General 175/50R14 Tyre pressure on Seicento?

[Pep0]

Erm I'm not sure here's the place to discuss such things....:devil:


I will check out previous threads on the subject, but I forgot to mention something that kind of adds up now (I think)
When I get home in the car after short around town drives, I have noticed a 'hot' smell when I get out of the car - such as when you've got a radiator leak and the coolant is dangerously low (I hope I'm making sense, but I remember this smell from when I had a leak on a van in the past) Oh and the fan seems to run a lot too when stood still.

The coolant level is fine on the car, but if the refridgerant is boiling somehow when the AC is off, would this account for the smell I notice?

Thanks
Tara

The smell is the glycol in the antifreeze cooking off in hot metal, so good diagnostic.
If you only smell it inside the auto it is most probably the heater matrix or the heater control valve or a heater hose or hose clamp local to the matrix
Probably best to remove the fastners securing the rear engine compartment bulkhead insulation enough to ease it back gently to allow an inspect with flash light
Most probably it is the control valve has reached end of life with reduced travel and weeping you may see the stains, the valve is just to left of matrix
The replacement valve is bundled with the matrix and so is an expensive part (~60£). You need to remove battery and hose clips the matrix comes out through the battery space. The hose clips are good quality & reusable but difficult simpler getting normal jubilee clips from factor.
Im too far away to help sorry but it is best to address the leak before the leak allows the coolant to boil you need to go back to inspecting coolant level every am.
Get a Haynes Cinq manual first (20£)
google eurocarcare for big Micks phone #
probably you were sold the auto for pending maintenance overhang...

 

[blu73]

Get a Haynes Cinq manual first (20£)

you would spend £20!?!?

Get on ebay, second hand decent condition one can be had for about £7-8

 

[Pep0]

Thanks for the reminder

and a valve and matrix would be cheaper from a breakers as well.

not all girls get their togs from charity shops.

we are probably both in trouble now.

 

[Tara100]

Me: "I have noticed a 'hot' smell when I get out of the car"

The smell is the glycol in the antifreeze cooking off in hot metal, so good diagnostic.
If you only smell it inside the auto it is most probably the heater matrix or the heater control valve or a heater hose or hose clamp local to the matrix

I don't actually smell anything in the car, it's only when I get out that I notice it.
Does the advice you gave still stand, as you said it applies if I only notice the smell inside the car?

 

[Tara100]

you would spend £20!?!?

Get on ebay, second hand decent condition one can be had for about £7-8

I bought this book for £1.74 DELIVERED (it's a huge manual so I have no idea how the seller could afford to sell / post at this price )

http://www.abebooks.com/Fiat-Brava-Bravo-Cinquecento-Marea-Punto/10536426800/bd

I am looking out for a Haynes manual too - for any 'simple to do no-car knowledge girly jobs'

 

[Pep0]

No outside the auto means you need to open the bonnet and sniff sniff as the coolant pressure drops.

Flash light and mirror.

You are looking for witness marks of colour from hoses or hose clips.

There are two problems

-the water pump is behind a plastic shield
-the cross pipe is behind the exhaust manifold the manifold is the rusty 4 into 1 pipe depending from front of engine and it will be hotter than your oven.

The cross pipe crosses the front of the engine behind the manifold attaches to a hose at RHS and plugs into crank case at Left hand side(LHS).

The sealing ring for the cross pipe plugin end is a rubber o ring and can leak cause the rubber is old. the pipe can rust and pinhole.

The pumps have a 1-10 year life span they can weep coolant for a long time, before gushing.

Try and find a drip of coloured coolant anywhere you might see it. If you have a high kerb or axle stand inspect from below.

Download the manual from the site down loads as well.

 

[fingers99]

Download the manual from the site down loads as well.

Yes. It's difficult to navigate, but has very good diagrams and trouble shooting sections. It's here as Seicento Technical Manual in 3 parts.

Here (from the Seicento Technical Manual) are the water pump and rail (Pep calls it the cross pipe, but what the hell)

 

[Pep0]

The good news is the pump and the (rail) cross pipe are both cheap new but access pretty difficult.

Try and find a drip.

 

[Tara100]

Oh hell! (but thanks for the detailed posts)
This looks beyond my capabilities, and as the car is parked on a road, I can't put something underneath to catch any drips.

To start with though...
Can the leak occur when the car is hot AND cold also?
I ask this as I only use the car briefly for 2-3 times a week and if I am about to check the coolant level, I need to know if the level may budge when the car isn't used too.

Thanks
Tara

 

[fingers99]

To start with though...
Can the leak occur when the car is hot AND cold also?

Yes, but often from the water pump or water rail you'll only be able to see if the engine is hot and running.

While the water pump is probably a bit much for a newbie on the street, the water rail and O ring are difficult only due to access, so girlie hands will help.

 

[Tara100]

Yes, but often from the water pump or water rail you'll only be able to see if the engine is hot and running.

While the water pump is probably a bit much for a newbie on the street, the water rail and O ring are difficult only due to access, so girlie hands will help.

I'd be too afraid to do it to be honest, as there's no one to fall back on if I get into trouble, but if I can identify the problem, then I'll know what to tell the garage.

 

[fingers99]

Have no fear, we is here to support you!

 

[Pep0]

If you got stuck the fire brigade would turn out to cut you free.

Put a wheel up a kerb and get head under front with a flash light, the radiator has two hoses going into it is either joint wet?

 

[Tara100]

I'm right hacked off at the mo cos I really have bought a pot of poo on wheels...

I've now also discovered an oil leak and the exhaust is blowing.

I nipped into Kwik Fit yesterday and they've quoted £112 for a the middle / back section. I was shown where someone has put tape on the start of the middle section, which is now peeling off.

I haven't investigated the oil leak nor further looked at the water issue as there's no cash to do anything.
I can't cope with all these problems.


(The seller must have peed himself laughing when I drove away in the car)

 

[fingers99]

Kwik Fit are always the most expensive exhaust places. Try somewhere else.

The oil leak is -- almost certainly -- something you can fix yourself very cheaply: just keep an eye on the oil level (best time to check is before you drive off, when the engine is cold, same as with the coolant).

The water leak is the one that's most likely to turn round and bite you in the bum!

 

[Tara100]

Hi

I checked the oil last week, and did it how the handbook told me with the car warm.

The level was just over the maximum (I've not topped up the oil since buying the car so the previous owner will have filled it for sale)

I'll check the coolant and oil before I drive the car on Thursday.


p.s
Could the exhaust be re-patched as a short term repair?

Thanks

 

[Pep0]

Yes but you need to get under the auto.
You can get a goo style paste from motor factor and a wrap on cover easy for dad brother or nephew to do
Could last for months.
Mine has had paste for 6 months but each leak is different.
My auto also leaks like oil tanker that stopped a torpedo.
You need to describe where the oil leak is from or take a photo with cam phone.
People sell them when they know there is a big bill pending. Mine eats parts.
Lady on next block same auto never any problems.

 

[Tara100]

Yes but you need to get under the auto.
You can get a goo style paste from motor factor and a wrap on cover easy for dad brother or nephew to do
Could last for months.
Mine has had paste for 6 months but each leak is different.
My auto also leaks like oil tanker that stopped a torpedo.
You need to describe where the oil leak is from or take a photo with cam phone.
People sell them when they know there is a big bill pending. Mine eats parts.
Lady on next block same auto never any problems.

Oh yeah, the seller knew what he was doing when he flogged the car that's for sure!
There's no relatives who can help with any car repairs, and the only male who I know well enough to ask won't look at it.


Would a garage do a repair for me? or will they only replace the section to make more ££'s?
(my fault, that's how I should have worded it first time around)

 

[fingers99]

Bandage will work for a while, probably. Whole exhausts are pretty cheap (see eBay) and I'm pretty sure you'll find a back street garage to fit one.

Shop around, weigh up your options.

But the car doesn't really sound that bad at all.

Shame your in the wrong end of the universe!

 

[Tara100]

I just had a look on ebay, and the cheapest new complete exhaust is £121.95 so it will cost more than if I have a new mid and end section fitted by Kwik Fit.