Technical Please help, Punto warming problem

[Lalic]

Dear All,

I own a Punto MK2 1.2 year 2003. It passed about 90.000 km. Since one month ago, I noticed a problem. Namely, the engine warming indicator arrow doesn`t climb up to the normal position (and the normal position is half of the scale). You have to pass at least 40-50 km without stopping for the arrow to get to the normal position. Anyway, once you switch the heating, it drops down rapidly. It is also clear that the heating is very poor, it seems like the engine doesn`t warm up sufficiently. I was told to check the coolant level, and it`s normal. I took the car to a service, and they told me that everything seems perfectly normal - they noticed that both of the radiator hoses are warm, so they concluded that the water is circulating normally and there isn`t problem with the termostat opening. They waited the car to reach the normal temperature, and the radiator propeller switches normally. They thought that there`s a problem with the indicator. Anyway, I think that the indicator is fine, since I feel that the engine doesn`t work as when it is warmed up, and the heating in the car is also terrible.
Did anyone experience similar problem? A lot of people have overheating problem, I have not-heating problem

Thank you all in advance

 

[a1ant]

Hello and WELCOME TO THE FORUM!!

From your post, im guessing your not from the UK? Are you from a country where its getting colder at this time of year? In the winter, you will notice that the car will not heat up as quickly, especially when moving, due to the colder air flowing through the rad and engine bay compared to say in the summer.

That aside, you say that the temp gauge is not sitting at half way on a normal drive, but where is it sitting now? ie 1/4, 1/3 etc.

If its slow to heat up, it could well be that the thermostat is stuck open. However, once its heated up, this shouldn't effect your heating. Anotheor posibility is an air-lock in the heater matrix. Do you hear a water gurgling noise from behind the dash when you start the car?

Alan

 

[Lalic]

Thank you very much for your quick reply.
Yes, I`m not from the UK, I live in Macedonia. This month the temperature is really moderate, about 20 C degrees, so the car warms up much much slower compared when it was -20C.
The temp gauge keeps rising untill the normal position, but very slowly, it needs maby an hour of driving to get to the normal position. After a normal drive of about 20 km, it only rises up to 1/4. And, once you turn the heating on, the temperature arrow drops.
About the water gurgling noice from behind the dash, I used to hear that before (and I was wondering what it was), but now when the problem is present, I don`t hear it at all.
In the service the people told me that the termostat is not stuck open, but I didn`t quite understand their explanation - they concluded that it is OK because the water is circulating through the whole system (both hoses are warm), and the propeller turns on once the temperature rises to the normal level ??

 

[a1ant]

Hi,

If the thermostat is stuck open, the coolant will circulate..... all the time. When a thermostat is stuck closed, the coolant doesn't circulate, and this is when you get overheating.

When you start a car from cold, the thermostat should be closed, this allows the engine to warm quicker than if there was cold coolant flowing around it. When the engine reaches a pre-determined temperature, the thermostat should pop open. Therefore, if your thermostat is stuck open, the engine is being cooled whilst its trying to warm up, rather than keeping it cool ONCE its reached its operating temperature.


As you have heard the gurgling, I would also bleed the cooling system, as its still possible that you have an airlock in the heater matrix, which would explain why your heating is not very warm.

Alan

 

[Lalic]

Thank you so much. Apparently the service men here have no idea
I`ll take the car today to another service.

Thank you once again and best of luck for you