Technical overheating light keeps coming on and off

[puntobabe94]

So I have a 2001 mk2 punto, everything on her is brand new (just about) about 3months ago my engine over heating light came on and the radiator coolant was empty, the garage Told me it was the head gasket as its a common fault, but it was fine. My dad found a small hole in the radiator where the coolant was coming out and so we put some ratweld (radiator sealant) in and it was running fine. I knew this was temporary till I cud afford a new radiator. Last night it came on again and the coolant was empty so I put more ratweld in and it sorted it. Checked my coolant this morning, it was full, about 10mins driving my light came on again and 2mins later it went off, there is also more smoke coming out of my exhaust more than usual.

I know a fair bit about cars but nothing about the radiator. Does anyone know what may be wrong? Is it that I just need a new radiator

 

[s and b]

so
you have had a water leak and have continually been feeding it with rat poison
i guess the poor thing just died then
a clue may be that this ratweld may have blocked the passage of water where your thermostat and temp sensor switch is
you really need now to ascertain whether head gasket has gone and stop using ratweld
equate it to sticking a cloth on a gaping wound rather than having stitches

 

[puntobabe94]

Bit harsh dont u think. I asked for a simple reply not for a cocky git

 

[homeward]

Bit harsh dont u think. I asked for a simple reply not for a cocky git

Whoops.... s and b is one of the most helpful guys on the forum; and very well respected by all of us..... What he doesn't know about Puntos can be written on the back of the FIAT logo on your key-fob.... :worship:

No disrespect: but look at his number of posts, thanks, etc.; take a deep breath; and re-read what he wrote. I'm afraid he was dead on... -- and, okay, I admit he has a certain way with words; but I would take his freely-given advice and words of wisdom (and he does this for a living, as well...) over any "cocky git", any day. He is neither cocky, nor -- as far as I can tell (certainly not on any evidence I've seen...) -- a git.... Have a read of a few of his other posts, please; and then work out how much poorer this forum would be without him....

Take two, please....

PS: And before you accuse us all of being cliquey, and of ganging up on a newbie: that is not the FIAT Forum way. We are actually very welcoming (as I quickly found out, a few months ago...) -- unlike many other forums... -- but we do expect -- as should anyone in any sort of society -- members not to leap in feet first; and to respect the views of others, etc.. You asked for help. Just because you didn't like the answer, doesn't mean that the person trying to help you was wrong....

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Just to reiterate what S and B has said In a less cocky git way, the Radweld could now have blocked the radiator and other parts of the cooling system which is why you are now getting a return of over heating problems, which may have now damaged the head gasket.

It could also be that the radweld never fixed the leak hence the system being empty again and running out so quickly. Over heating generally leads to head gasket problems on puntos and there is now a good chance yours has now failed which is why you're getting more smoke/steam from the exhaust.

This is sadly the problem with a patch up job they are often not very good and can lead to greater expense if not addressed quickly

 

[ChrisUK]

That radweld stuff should be used as last resort to get you to your nearest competent mechanic. Like said above you'll most likely be dealing with a clogged cooling system and knackered headgasket.

 

[puntobabe94]

That radweld stuff should be used as last resort to get you to your nearest competent mechanic. Like said above you'll most likely be dealing with a clogged cooling system and knackered headgasket.

Cheers I was told (dunno if it's true) that if your oil hasn't gone a milky white colour like the coolant in machines then your head gasket is usually fine and hasn't been damaged. I checked my oil and water, my oil is the normal colour oil is and my water hasn't gone down so your properly right it has blockers the radiator. I had to use ratweld cos I couldn't afford a radiator at the time, I'm looking g at whether Italian best to buy a brand new one or to het one front scrap yard for about 20 quid. How much is a new radiator usually?

 

[atom0007]

reading between the lines, when your mechanic said that the hg was gone, you checked the dipstick / oil filler cap for mayonaisse, seeing none you ignored his advice as wrong, and plumped for radweld.

What if the break in the hg results in water not leaking from the coolant loop to the oil loop, but somewhere else? No mayo.

My money's on the hg!

Also, if you're losing water that fast, s and b is right about sticking plaster over open wound

 

[s and b]

oh dear

 

[fingers99]

The only sure way to diagnose a head gasket is a compression test. You can buy the testers on eBay for less than £15 posted. (Or most backstreet garages will do the test for about the same.)

 

[paulwells]

could now have clogged thermostat or sludge in rad causing the on of temp but loss of coolant as previously stated could be the h g gone due to it over heating and have you checked the water pump for signs of coolant leak,,,, and any perished coolant hoses or clamps on hoses???? i am a newbie here still but have been given loads of good advice compared to the old fiat forum i was on to which you never got replies to questions paul

 

[varesecrazy]

Cheers I was told (dunno if it's true) that if your oil hasn't gone a milky white colour like the coolant in machines then your head gasket is usually fine and hasn't been damaged. I checked my oil and water, my oil is the normal colour oil is and my water hasn't gone down so your properly right it has blockers the radiator. I had to use ratweld cos I couldn't afford a radiator at the time, I'm looking g at whether Italian best to buy a brand new one or to het one front scrap yard for about 20 quid. How much is a new radiator usually?

Hi,
oil has to be REALLY watery to show as milky, Pull out the oil filler plug - I bet it's full of mayo..!!( that is the oil and water mixing),
Rad's are easy to change - all the same for std. punto's usually £30 / £50,

if you do change the RAD , fill with clear water and run -up to temp, then dump water, then repeat.., until the water comes out fairly clear.. otherwise all the rad-weld gunk will block-up your new RAD too,

then use a 50/50 Water and Antifreeze, coolant mix.
Charlie

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Virtually every single post regarding over heating I head says 'no mayo' firstly 'mayo' is the emulsification of water and oil which happens when the water/oil is mixed this doesn't have to have anything to do with the head gasket and can often happen in cars which go unused for long periods and moisture and condensation builds up in the cold metal internal parts of the engine.
With Puntos and head gaskets 'Mayo' almost never happens as its dependant on the gasket blowing between the oil and water channels

Punto gaskets seem to go between cylinders causing misfires or between cylinder and coolant channels causing over heating, loss of coolant.

People need to forget about mayo it's presence is no guarantee the gasket has gone and its absence is no indication the gasket is fine, which is why we always say on here you need a compression test to say once and for all if the head gasket is at fault and even then its not 100% till you start pulling the engine apart

 

[varesecrazy]

Agreed,
I'm just trying to restore a little balance and "laymans terms" to this subject,

Local garage "tested" our FIRE when it was losing coolant unexplainedly,

they said the HG was "fine" ,

I wasn't convinced , so did the HG , and YES it was leaking ( not blown) between 2 cylinders AND putting MAYO into the Cam-cover area, - no doubt through the water in the bores contaminating the circulating oil ,

and NO it wasn't used to the shops twice a month, it did 2 x 1 hour commutes , daily,


Charlie

 

[PuntoHowTo]

I wasn't convinced , so did the HG , and YES it was leaking ( not blown) between 2 cylinders AND putting MAYO into the Cam-cover area, - no doubt through the water in the bores contaminating the circulating oil ,

Sorry but non of that makes sense.

If as you state, you had gasses leaking between cylinders that doesn't produce MAYO

 

[paulwells]

i agree with the condensation in engine which can cause or look like hg symptoms but also a good blast up the road till thermostat opens and check for external water leaks before assuming hg gone like other posts compression test is cheaper than replacing hg also check seal on resevoir bottle and signs of water leaking under pressure like i said before check for loose hose clamps and water pump leaking especially if you have replaced or underdone major work reason being if you used old water pump it may not have sealed correctly paul

 

[Ziggy122]

winter = lots of cold damp air - it settles overnight and is boiled out when you start engine up
As a result you get ""mayo"" even though the head gasket hasn't gone
Only when it becomes excessive i'd be saying HG

As for a HG can do several things

Water into cylinder = Steamy exhaust
Cylinder into water = Lots of air in system, pressure builds till somethings lets go

Oil into Cylinder = Lots of blue smoke
Cylinder into Oil = Vaccum test to confirm, but find it may blacken fresh oil quickly

Water into Oil = Mayo everywhere
Oil into water = Brown sludge looking radiator


I had a HG leaking for AGES, couldnt get the air out of the cooling system, turns out the crank case pressure was high (due a worn piston ring) Forcing air into the system, till a long run for a day trip finished it off...

Regular Checks FTW!!

Ziggy

 

[puntobabe94]

Thankyou to everyone for your help and comments

My exhaust has stopped "smoking" as much and my coolant levels arent going down anymore, also my overheating light appears to have stopped coming on (for now atleast) altho my fan has been coming on alot more.


My mechanic is going to compression test it whn he is able to. But a new radiator is definatly needed and most likey a new head gasket (previous owner wasnt very nice to the car and most had to be replaced so im guessing that they will to)





Thanks again everyone!!!!!

 

[ChrisUK]

Good luck. Just remember treat your car well and it WILL look after you .