Technical 500 twinair

[marccon]

Changed the radiator and electric fan thermostat on my daughters 2013 500 twinair. Since then I've have tried to get the electric fan to kick in to make sure it's working. The car gets up to running temperature and then the temperature doesn't rise above that ( without the fan kicking in. Anyone know why this is and what the problem is?

 

[the green vanper]

Hello,

What do you mean by 'running temperature'?

In different models the fan starts at different temperatures, usually around 90 degrees. Perhaps it was too low to start?

Have you done the bleeding procedure correctly? Do you get hot air from the heating system?

 

[John202020]

Does the car have ac?
If you turn it on assuming it has ac does the cooling fan run?
If yes to above probably not reached cut in temp with ac off?
Note always leave ac on

 

[marccon]

Thanks for the replies

Running temperature - I have seen in the past with this car and another twinair that the temp never goes above the midway line which I take to be running temp. In the past when sitting stationary with the engine running as soon as the temp starts to increase the electric fan would kick in.

What is happening now is the car sitting stationary the temp gauge rises to the midway line and stays there without the fan operating, which I find weird

Bleeding - I have put in just over 4.5l of coolant. Only bleed valve I can find on this engine is at the top of the rad. Which I can't seem to access due to bodywork and turbo. I have squeezed the top rad pipe to try to remove any air but not bubbles appear in expansion tank.

Getting hot air through the heater vents.

It has AC but its not charged as I also replaced the AC condenser when I replaced the rad.

 

[John202020]

It has AC but its not charged as I also replaced the AC condenser when I replaced the rad.

Ah, pity, that would easily confirm the fan was good, you could apply 12v directly to the fan to test it, but be careful with fingers, engine off I'd suggest, our 1.2 also sits half way and the fan doesn't run for a worryingly long time, however and might be the reason I cant get the plug apart near the fan?

 

[marccon]

Yeah, believe you an vanper are on the right track. As I've said, find it weird that it's taken the right amount of coolant (4
6l). Would have though that if there was air in the system i would not have been able to put in the correct amount in.

Its giving me hot air through the heater. Weirdest thing is the running temp issue, all cars I've had in the past continue to heat up when stationary until the fan kicks in.

Also, I've tried a cylinder head gasket tester, just to see if I was losing coolant through the exhaust.

 

[the green vanper]

all cars I've had in the past continue to heat up when stationary until the fan kicks in.

I've got the same impression. It should increase constantly and not stop. Which suggest that there could be the temp sensor issue? No idea where is it on a Panda twinair.

I'd say it would be the best to have a constant reading of the coolant temperature to check it. Even cheap OBD2 plug and apps such as torque lite should be enough to read it. But if you have to invest, I'd buy something that would be 100% accurate on FIAT, which is MultiEcuScan. Check on their site for appropriate interface. I'm using a STN1170 bluetooth adapter which works perfectly with MES installed on my PC when stationary and with Torque on my android phone on the road. With my 2011 Ducato of course.

It'd be also good to find the numbers for the twinair engine (working temperature and the temperature at which the fans starts).

 

[marccon]

Okay,

Setup an OBD11 scanner. The temperature gauge was at half gauge reading at 55C on the scanner. This was what was fooling me it sat on the half way point and never moved. It then took about the same time to get to 96C where the fan kick in still sitting on the halfway point. Thanks to Vanper and John.

I'll need to be more patient

However I could hear poping and gurgling while I was waiting for the temp to rise from the exhaust. Any idea what this could be???

 

[John202020]

However I could hear poping and gurgling while I was waiting for the temp to rise from the exhaust. Any idea what this could be???

Condensed water in the exhaust probably