Managed to fix the heater matrix myself, thanks for all your help.
A few points, I feel worth a mention:
When I went to my fiat dealer they said that they couldn’t be sure which one it was, cause there were 2 different ones for my 97P Punto. They claimed that they had only ever sold one type, so I went for that one, after agreeing that I could return it, if it was the wrong one, with a restocking charge. I got lucky and had the correct one, therefore saving the whole palaver of either reassembling the car and order the alternative, or having my car off the road for another couple of days. Thinking about it after, probably should have ordered both and just taken back the incorrect one once the job was completed (incurring a restocking charge).
Once the dashboard is removed, giving access the black heater assembly, I found it difficult to remove the assembly from the bulkhead. So I started to remove all the small screws that were keeping the two halves of the assembly together and still it was difficult to remove. Getting a bit frustrated by now (being so nearly there) gave it a good tug - hey presto. Wasted all that time spent trying to find and remove them silly little screws holding the heater assembly together.
Think maybe a few digital camera shots along the way would certainly help in reassembly. Ended up with 2 screws left (think one was holding the 2 halves of the heater assembly together, and another was holding a wire clip to the dash). Couldn't locate these at the time – so think I have to leave them off, for now at least.
I also ended up with a small clip - approximately 12mm wide x 1mm thick x 90mm long, with a kind of radius in the middle (looks like this _n_ ). Couldnt quite work out where this was from, seemed to come from behind my stereo, but wasnt sure, so it remains with the two spare screws.
I recommend getting a handful of cable ties, to replace all the ones cut off when removing the dash. I ended up improvising with some washing line as all the shops were closed at the time.
I also recommend a couple of jubilee clips (screw type) to replace the ones that were already holding the pipes to the matrix. The ones on were the kind of hook over type, that I found difficult to remove and impossible to refit. Maybe a special tool is required for these (I tried hacking them with pliers).
The Haynes manual recommends replacing the Steering wheel nut, so perhaps should source one of these before starting the job. I currently still have the original one on.
Once I got the car back on the road, took for a test drive, heaters did not seem to be getting warm at all (but no steam), eventually overheating light came on. I figured it was air in the cooling system, removed the little breather from the top corner of the radiator, and then topped up the expansion tank. Success - heaters now working and car no longer overheating.
Left my car at an airport car park for a week after that only to come back to a flat battery - hoping this was just a coincidence. Got the car Jump-started - took car for good drive, hoping alternator would charge it back up a little. Come to start car again – flat battery still. Tried charging (cells were dry - assume they are not checked on a service) - not a sausage - still dead. Replaced battery, everything seems okay for now - fingers crossed.
Again thanks for the help.
!](you'd think that would be the last of it)the Cooling fan for the Radiator dosnt kick in when the temp of the engine goes up on idel, the needle in the car goes allllll the way up!!!, opened the bonnet and theres nothing happening fan wise??!? Checkeced the connections but think the fan is just gone??? Any thoughts?
