Technical Help please

[hertsstilo1984]

my mum has a 1.2 fiat punto she drive all the way to visit from norfolk yesterday

we went out today

smelt rubber when driving thought nothing of ot

but then an hour later after wed gone to shopping and got back in car going along

then temparature light on dash came on

fan kicks in but no heater but its not drinking water and its not losing water either

BUT IT STARTED JUMPING FOR A SECOND OR 2 GOING ALONG

any ideas what it could be at all

any help would be greatful

and it is fully serviced every year without fail cheers

 

[s and b]

i think because this car has been on a longer journey than normal its got an air pocket just in front of the thermostat,the way i would try and clear this is to open the bleed valve slightly on the water pipes behind the engine with the engine started and warming up
this water will get hot as it bleeds so be careful and dont let too much out
also dont lose the black screw cap
topup the radiator if necessary once the engine has cooled down

 

[hertsstilo1984]

before they came down my dad noticed ity maybe low so he put more in would that of caused an air lock

no waters escaping anywhere

and the headgasket was done around 3-4 yrs ago

and te cars only done right now 72367

cheers for replying guys just there a bit worried

the last service came to 200 odd

 

[fingers99]

Bleed. Chances are that there is a water leak somewhere, but they can be awefully difficult to spot unless you crawl under the car with the engine running and up to temperature.

 

[hertsstilo1984]

did try to bleed today but think the thermostat is stuck close as on the rear pipe only air is coming out

so buying a new thermo tomorow cheers for reply hope its that

 

[Brendan W]

If the stat was stuck closed the car would overheat. To check the cooling system start from cold and after about 5 mins the top hose should get warm fairly quickly as the stat opens to let hot water out. Air coming out the back bleeder is a sign it needs bleeding. The way that works for me is to fill the rad to the top of the filler neck. Fill a 500ml drinks bottle with coolant. Open the back bleed screw, upend the bottle on the filler neck getting as good a seal as you can, squeeze and keep squeezing till all the air is out of the back bleeder. Close it and let the excess in the filler neck out through the bleed screw on the rad.

 

[fingers99]

If the stat was stuck closed the car would overheat.

And very quickly -- probably within 5 miles.

That the heater doesn't work points very strongly to air in the system, which must mean water is getting out.

Always possible the HG has gone already.

 

[scimitargtc]

a head gasket is easy (in my view) to check = engine off smell the coolant tank filler - a 'fuelly/exhaust fumy' smell is obvious - if that's the case STOP using it immediately and fix (why was the head gasket done before may provide a clue), is there any liquid coming out of the bleed screw right hand top of the rad - if not likely thermostat stuck shut (cause of youngests engine maladies - PO had had head replaced due to overheating but clearly didn't check the root cause as after a year of ownership & 5000 miles - after replacing just about all the front suspension, brakes, clutch and o/s drive shaft (well 1 thing kinda led to another and whilst she was apart took the opportunity) whilst she was idling whilst we did the tracking she overheated and traced to the thermostat - so a huge amount of money later with skimmed head, new cam belt and water pump as well as the thermostat she's running fine (save for her starter motor that gave out last week) but a b1tch to get rid of all air locks

 

[fingers99]

They will bleed even with a stuck shut stat, BTW -- there's a very small by-pass in the stat itself. Air is just a sign that more bleeding is required.