Technical Losing water possible HG? Help in Cardiff please!

[Surfboy]

I have started losing water on my 2002 1.1 Sei. The other day I overheated and had to top the header tank up. Before every trip I now check the tank and have to add a little water to top up.

Symptoms are slightly lumpy idling but more worrying is that I can see that the HG seems to be damp along its length.

No mayo in header tank, dipstick or oil cap.

Would like to know if there's anyone in the South Wales or Cardiff area that would be interested in helping changing my HG for beer tokens and biscuits, if that's what the problem is? Local garage is going to be an expensive option for such a cheap car!

thanks

 

[varesecrazy]

I have started losing water on my 2002 1.1 Sei. The other day I overheated and had to top the header tank up. Before every trip I now check the tank and have to add a little water to top up.

Symptoms are slightly lumpy idling but more worrying is that I can see that the HG seems to be damp along its length.

No mayo in header tank, dipstick or oil cap.

Would like to know if there's anyone in the South Wales or Cardiff area that would be interested in helping changing my HG for beer tokens and biscuits, if that's what the problem is? Local garage is going to be an expensive option for such a cheap car!

thanks

Hi, and welcome,
OK,
why did it overheat.? does the rad fan work

how much did you have to add after it overheated..if HUGE amounts..it's still possible that you're moving trapped air from where it was nearly empty.

had the car long.. done many miles..,??

it's a simple enough job,
just takes tools and @5 hours,BUT if it's been badly overheated the head may need work /replacing.

look in the Cinq / Sei guides for info on bleeding coolant, and HG change too

Charlie

 

[Surfboy]

Thanks for the reply Charlie

It overheated in stop start traffic. When we topped it up and ran it for a while, I did hear the fan cut in, so that must be OK. The water was pretty much empty in the expansion tank.

I didn't bleed it so I will do that before topping up.

Only picked the car up on Sunday so have only done about a hundred miles! It's on 70k

cheers

 

[varesecrazy]

hi, you may be lucky and it's nothing to do with HG..,

if I were you,
I'd;

bleed the coolant ( maybe dump it, and refresh / filter)https://www.fiatforum.com/cinquecento-seicento-guides/295204-seicento-coolant-change-gars3.html this is a 900cc - look in Punto Mk1 for YOUR ENGINE 1108cc

remove the cover on the top of engine, 4 little bolts..then prise off the tin plate/ baffle underneath it will be full of crud.., https://www.fiatforum.com/punto-mk2-2b-guides/340549-1-2-8v-cam-rocker-cover-gasket-change.html
then once it's ALL clean and sparkly the presence of "mayo" in the coming days is definitely NEW..,


just drive it normally,
DO keep an eye on the levels..,
let us know how it goes,

look out for a FF / Midlands Italia meet down your way in the Coming months,


Charlie

 

[Surfboy]

Thanks again

I have new coolant, thermostat and expansion cap and will flush, refill and replace new parts. I'll also have a look at the rocker cover guide and get all that cleaned up.

Will report anything as it happens!

Cheers for the help

 

[varesecrazy]

no problem,

with the car being so "unknown" - it's quite possible you've got a minor leak somewhere, and the dropping coolant level lead to the overheat..,
my niece had that on a Punto.. I was fearing HG trouble.., just needed a new Radiator

Charlie

 

[The Black Box]

Needs a compression test to tell for certain im down in Somerset if you do need a hand

 

[varesecrazy]

Needs a compression test to tell for certain im down in Somerset if you do need a hand

True Rob,

and / or a sniffer in the coolant bottle - detects exhaust gasses

worth doing the basic checks 1st though before paying garage labour rates..,
Charlie

 

[Surfboy]

Needs a compression test to tell for certain im down in Somerset if you do need a hand

Thanks for the offer. I will exhaust all options and report back any findings. Compression tester on order...

 

[Ralf S.]

My money is on the radiator. Get your head under the car after a night unused and look for any drips or signs of dripping.

Water pump could leak but that will be "wetness" on the bottom left of the engine (as you look at it from lifting the bonnet) rather than on the hoses and radiator support bracket.

Gasket... you will have noticed a lot more condensation in the exhaust than normal.. though FIRE engine is not invincible when it comes to HG's.


Ralf S.

 

[Surfboy]

Coolant has been flushed and replaced. Had a new expansion tank cap and temperature sensor unit.

So far after a few day's trips including stop start traffic, all seems OK. No overheating and no noticable loss of coolant. Will keep an eye on it.

Thanks to all who contributed, will be back with something else soon I expect!