Technical Heater doesn't blow hot air, what's broken?

[Tommygunn]

My 1997 Punto 55's heater does not want to blow hot air. The three speeds of the fan work fine but all I get is room temperature air. Considering the mornings are pretty cold at the moment, if I switch the fan onto position 1, after approx 10mins of the engine running, I'll get a slight, very slight, amount of heat for about 2 seconds then it will just give me below luke warm air, as if the air is trying to be heated but there is some partition in the way.
I can't leave it on because by the time the air moves though the car and gets to me the inside car temp has cooled it too much and I'm getting wind chill.

Any ideas?
Tom.

 

[Tommygunn]

After reading something about bleeding the system/air lock etc I decided to check the coolant level - it is well below the minimum level.

I dare say this is my problem.

Tom.

 

[portland_bill]

After reading something about bleeding the system/air lock etc I decided to check the coolant level - it is well below the minimum level.

I dare say this is my problem.

Tom.

Sadly, that is just a symptom of the problem. The real problem is the leak that allowed teh coolant level to drop. You need to find the leak and fix it.

 

[fingers99]

:yeahthat:

And beautifully put.

 

[(CZ)enda]

I dare to say it is very probably a faulty thermostat. If original, it is well beyond its life cycle today. IIRC, new aftermarket one (French Vernet) was some 10-15 € where I live. Unfortunately, 55 does not have the temperature gauge to clarify whether or not it is the case.

 

[fingers99]

I dare to say it is very probably a faulty thermostat. If original, it is well beyond its life cycle today. IIRC, new aftermarket one (French Vernet) was some 10-15 € where I live. Unfortunately, 55 does not have the temperature gauge to clarify whether or not it is the case.

If he wasn't loosing coolant, a stuck open thermostat might be responsible, but.........

With the number of dodgy thermostats flooding the market at the moment, best leave it well alone!

 

[flisko]

My 1997 Punto 55's heater does not want to blow hot air. The three speeds of the fan work fine but all I get is room temperature air. Considering the mornings are pretty cold at the moment, if I switch the fan onto position 1, after approx 10mins of the engine running, I'll get a slight, very slight, amount of heat for about 2 seconds then it will just give me below luke warm air, as if the air is trying to be heated but there is some partition in the way.
I can't leave it on because by the time the air moves though the car and gets to me the inside car temp has cooled it too much and I'm getting wind chill.

Any ideas?
Tom.

its your thermostat for sho, remove the old one, buy new (10 squid) and bleed the system, driving with a fail thermostat increases your fuel consumption

https://www.fiatforum.com/punto-mk1-guides/43906-bleeding-cooling-system-8v-16v-petrol-engines.html

 

[fingers99]

its your thermostat for sho, remove the old one, buy new (10 squid) and bleed the system, driving with a fail thermostat increases your fuel consumption

https://www.fiatforum.com/punto-mk1-guides/43906-bleeding-cooling-system-8v-16v-petrol-engines.html

I decided to check the coolant level - it is well below the minimum level.

Doesn't explain the low coolant level, though, and OP hasn't reported increase in fuel consumption.

 

[flisko]

Doesn't explain the low coolant level, though, and OP hasn't reported increase in fuel consumption.

low coolant can also indicate he didnt add any antifreeze for years

 

[fingers99]

low coolant can also indicate he didnt add any antifreeze for years

It could. But put the two together -- cold heater and low coolant and what do you get? A leak of some sort.

The diagnosis you follow first is the one that fits all the symptoms and does no harm.

 

[portland_bill]

low coolant can also indicate he didnt add any antifreeze for years

If there's no leak, it won't need topping up - ever! There is a leak. Thermostat may become a victim of low coolant level, but is not the cause.