Technical Paul (The Negotiator sent me ;') - car heating problem

[Latayah]

Hey guys, I'm new to the forum. Such an unfortunate way to join a forum - with a problem

The heater in my car is blowing out cold heat even if I switch it to transmit hot air... I thought it may have been the fan as, it does go silent until about a minute untill I switch the engine off

Any tips, or suggestions would be v.much appreciated

 

[custard]

who is paul?
anyway has the car had any work done on the cooling system recently?
does the engine seem to run fine and warm up?
any dampness in the carpets under the dash?

 

[The Negotiator]

I said nice people, friendly, will help you because i sent you, Latayah is somebody who posted the problem on a student forum I go on, and I know exactly which forum can help her

 

[Andy_sx]

as custard said do you have any of the sympotoms he asked? can you hear what would appear to be running water?

leave the car to cool right down, open the bonnet and the cooling system filling cap and then get someone to start the car... if all of the water runs out of the radiator you have an air lock or lack of fluid in the system. top it up to the recomended level on the rad / expansion tank and then bleed using the bleed screws and top up as necessary. this will more than likely cure the problem, but you need to work out why it is happening if it is loosing liquid.. leak / head gasket etc

hth

 

[dave]

whats cold heat

have you got a tempature gauge or just a light? if gauge where does the kneedle go up to?

is the heater blower working? some times pasengers kick the wires off.

is there coolent in the radiator?

 

[Latayah]

Thanks for the replies sorry I meant cool air....

I had my fan changed (was going to say fixed ) about 2months ago.

The engine seems to run and warm up perfectly well, no probs there.

No dampness on the carpet.

Sometimes when I'm driving I can hear water, like water being to boil in a kettle not really bad though.

If my understanding of a heater blower is correct (i.e. the place where the heat.. sorry air comes out (?) ) then yeah that is working fine - as cool air comes out of that, and the heat directs according to where I set the knob i.e. my feet etc

Im sure I have jusst a light, don't think I have a gauge its the 51 punto mia (if that helps).

Thanks again

 

[The Negotiator]

Just to point out, you also mentioned that the knob for heat (right?) was a bit stiff but then loosened up, broken heat control maybe?

 

[Steven]

Hang on! Is it a Fiat? If not then we can't help.

 

[The Negotiator]

It's a punto Steve, i.e.

51 punto mia

Standard are dropping around here

 

[Latayah]

It's a punto Steve, i.e.

51 punto mia

Standard are dropping around here

ooooooh

im a broke student

 

[Latayah]

Just to point out, you also mentioned that the knob for heat (right?) was a bit stiff but then loosened up, broken heat control maybe?

yeah thats right

 

[arc]

does the punto have a valve like the Sei, to adjust waterflow into the heater matrix - or does have full flow to the heater matrix all the time and varies the air to the matrix?

i'd suspect thats where the problem lies - but i dont know the mk2 well.

 

[Latayah]

does the punto have a valve like the Sei, to adjust waterflow into the heater matrix - or does have full flow to the heater matrix all the time and varies the air to the matrix?

i'd suspect thats where the problem lies - but i dont know the mk2 well.

I wish I was knowledgeable enough to answer that questions, don't have the foggest.

 

[arc]

hehe, that was more so me thinking - and checking that others were on the same lines. someone should know the answer to that and then be able to advise you as to what needs to be done to sort it.

 

[dave]

arc its controled by flaps no cock, i think she got her flaps stuck. needs center consol taken off and have a look see i reckon

 

[Punto.Power]

Could well be broken heat control as the knob was stiff then loosen up might possibly have an air lock in cooling system or maybe thermostat as for hearing the sound of water warm your engine and feel temp difference in top and bottom radiator hoses if you can becarefull though...

 

[Chas Uno]

Latayah, tell Paul to come back to the Fiat Forum! We need The Negotiator and his voice of reason to combat the Chavs that try and infiltrate us

 

[The Negotiator]

I don't know Latayah very well It's just that I know the majority of people on the student forum don't have a clue, most were suggesting she buy a new radiator from Fiat before even finding out if there is a problem!