Hello!
Here is my problem. I have a 'R' reg 55 Fiat Punto. It's caused me an inordinate amount of trouble in the 6 months I've owned it. Here is the latest...

First thing I noticed, probably about 2 weeks ago, was that my heater wasn't working. It was slightly warmer that the outside air, but not by much.

Second thing I noticed, about a week ago whilst sat in traffic, was that the red engine coolant warning light came on. It went off a few second later when I actually started moving, and since then the problem has only occurred when I've been in slow/non moving traffic.

I actually decided to have a look under the bonnet today. On opening the radiator cap, there was some rusty looking fluid on the cap. I drove it to a garage (about 500 metres away) to see what they thought, and see if I could get some coolant put in. The guy opened the cap and it was really steamy. He said it needed a new head gasket, and said I'd be looking at £300 to £400 all in.

Dilemma I've got is this. I'm currently a student in Manchester. If I get the car back to Rutland (120 miles) my dad's mate will be able to do the job for the price of parts + a few bottles of wine. Is the car a timebomb so to speak? Is it just a matter of time until something else goes?

Also I'm slightly at a loss as to what the engine gasket, and heater have in common? Why have they both failed together?

Many thanks!

Ed

air will be getting in the system via worn gasket so it stops heater working,
get aa relay or some such thing, and drive it back to dads mate, if it does brake down then you got relay to get you home

Make sure the head gets skimmed too. The red temp light is AKA the 'too late' light, excess heat warps heads.

hate that little light,.,. my sisters punto had this prob aswell, gonna change the headgasket in a few days,...

My car was doing this recently,

High Temp, Running Water Sounds and No Heater.
...........
Then my engine went on fire on Friday night when i stopped at a toll bridge.

On the M50?????