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Technical Water Leak?? Help please

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Technical Water Leak?? Help please

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ScottieCinq

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Dec 4, 2003
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Location
Swindon, United Kingdom.
Hi,

A month or so ago my cooling fan stopped working, I took it to the garage and they told me that it was the switch. They replaced it and said it was working-it wasn't. I took it back and they then said that it was be the thermostat, they replaced this and then it worked. Then got the car back and realised that it was losing water, going from max-min in around 80 miles, sometimes less. Took it back to garage and they said that they could not see any visible leaks from the hoses or the block, the only thing they could see was form the temperature sender and they took it out and put PTFE tape around thread and they said it wa ssorted. Low and behold it isn't. Now I'm getting fed up as this is getting costly, so far £80!;)

Can anyone think what this might be or has similar problems so I can try and poin the garage in the wrong direction, my GF really needs the car for work so we are still using it and checking the water after every journey, which isn't very practical.

HELP please:)

Thanks in anticaption.
 
1st thing i would do is look around the areas they worked(bodged) on as it would seem likely thats where the prob is.have a good look around the radiator,maybe one of hoses isnt seated properly after that its a caes of looking around the engine for leaks.not to worry you but did the car overheat when the cooling fan was broken?have you checked to see if the head gasket is bust?i would check it yourself as that garage sounds like a bunch o cowboys

The Fiat Cinquecento
Fun While It Runs
 
I can't see any visible signs of leaking, maybe a little bit on the fanbelt but can't be too sure. They overheated the car to see if the fan would kick in-it wouldn't until it actually overheated, that's when they did the thermostat after I bought a new bottle cap because it was coming out of there.

How do I check the headgasket? I've looked in the oil cap for creamy gunk but it's clean?

Thanks.
 
Thanks for that, however none of the symptoms seem to be there. Don't know how to check the water pump, if it was a hose then it would leak out straight away and the garage say they've pressure tested it and there is nothing coming form the block. What's next:(:([?] HELP, it's doing my head in and the GF is moaning at me to sort it!

Thanks,

Scottiecinq
 
Could be pissing out onto the engine, therefore evaporating and leaving no trace of a leak?

Matt

__________________________________________________

54 BHP of pure italian muscle
 
True, but I'd see that and the water level would drop immediately. I've ran the engine and watched it for about 10 mins and not seen a leak, that's not to say it's not there though.
 
look around the engine block and you will see circular metal discs around the block,these are designed to pop out if your engine coolent ever froze to save engine damage,if you did have to replace them its not expensive to do.i dont know the sei/cinq engine well enuf to tell you where they areB),i would have a good look around the water pump and rev the engine while you are looking as i suspect there could be a little leak there as they can be hard to find

The Fiat Cinquecento
Fun While It Runs
 
Thanks Custard Boy. Didn't check for the circles but looked closely at the water pump and there is a small leak so I guess the gasket needs replacing. Why couldn't the garage see this as they've had it 3 times? Has anyone got a guide for this and know what tools I will need? Is it an easy job (bearing in mind I know very little about engines?
How much would a garage charge to do the job?

Any help on this would be great.

Thanks.
 
not a tricky job but as it is behind the cambelt AFAIK then if your not too handy with the spanners then it could be a big job for you as you are gonna be changing the belt anyway,i think the going rate for a belt change was about £140 +water pump= ow[V] i would do it myself but all down to experience/confidenceB)

The Fiat Cinquecento
Fun While It Runs
 
Originally posted by ScottieCinq
looked closely at the water pump and there is a small leak
Click to expand...

Assuming your Cinq has the FIRE engine:

you can get a leak which looks like it's coming from the back of the water pump - usually dribbles a few spots off the oil filter.

This leak is the metal pipe which plugs into the back of the pump at one end, the other end joins to the radiator bottom hose.
It rots through if you've been running without corrosion inhibitor: old, or no antifreeze.

Any garage which works on FIATs should know about this one...
part 0007545122
was £12.12 plus VAT, but I think their prices have gone up since this time last year.

Not too hard to fit, provided you make sure the mounting bracket arm slot is in the same position as the one you take off: stand them both on end and compare before you start.
I spent some time cursing and shoving before I realised it wasn't going to fit - "persuaded" the bracket on the new one. OK.

New antifreeze at 50% concentration...


Regards

John H

P.S. my experience (and part number) is Panda related, but it's essentially the same lump.
 
Oh yes, I forgot to mention that Radweld doesn't stop this leak completely:
it'll hold until it gets fully warmed up, park and check - looks OK, half an hour later there's a little puddle.
 
Thanks for your help here folks. John-what's the FIRE engine? Is that the Panda FIRE? This is a Cinqy Sporting. I can see the water very slightly dropping onto the oil filter, but looking in the engine bay above the filter I can see it cooming from what I presume is the water pump, i can see the drips coming a bit form the gasket?

Should i check this pipe? Is it behind this gasket?

Thanks.

Scott.
 
dont go to a main dealer to get it fixed.
my water pump went, cost a STUPID amount £220. couldnt see any water to start off with because the block was evaporating the water.

the garage tried tellin me it was the head gasket to start off with.
they just want to rip u off.

after i have the service next week never going back.



whos is the little red fiat?
 
Cool. Thaks I have no intention of going to a main dealer. So if it's not the pipe and is the water pump, or the water pump gasket, how much am I looking at? £150?
 
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