely no steam from the exhaust and there doesn't appear to be any oil in the water either.
If the gasket is gone its running remarkably well considering.

Did Fiat not change the later models to a metal impeller on the water pump?

Is the water pump on these the same as a 1.9 Multipla? ie, timing belt off and then take the pump out?

Dave