My 2004 Punto 1.2 Active was giving me a high temperature reading with a full gage and red light. I noticed a nocking sound coming from the water tank and that was filled to maximum upon inspection. I took it in the garage today and the mechanic has replaced the radiator fan with a used one as the original kept blowing the fuse and grinding when tested. They where still working on my car when I went to collect it and they asked me to check if there was hot air coming out of heater inside the car which there wasn't. I think they then bled the car and put more water in the water tank. The problem seemed to have been sorted with warm air now coming out of the heater and a stable temp reading, well that's until I drove off. The temp went high again but by pure fluke I decided to see what happens when I turned the heater on full blast and this actually brought the reading back down to a stable temp, so my car seems drivable with the heater on full lol but I don't want to cause any avoidable damage, I'm hearing that this can be a cause of head gaskets and to me that sounds expensive.

Given the above info, does anybody know what the possible causes of the high temps and is there anything I can do to resolve it or is it another trip to the garage on Monday?

Many thanks in advance

Water pump, thermostat, water leaks.

You may have blown the head gasket already. Compression test.

I didn't notice any water leaks, the thermostat was changed a couple of years ago with a similar problem (gurgling sound and no heating) so I guess that leaves the pump and a compression test, yes definitely sounds like a trip the garage lol

It's worth noting that the cars only got 37,000 on, even though its a 2004, so is it still likely it could be the head gasket, assuming it is what costs am I looking at because the cars probably only worth £900 if that.

Cheers

I would say with such a low mileage, it's worth more than that.

You could have a car that lasts for a good few years if you get through this problem

Right find out first but if it turns out to be head gasket then let me know. Im currently compiling a guide for doing it. Ive been doing DIY mechanical work on my car since i got it. grab yourself a haynes manual and get learning. The car is great to start on and is so easy.

Overheating - coolant sensor, thermostat, fan/radiator. Get a compression check done to be sure, but i was losing coolant before i done my head gasket, couldnt trace it anywhere else.

Good luck
Sam

Usual sources of an "invisible" coolant leak are the water pump, water rail (long tube running across the front of the engine) and the O ring seal where the water rail plugs into the water pump housing.

Often you'll never spot them without running the engine up to operating temperature. and, while still running, crawling under the car.

Alternatively, a coolant pressurisation test on a warmed up engine (can also -- in the right hands -- detect a HG issue).

Thanks for all your replies.

I'm not sure how you can tell if the head gasket is faulty, im assuming its the seal the fits between the metal housing, I can actually see the edges of it as I look at it from the front and there are no visible leaks at all and all seems pretty intact.

Another symptom of the over heating is that having been out in the car for a short trip today, I noticed the fan stayed on when I turned the engine off for about 30 seconds, again turning the heater on full kept the temperature stable JUST!

I've also looked at some of my older post which has juggled my memory, I'm pritty sure the thermostat and water pump has been changed in the past due to a similar issue with high temperatures and the classic gurgling sound from the passenger side.

Interesting fingers99 you mention a faulty O ring. I did notice when I collected the car which was still running during a test that there was steam coming from one of the connector fittings on a hose, it was the one that leads from the top right of the radiator to the junction towards the middle. That has stopped now after they bled the car.

I will suggest a pressure test when I return it to that garage in the morning since I think a remedy is well beyond my chefing abilities lol I will keep you posted on the outcome.

Thanks again for taking the time to reply it's much appreciated

My old mk2A did the fan thing

The cars ECU doesn't shut off instantly when you ignition off
Joys of can bus
The car is still seeing the high temperature, so it leaves the fan on to aid cooling till its down enough
or till the timer is reached

My mk2b doesn't do this
if the fan is on when i pull up - i whip the key out, the fan goes off, Its just changes fiat made over the years

Steam around the pipe to the radiator is probably them bleeding the car - its coolant been burnt off outside the radiator - wouldnt worry unless it never stops

Gurgaling = Only 1 thing
Air lock = can cause an overheat
if the garage are that incomitent to bleed it properly and blow HG then they are to blame and should fix for free

Ziggy

You use a compression tester to check for a blown head gasket. If that's what it is, you loose water internally, as a rule.

These guys sound like chumps.

Just an update as promised for all whom replied.

Took the car back yesterday and watched them bleed it again in case of airlocks. That didn't solve it so I left it with them. By the time I returned they had decided to put a new thermostat on it, they said see how you go with that and it now seems to be ok with stable temps.

A change of fan and a thermostat, does £80 sound reasonable, could have been worse and done the HG as well I suppose.

For the record, my Punto is a 2004, 37,000 on clock, it's not luxury and certainly no chick pleaser but I love it all the same, it's a little cracker

Thanks for all your reply's in this topic.

Fan change is a £5 change over job
Its buying the fan that costs


Stat takes longer and the bugger is bleeding it again

I find nose in the air helpa lots here


Ziggy