2002 Fiat Punto Overheating - HELP!

[slapmatt]

My girlfriends 02 Fiat Punto (I think it's a 1.2) has started to overheat. Today she actually had to pull over and wait for the temperature to go down before completing her journey.

I've checked the oil and coolant level, both are fine and there doesn't appear to be any leaks. She said that she could also hear the fan coming on when the temp gauge went past half way.

Can anyone suggest what could be the cause?

[slapmatt]

She did say it was a bit "juddery". Although she drove it home from work yesterday and said the temp gauge didn't go about half way.

[slapmatt]

I am fearing head gasket, although hoping for something as simply as air in the system.

If the fan is coming on, does this suggest that the thermostat is working?

Are there any other telltale signs the HG is knackered?

[slapmatt]

Well, the garage said it had an airlock and fixed it for minimal charge. However, two weeks later it's still overheating and now they claim it IS head gasket.

£340.

This is an 02 car with less than 45,000 miles on it. It's had two clutches (luckily under warranty), been in for countless electrical faults and now this.

In my opinion you'd have to be ing retarded to buy a Fiat, depite how kookie the 500 looks and what the motoring press says (I wonder how many of them put their money where their mouth is?).