Technical heaters not working

[fingers99]

I wish I could remember if the Punto was giving a reading at the temp guage at all!

To the original poster -- tell us where you are, I'm sure if there's someone nearby they'll be willing to take a quick peek!

 

[mattb25]

I'm in whitefield I will check the fan out first but still not sure if that will work and stop the engine heating so quick and all the pipes and coolant getting extremely hot

 

[blu73]

right so who's near Manchester then? bit far for me.

 

[David C]

I'm in whitefield I will check the fan out first but still not sure if that will work and stop the engine heating so quick and all the pipes and coolant getting extremely hot

Whitefield just north of Manchester?
A long way from me unfortunately.

But as we have all said, it is perfectly normal for the coolant to be hot. If it was cold you would have a problem!! So dipping your fingers in the coolant tank to check the temperature isn't a great idea!!!

 

[mattb25]

I'll start my car now and tell you what happens as I was out earlier

 

[David C]

I'll start my car now and tell you what happens as I was out earlier

Make sure the coolant cap is on.

Then keep an eye on the temperature gauge.
The gauge actually shows direct engine temperature from the cylinder head.

 

[mattb25]

The reading on the temp has just gone over 50 the pipe coming out from Ye heaters inside are red hot the expansion tank is red hot all the pipes are red hot until the pipe that goes in to the bottom of radiator the top of the pipe is red hot then it's cold for the rest of the 3 quarters of it just looked on the back of the engine and its started smoking...

 

[mattb25]

Well smoke coming out of it :/

 

[David C]

Well smoke coming out of it :/

Oil smoke?
Exhaust smoke?
Or steam?

A tiny amount of oil spilt on the exhaust manifold will produce quite a lot of smoke.

As for pipe temperatures "red hot" isn't really a measure of temperature! because it should feel HOT, it does show though that coolant is flowing round the system.

 

[fingers99]

Does the top radiator pipe get hot?

Can you feel the radiator? Does it get hot?

Is the alternator/water pump belt (on the left of the engine) intact? Is there a belt there?

Does the water pump (left front of engine) turn freely?

Download the Sei Technical Manual. (It's free!) You really, really, need one.

Unf. north Manchester is a hop too far for me.

 

[mattb25]

It's like steam

 

[David C]

It's like steam

Did you spill any coolant when you were bleeding the system?

There is also a rain water drain that drops water near there.

 

[mattb25]

The top pipe comin out of the thermostat in to the raiodator the top half of the pipe (top half going into thermostat) is hot the half way it's cold same with the bottom radiator pipe the bottom 3 quarters of the pipe going into the radiator is cold the top quarter is hot

 

[mattb25]

Didn't spill no coolant at all on the engine couldn't that be the head gasket that's going to go??

 

[fingers99]

Check that the water pump is turning. If it is, try a new thermostat. Note that the 899 one is utterly and completely different to the 1108 one.

Old 899s can show very bad coolant circulation at idle (new water pump fixes). Of course, this assumes that the water pump is actually turning!

Only a compression test will really show if the HG is still intact -- but if it isn't, then chances are it went for a reason.

 

[mattb25]

How do I check that the water pump is turning?

 

[David C]

How do I check that the water pump is turning?

Look at it!

You should also be able to see coolant flowing into the coolant tank via the small hose. But as the tank and all the pipes are hot, I suspect the pump is working.

Did you bleed the radiator when the engine was properly hot enough and the thermostat open?

 

[mattb25]

I'll check the thermostat to see of its working someone mentioned about taking it out and put it in a pan to boil and see if it opens up

 

[mattb25]

No I did it just shortly after I started it up

 

[David C]

No I did it just shortly after I started it up

ok, you need the thermostat open to properly bleed the rad.
It takes a lot longer than you may think for it to get to that point.
You will also find it bleeds better if you raise the revs a little.

With you hand on the rad (WELL AWAY FROM THE FAN) you will start to feel the hot water flowing into it.

But your last mention of temperature on the gauge, it had only just past "50", so no where near hot enough for the thermostat to be open anyway.