MK2 Punto Heater blows warmish air only.
Discussion
Hi all,
My W reg (2000) MK2 Fiat Punto 1.2 8v (188) heater is only blowing warmish air out of it.
I have just replaced the radiator and put a new thermostat in aswell as I had overheating problems (I hit a Badger in the road, rad was bent and coolant bottle cracked, had problems ever since), it doesn't overheat anymore and runs fairly smoothly. But now I can't get any more than warm air out of the heater, bled the system and got coolant pouring out of the heater hose vent screw (its only got one vent screw on heater, looks joined) and also the radiator vent screw too so I fairly sure it is not airlocked i hope and I get pressure so discounting water pump. HG ok too, thank to the magic that is K-Seal.
If the new thermostat is U/S and stuck open (stupid old me never tested it prior to fitting), and although the top rad hose is hot to touch after a long ish drive, I would have thought even if it being stuck open and therefore takes a long time to get hot, the heater would be now be hot too or is this not the case? Top heater hose (from temp sensor outlet) was hot to touch, bottom heater hose was warm upto the vent screw, hot after back to the pump.
So new thermostat faulty? Or something more sinister? Or still airlocked - coolant runs cleanly out of heater vent (I only let it do it for a few seconds).
Hope you guys can help, its driving me nuts!
Paul
My W reg (2000) MK2 Fiat Punto 1.2 8v (188) heater is only blowing warmish air out of it.
I have just replaced the radiator and put a new thermostat in aswell as I had overheating problems (I hit a Badger in the road, rad was bent and coolant bottle cracked, had problems ever since), it doesn't overheat anymore and runs fairly smoothly. But now I can't get any more than warm air out of the heater, bled the system and got coolant pouring out of the heater hose vent screw (its only got one vent screw on heater, looks joined) and also the radiator vent screw too so I fairly sure it is not airlocked i hope and I get pressure so discounting water pump. HG ok too, thank to the magic that is K-Seal.
If the new thermostat is U/S and stuck open (stupid old me never tested it prior to fitting), and although the top rad hose is hot to touch after a long ish drive, I would have thought even if it being stuck open and therefore takes a long time to get hot, the heater would be now be hot too or is this not the case? Top heater hose (from temp sensor outlet) was hot to touch, bottom heater hose was warm upto the vent screw, hot after back to the pump.
So new thermostat faulty? Or something more sinister? Or still airlocked - coolant runs cleanly out of heater vent (I only let it do it for a few seconds).
Hope you guys can help, its driving me nuts!
Paul
I might have to take the thermostat off again and do a flush. Think I'll take out shares in Coolant! 
Following on from this...
My problems were a huge airlock that I finally got it out. Although I had another temp light when driving home last night, so pulled over and tried bleeding it, took a while but did it and has been fine. Why though would it get airlocks randomly? It started and is continuing to stutter/miss a few days before this happened, although no white smoke or water loss, I was putting it down to plugs and leads so changing them today.
Only issue now is that, i tend to get cold ish air when idling, but hot when driving or revving it. Stuck in traffic last night, I had to keep it revved at 2krpm to keep hot air going, because I was scared it would overheat if it went cold.
Could this be a water pump perhaps? Its not showing any signs of grumbling or leaking though.
Your thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.
My problems were a huge airlock that I finally got it out. Although I had another temp light when driving home last night, so pulled over and tried bleeding it, took a while but did it and has been fine. Why though would it get airlocks randomly? It started and is continuing to stutter/miss a few days before this happened, although no white smoke or water loss, I was putting it down to plugs and leads so changing them today.
Only issue now is that, i tend to get cold ish air when idling, but hot when driving or revving it. Stuck in traffic last night, I had to keep it revved at 2krpm to keep hot air going, because I was scared it would overheat if it went cold.
Could this be a water pump perhaps? Its not showing any signs of grumbling or leaking though.
Your thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.
My son's Punto (that I've been driving also) has this annoying issue too.
Now she's started running on what sounds like 3 cylinders.
If you look on the Fiat Forum, this airlock business is very common on the 1.2 8-valve, probably because of lousy hose placement and design.
I've just about given up on the damned thing.
Let me know if any of you come up with PERMANENT cures...please !
Now she's started running on what sounds like 3 cylinders.
If you look on the Fiat Forum, this airlock business is very common on the 1.2 8-valve, probably because of lousy hose placement and design.
I've just about given up on the damned thing.
Let me know if any of you come up with PERMANENT cures...please !
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