Technical Punto Overheating!

[dagbaker]

Hi,

I have an S reg Punto 60SX which has appeared to have developed a problem.

On the way home from work today, the temp gauge went up to about 75%.
It was a six mile journey, pretty much bumper to bumper, lots of stops and starts.

When I got home I checked the radiator and when I unscrewed the cap it was like opening a bottle of shaken up lemonade.

The water appears to be slightly discoloured, a bit like urine!!

The engine block is rather hot, some 45 mins after I turned the engine off.

Over the past month it has not been starting first time, and some times has been a little sluggish for the first 5 mins of my journey.

Any thoughts please, I don't know huge amounts abouts cars and this is my first post so go easy on me.

What are the best and worst case scenarios.

Cheers,

Dag

 

[custard]

1st of all DONT open the expansion cap when the engines hot.the water is under pressure so will bubble out on any car,its presurised to raise the boiling point of the water.the water should be coloured but usually blue'ish so it sounds like your coolent could do with changing.was the engine temp in the red an if so did the cooling fan in the engine come on?as for the starting ,when was the car last serviced eg. spark plugs,ht(plug) leads,air filter?.
welcome to the forum as well

The Fiat Cinquecento
Fun While It Runs

 

[dagbaker]

Hi Custard Boy,

Ironically enough, I was intending to book it in for a service over the next week or so.

It was last looked at in October 03.

The gauge didn't go into the red, it hovered around the 75% mark, the cooling fan did not come on.

I'll be honest and say it has been a little neglected over the past year or so, as for plugs, air filter etc I reckon they've been there for 2 years, so I'm probably to blame.

Looking forward to a presumably year bill

Thanks

Dag

 

[dagbaker]

Year bill???

Sorry, meant to say "high" bill!!

 

[custard]

sounds like a service will give it a new lease of life.thats the problem with electronic ignition etc they keep the car running whereas older cars force you to service them(usually in the rain).mention the cooling fan to your garage so they check it is running but to be honest it siuonds like a service with new fluids(oil & coolant) along with the plugs,leads and filters will do the trick

The Fiat Cinquecento
Fun While It Runs

 

[Scorg]

Keep an aye on the coolent level as well, also check the oil cap and make sure no mayo like stuff is there.
Was the colour more of a yellow then?

Scorg

02 Stilo Dynamic 1.6
Sky Blue
01 Brava 80SX
Ink Black

 

[dave]

a bit like urine!! proubaly yellow anti freeze


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[chumhill]

I have found that usually my punto gets to just over the half way mark in crawling traffic, well pretty much most cars do as its the air flow keeping the radiator cool. Try changing the oil

Sensible mods go far