Heater/Temp

[J.D.]

Ok everyone!! Haven't been here in awhile but then my wife's Brava hasn't been the problem, just my Ford. Now we have an issue.

Her car is cold when I start it up in the morning which is standard for winter. The problem is the Temp gauge doesn't move. It stays on "C" the whole time, and by the time I get home from a 60km drive, it finally decides to move a little above the "C". Also the heater blows lukewarm air and sometimes cold. The car doesn't seem to be warming up.

Now please don't tell me the head gasket is going since that would mean the end of this ride. I am hoping it may be the Thermostat, Water Pump, maybe even a temp sensor, or a fuse. I have also seen something on here about bleeding the coolant. Not sure about this or how to even do it. Please advise as soon as possible.

Her ride is a 1998 Fiat Brava 1.6V 4 Cyl 103hp engine.

Thanks in advance!!

- J.D.

 

[Tom]

Thermostat. Get a new one.

 

[J.D.]

I figured that might be the issue since that is what I just replaced on my Ford. Will the Temp gauge start reading normal again after that?

Also where should I look to get one, what prices, and how do I do this job myself, or should I bring the ride back to Fiat and let them do it.

- J.D.

 

[J.D.]

Ok, I was going through some of the posts in here on other threads, and I noticed a lot of people refering to after the thermostat goes, then your head gasket will go. Is this something I need to be concerned about, and get the Thermostat replaced ASAP, or can I shop around for parts? How quickly will the head gasket go? What should I look for once Fiat replaces the Stat?

- J.D.

 

[Sven]

The sooner the better, but one or 2 days aint that bad. Just dont press the gas to much, easy driving.

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[J.D.]

Ok, Fiat is offering the part and repair for 170 Euros without tax. If I have to then that is the route, but I have to use this car to get back and forth to work til my Ford is back on the road. This means 60km to work one way. The engine doesn't seem to be getting hot and the temp gauge doesn't read nothing so I assume the thermostat is stuck open. The only thing I see as being an issue is that I am freezing my (_)_) off.

How much time do you think I have before something else goes wrong, and what would go wrong in this condition?

- J.D.