Hi Guys

My wife has a 2001 Punto 1.2 ELX.

She has had some problems with it overheating and I have now worked out that the car is losing about a pint of fluid a day. I am topping it up with water every night which has cured the problem but of course I need to get it properly sorted.

Does it sound like the problem is definitely a shagged radiator or leaking pipe/connector or could it potentially be something more serious?

Thanks.

Some of the stuff you mentioned, but to diagnose it, put some cardboard under the car over night and see where the leak is coming from so you can narrow down the search.

One other thing, is the oil color OK ?


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Oil colour seems ok. The car is due a service fairly soon so the oil is very black but there is no mayonnaise around the filler cap or anything like that.

I agree the next thing I need to do is locate the leak.

Thanks.

if you run the engine to normal temperature, any leakage will show as steam,

Just because there is no gunge in the oil filler cap, don't rule-out the head gasket just yet.
Does the heater still throw-out heat? A compression test will tell you for sure if it turns-out later that there is no coolant-system leak.

Its probably a leaking pipe or a wee fracture in the radiator perhaps. wouldn't be too hard to put right if thats the case, just gotta find where its leaking first.

Buzz
If you see a bandwagon, its already too late!

what does the temperature gauge read ?
thats the most important thing. could be a knackered thermostat, causing overheat n water loss from expansion tank, or could have caused a pipeout.

Thanks for the comments and advice so far Guys.

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No sign of any leak overnight.

No sign of any steam or leak when engine running and warmed up

Continuing to top up with half pint to full pint of water daily.

Temp gauge fine as long as I keep the car topped up with water. If not then gauge starts rising to max with red light coming on. (although when this happens the needle darts around between the mid and max point rather than staying at max)

Take it to a mechanic that can check the cooling system with pressure gauge. You may have a leak in the car, better to say on the in car radiator.


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Are you checking the water level at running temperature? If you are filling between the max-min when cold it will overflow from the overflow pipe and look low when its cold. check the level when engine is hot. Whe engine is cold water level will be way below minimum