Technical 1.2 Running Problems, Overheating, Steering, Fan

[AnPhonEh]

Hi Guys,

I was hoping my first technical thread wouldn't have come so soon, but here we are. Hopefully someone can guide me in the right direction, or at least confirm my suspicions are correct.

I purchased a 1.2 8v 54 Plate Punto about 3 weeks ago, from a dealer who had taken it in part Exchange. Everything seemed okay, it drove well upon test and the dealer delivered it to me after taxing it.

I drove it around a little for a few days (no more than half a hour at a time) and one trip on the motorway of about 40 miles and all was well. Until last week.

I was picking someone up, and they were putting stuff in my boot. I had the car running and after about 10minutes of so of being sat still, we set off. As we reached the top of a small sloped road there was a massive amount of steam coming from the front right, under the bonnet. I shut off the Engine and noticed it was quite higher than normal (about 3/4). I lifted the bonnet and noticed all the steam was coming from the bottom on the right side of the radiator (if sat in drivers seat). After that I wanted for it to cool down and limped it home.

It's been sat for the last week or so as I've not had time to look at it. What I have found is that the radiator fan is not kicking in. I've removed it and cleaned the housing as well as replaced the fuse but still nothing. I then applied 12v to it directly and it's not coming to life at all.

I checked the min/max marked bottle on the radiator and couldn't see any coolant in it at all - Could've just been dirty, so I topped it up until it was full (perhaps a bit too full) and ran the engine, waited a while and checked it again. Coolant was coming from under the lid and eventually sub-sided. I let the Engine cool down before opening it again, and again couldn't see it between the min max marker.

I took it for a drive and it was staying steady at the halfway mark on the temperature dial, but I noticed that the heaters were not pumping out hot air at all.

In addition to that - the power steering icon has popped up on the dash as well. Though the steering itself seems fine.

So I was wondering if anyone could tell me whether or not it is likely I have damaged the car by allowing it to overheat? It certainly wasn't a long period of time, but could I have damaged the head gasket? I know that cold-air only from the heater is a potential sign!

In relation to the steering wheel light- could this be a battery issue? I've seen it crop up a few times on the forum, but it only came on after I've allowed the car to sit for a couple of days during this relatively mild winter.

Thanks in advance.

Anthony.

TL: DR - Cooling fan not working, overheated car until steam came out the front, took it home, let it sit for a couple of days. Now heating fans are cold, and steering light is on permanently, though the steering is fine. All-related? or have I bought a dude. Where to start for a resolution?

 

[RunTheTrap]

In regard to your heater not working maybe you're leaking coolant in your heater matrix?

Have you checked your interior carpets for dampness?

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi Anthony,
sounds like the lack of a working rad cooling fan was enough to overheat the engine, - you did the right thing turning it off,
the coolant reservoir is a PIA to see, best bet is to put a torch / phone screen down 1 side of the "bottle" and look from the other you should see a lighter bit on top , and a darker area where there is still fluid..,
the heater not working will be an airlock.., they are also a nuisance,
do a search ..often covered in here..!!,

steering could well be a different issue.. or often a sign of a dodgy battery,
being sat for a week in the cold weather may not have helped there,

Charlie - Oxford

 

[jon1612]

I purchased a 1.2 8v 54 Plate Punto about 3 weeks ago, from a dealer who had taken it in part Exchange. Everything seemed okay, it drove well upon test and the dealer delivered it to me after taxing it.

you bought from a dealer - they have obligation under the sale of goods act to either refund or correct faults to your satisfaction. (not to thiers) get back to them within 28 days of purchase stating goods are not fit for purpose

The Sale of Goods Act

Under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 goods must be as described, of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose.

http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/sale-of-goods-act

 

[AnPhonEh]

In regard to your heater not working maybe you're leaking coolant in your heater matrix?

Have you checked your interior carpets for dampness?

Hi, RunTheTrap.

Checked it this evening. Definitely not wet or damp within the vehicle.

 

[AnPhonEh]

Hi Anthony,
sounds like the lack of a working rad cooling fan was enough to overheat the engine, - you did the right thing turning it off,
the coolant reservoir is a PIA to see, best bet is to put a torch / phone screen down 1 side of the "bottle" and look from the other you should see a lighter bit on top , and a darker area where there is still fluid..,
the heater not working will be an airlock.., they are also a nuisance,
do a search ..often covered in here..!!,

steering could well be a different issue.. or often a sign of a dodgy battery,
being sat for a week in the cold weather may not have helped there,

Charlie - Oxford

Charlie,

Thanks for your reply.

When the car is moving it's sitting about half way on the temperature gauge, even now. As soon as the car stops, within minutes, it's getting way beyond that. The amount of steam coming from the bottle when I did this leads me to believe I evaporated a lot of the coolant, so hopefully that is all that is wrong with the heating.

The light at one side idea makes perfect sense. I did go back out and top it up again tonight, and I could see down through the lid, and it's definitely in there now. Will check one more time before work tomorrow and top it up if necessary. I have seen the posts on replacing the coolant, so I should be okay with that when I flush the system at the weekend.

I also ran the car again this evening and the steering light didn't come on at all, other than when starting. I think leaving it to sit may have been the cause but I remain cautious!

I've ordered a replacement fan, so hopefully that will sort me out. I don't use the car often, so it's not detrimental to my life.

Thanks again for replying

Anthony

 

[AnPhonEh]

you bought from a dealer - they have obligation under the sale of goods act to either refund or correct faults to your satisfaction. (not to thiers) get back to them within 28 days of purchase stating goods are not fit for purpose

The Sale of Goods Act

Under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 goods must be as described, of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose.

http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/sale-of-goods-act

I did speak to the dealer I bought it from, and he was willing to take a look at it, but it's getting it over there during his working hours. I have a day off work this week, so if necessary, I will get it over there for them to sort.

Thanks for your input

 

[Ziggy122]

Steam = Coolant boiling
Simple as

it sounds to me like you have 2 cooling system faults
1 electrical and one mechanical

The fan with 12v directly applied and it doesn't work = One dud fan
That means sat in traffic or slow movement up a hill the car is overheating Not good

This is made worse by the mechanically founded leak

steam as i said = boiled coolant, = a leak
A leak = Not good!

If there is no coolant in the system - there will be no heater matrix heat either!

Since its a dealer warrenty car, let them have it, let them sort it!

But me personally

I'd either fill with water so i can do a cold coolant pressure test to check for leaks
or rip the radiator out to inspect it

I'd be sticking in a Tested and working coolant fan in there too!

The Powersteering light, can be Bad and or okay

Could be a Flat / weak battery since it's been stood in a forecourt, could be bad enw that the coloumn needs replacing....

Ziggy

 

[varesecrazy]

try and get the rad fan done by them, also a leak test on the Radiator..,
that's more of a hassle than a new fan..,

incidentally you can buy a decent quality new fan for @ £25 and it only takes 10 mins to fit to your original mounts, PM me if interested..,

Charlie