Various Bravo Problems. -

[Phill]

Ok, I need some help. Have lots of minor/major problems with my broom yellow 1.6 hlx that I want to start trying to sort out so would welcome any useful advice. Sorry for the long post.

1)the bonnet paint work has been rubbed in certain areas with an abrasive cloth leaving small patches of whitish colouring. Is it worth using a t/cut or polishing wax on these areas and if so wich one is my best bet.

2)the common peeling on wing mirror base plates. Should I hammerite them or use plasticote matt black for a better looking smooth finish

3) my car often overheats if sat in traffic for longer then 5 minutes. Water levels are fine and im fairly certain that the fan kicks in. What else should I look at?

4)have a leak somewhere from the sunroof or windscreen seal but can't find it for toffee. Front left roof panel gets wet and water seems to run right down to under the glove box. Any suggestions.

5)My alarms buggered I think because the sensor has got wet. Will it be worth taking out and drying it and if so is it the big battery looking thing in the central light panel.

Any advice would be useful. Cheers.

 

[Tom]

When you say overheats how far up does the needle go?

 

[Anonymous]

erm preety much to the top. Steam rising from the engine and have to stop.

 

[Anonymous]

I suffered the same symptons as Point 3.
Ended up being a leaking water pump which required replacement.

 

[Anonymous]

and how much is one of them ?

 

[Tom]

1) check the heater works when its getting hot like thay
2) check the fan actually kicks in as it sounds like it isn't.
3) check the radiator actually gets hot all over

 

[Anonymous]

for tom. the heater does work as checked this already. will check the rad and with the fan should it stay on all the time if the car is hot. ta.

 

[thomas]

it wont stay on all the time.

i think you need to bleed the engine coolant system first. do your interior heaters work when on full blast at maximum temp?

have you got a haynes manual?

 

[Tom]

OK, its not airlocked then.

Could be duff fan/fan switch/fan relay/fan fuse or stuck thermostat.

How old is the car?

 

[Anonymous]

99 t plate

 

[thomas]

doh! i'll stay out of this!

 

[Pete]

Re the roof leak. Sounds like the aerial to me.

 

[phill]

anyone any thoughts on prob 2

 

[phill]

fao tom

any more thoughts on my various probs

 

[Pete]

1-Try some coloured wax that matches your paint, failing that, a paint job.
2-A matter of taste, but I think the Plasticote looks better than the Hammerite!
3-You can hear if your fans work by switching the engine off when you think they should be on. (Mine keep going for a few seconds.) I've had the same symptoms over the years with various makes (boiling in traffic), and it's been the cooling fan(s) every time.
5-This has been posted before, I think, and I'm pretty sure it worked after drying out.

 

[phill]

cheers for that.

has any late nite users got anything to add

 

[Anonymous]

1. Hopefully the whiteish colour is just the laquer, so hopefully T-cut or something like the 'G' series will be able to get it out...

2. Personal taste, but i prefer the smooth look...

3. Wouldnt like to comment as i have no previous experience with overheating...

4. Most likely the aerial as alot of people have had the same problem...

5. Not really worth taking it out, until you fix point 4. as it will only get wet again...hopefully (as Pete has said, it should work after its dry)

Daz

 

[phill]

cheers daz. just a couple of retun questions
a) is the plastikote spay best 4 a smooth looking finish and with regard to the alarm sensor is it the big square thing above the internal light panel?

 

[Anonymous]

To be honest i have never used plastikote, but i presume (by the name) it is a paint for plastic, where as the base plates are metal. Maybe something like hammerite smooth or a metal based paint would be better? (such as Broom Yellow )

I'm sure the alarm is the thing inside the interior light (just above the in car sensors) and the central locking is worked from the relay behind the passenger side of the dash. Have you checked the fuse for the alarm system? If the fuse had blown i would refrain from replacing it until the leak has been fixed as Fiat wiring is a bit dodgy to say the least...

Daz

 

[Anonymous]

no probs cheers 4 advice