Hi guys glad I found this forum, really need your help. My gfs 1.4 PUMA turned up at my house the other day in the red and the fan going like mad. I checked the coolant, I must have put about 4 litres in of coolant and water. The day before the car was fine, till she drove in the evening she said that the heating was stuck on hot. I drove the car back to hers, for about 20 minutes after replacing the coolant and the car behaved normally. Could this be the HCV failing? or am I looking at a thermostat issue? I would have thought that the car would have over heated on my 20 minute A road drive if the thermostat was stuck closed? The only reason I am pointing the blame on the HCV is that as soon as the heating was stuck on HOT the engine developed the lack of coolant and over heating. I have checked for leaks and can see none? Many thanks. I'm in my early days of DIY mechanics, But I am confident I can change this valve.

I have thought about a slow leak in the engine, however the overheating came on the next time the car was driven a few days later. The car is driveable, however I am assuming will overheat again in due course.

Cheers again

James

 

Pm me ur number bud it could be a few things but i can talk you through it so you can eliminate them and be left with 1

 

Yes your hcv is probably stuck, You can sometimes get them free by turning the heating switch hot to cold until you feel the temperature change. however to lose 4 litres of coolant you must also have a leak somewhere so check the hcv pipes as these go very brittle ,also check the thermostat housing as these also can crack, and also check the header tank cap seal isn't letting by which would cause the car to overheat and lose the coolant that way