Technical Urgent help please: M25 breakdown/overheat of twinair+

[FranKier]

Hi all, first time 500 owner (2012 twinair+ sport, new to me with limited history, 72k mls). Overheated last night en route to Heathrow, and got towed to Waltham Abbey where I had to abandon him (“Giuseppe”), and Uber the rest of the way to catch my flight. Does anyone know of a good independent Fiat specialist in that area who might be able to get Giuseppe’s overheating problem sorted before in the next few days?

I checked fluid levels 2 weeks ago when I bought the car and the coolant was low. Required 2L to get to between min-max after checking and topping up a couple of times. Reading the forum I understand these engines need love and think that Giuseppe hasn’t had much this far. Would like to get a full 60k service done asap but the priority is getting the coolant issue sorted to get me back to Chelmsford.

If you know of anyone who can help please let me know. Thanks!

 

[jrkitching]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

There's a place in Royston that some here speak highly of; it's about 30 miles from Waltham Cross.

This one, I believe.

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi and welcome,

At 12 years in service, and with 72k covered - it's likely it's just wear and tear

Waterpump, bad radiator.. Or heater matrix

BUT. being an early Twinair..
The Coolant expansion bottle may be your issue,
Many failed early on

 

[FranKier]

Hi and welcome,

At 12 years in service, and with 72k covered - it's likely it's just wear and tear

Waterpump, bad radiator.. Or heater matrix

BUT. being an early Twinair..
The Coolant expansion bottle may be your issue,
Many failed early on

Thanks Varesecrazy!

Some great points there. In hindsight, I think there may have been some white out of the exhaust, but can’t say for certain.

Sounds like the coolant expansion bottle could be a relatively simple swap out.

The pump and radiator sound a bit more involved. So would need to get some expert help there.

Do you think it might be worthwhile doing the expansion bottle roadside, filling with coolant, limping towards home and stopping to reassess on the way. Or would that be crazy?

 

[FranKier]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

There's a place in Royston that some here speak highly of; it's about 30 miles from Waltham Cross.

This one, I believe.

Hi JRkitching,

Thanks for that. I’m thinking that I could try to fill up on coolant and trying take it really easy up the A10 to them.

The logistics are the big issue at the moment.

 

[jrkitching]

Thanks for that. I’m thinking that I could try to fill up on coolant and trying take it really easy up the A10 to them.

I'd be tempted to do that too.

I'd also give some thought to running with the cooling system unpressurised for that journey. And I'd certainly be stopping at frequent intervals to check on the situation under the bonnet. Many years ago now, I used to carry a spare radiator cap with a hole drilled in it in case I had to do something similar. If you have a minor leak, it can make the difference between getting home - or not.

But it's a risk; in the worst case, it could be the final straw that puts the car beyond economic repair. It would be a shame to lose what you'd paid for it after only having it for a couple of weeks.

The logistics are the big issue at the moment.

I'd look seriously at the cost of having it towed to Royston; I'd have thought somewhere in the region of £75-£100.

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi JRkitching,

Thanks for that. I’m thinking that I could try to fill up on coolant and trying take it really easy up the A10 to them.

The logistics are the big issue at the moment.

How did this end up..?


A simple fix..