Not seen this mentioned..

My mjs take 3/4 of my morning commute to register heat (@ 8miles of low effort 40mph .. @4'c)

On older cars there was reasonable access to blank off airflow to the rad.

I have a house SOLD sign.. lightweight honeycomb plastic.

But getting in front of the rad looks quite a challenge..

Anybody know a simple
'3 screws and youre there' method?

Cheers
Charlie

Blanking off air flow to radiator would only work if coolant was circulating, which would mean a bad thermostat ...

Brs, Bernie

Bernievarian said:

Blanking off air flow to radiator would only work if coolant was circulating, which would mean a bad thermostat ...

Brs, Bernie

Click to expand...

There's often some flow even with the thermostat is closed
Also blanking off part of the raditior will lower airflow around the engine bay so should have some effect on Temps

If it didn't manufactures would have self closing grills on cars used in cold climates

I'd agree for "old" cars when everything was open to air, but nowadays engine bays are almost a "cocoon" where temperature is kept under control (bottom shielding) so attempting to normal (designed) air flow would be a bad idea. I remember the time of rubber/cardboard covers in front of Cortinas, Anglias and other brilliant ancestors in a poor attempt to bring their engine to working temp; it worked at that time but could lead to dramatic overheating on our modern (sealed) cars...

Cheers, Bernie

Is this on your Grande or a later punto Charlie?

The reason I ask is because the two cars have different grill designs. For example if a grande then I would have thought it would be no problem to block off the upper grill completely (the one with the fiat badge) as this grill doesn’t exist on the later cars.

I had a similar problem on my mk2b mjt with the 1.3 engine, very little heat generated. I wonder if this was the reason later cars got more under engine coverings.

Grande (all diesels)

What is the best route?

Top black plastic panel..??

I'd rather put it direct to face of rad.

The grill of a Grande is surprisingly easy to remove by pulling it out forward. Then you have loads of room to reach in to reach the radiator

Cheers..
I will add pics