Dzien Dobre - Just bought one!!

[Fiatboy]

i just bought a 1995 Malcuh today in lovely  czervony (red) colour.

A few questions - 1) i know this car is water cooled by this vintage but I couldn't find the expansion tank in the engine compartment.  

2) also when I turn the fan on , no heat from the vents just cool air.  WHere is the heat control?

Other than that I have driven about 40km today and it runs like a dream

P.s. what is the fine for not driving a properly registered or insured car in Poland?  Will i goto jail? hehe

Cheers all,

Fiatboy

[Darkhorse]

Hey there Fiatboy,
The header tank is situated on the left hand rear quarter pillar of the tailgate shut, as for the heater controls they should be fairly well infront of you, there are two possible reasons why your not getting warm air.

Firstly check your coolant level and make sure you have the corect amount

1. heater matrix is blocked or bypassed.
Easy to check, look underneath the dash where the center console comes to an end, you should be able to see if the matrix is still connected.
If it is with the engine runing feel the piped to see if they get warm.

2. Thermostat has been removed or water/coolant level is very low.
The Lancia has a major flaw with its thermostat location ie bottom hose, this is the last place for a thermostat to work properly hence so many head gaskets go west!
Again with the engine running but AVOIDING the cooling fan feel the water hoses to make sure there is a  satisfactory rise in temperature.

With regards your laws, your bound to get locked up and the key's thrown away    (ONLY JOKING)

[Chris Lakin]

superb advice there!!

i think its more the other way round!!! are they not relaxed on road laws out there?

regards

Chris

[fiatfsm]

1995 is not water-cooled, its air-cooled, unless its been imported in 1995! Does your car have a hatchback, if not, then you have air-cooling! The heater control is between the seats, a lift up handle by the handbrake lets in warm air.

[Fiatboy]

good answers so far

It is a 1995 polish model, and it is not a hatchback.  Rather the back engine cover sort of opens like a 'clamshell' i suppose.

That would explain why I didnt notice a coolant expansion tank!  

I found the heater control by the handbrake (remembering where they are on a beetle / karmann ghia)  but no dice with it pulled up.  oh well its not that cold yet.

As for checking the oil - I have noticed that the dipstick is on the right hand side of the engine? sort of by the exhaust manifold.    What is the best way to check the oil?  I assume it would be the usual  - warm the engine up, car on a flat surface kind of deal.

cheers

you guys r cool

[Chris Lakin]

yer its a late aircooled like Pauls see below, his was imported from Poland



infact his is a 95'

i was wondering yesterday about your 126, you were talking about header tank, i didnt want to say its not a bis incase i looked stupid  

  regards

Chris

[fiatfsm]

I check my oil when engine is cold on a flat surface. As for your heater, it really isnt that good, most of the warm air seems to come up from the handbrake with a little in the footwells, warm your car up by driving around and then pull the lever up and feel for heat. To be honest the fan at the front of the car tends to make it colder as it is pushing the heat back towards the rear. Also you need to push the little handle on the dash (marked with an O on my car) inwards. Leaving it out mixes fesh air in with the heat thus cooling it down. Got any photos of your 126? Where in Poland are you?

[The Doctor]

Hi Fiatboy, where are you?  I am in CZ but close to Ratibors, where there is a garage dedicated just to Maluchs. Good advice about the heater; make sure both dashboard levers are IN, one with a O symbol and the other a box-like symbol.  when out, they give you cool air!  Also, check that the large pipe on the right of the engine is in good condition as this supplies the heated air into the car.  Do you not have a handbook?  I have it in Czech if a copy would be of help.
the doctor :?:

[The Doctor]

sorry, forgot to say that the heater control is NOT next to the handbrake, but below and in the centre of the rear seat.  it faces foward and pushing it to the right increases the air and to the left decreases it.  the one next to the handbrake is the choke! and make sure you don't overfill the engine with oil!

[paul harbinson.]

Your right chaps the fan is a bit useless in an air cooled.The heater works a bit like a storage heater as in once the whole tunnel is warn it's brill.yes you can in a 126 but not in my latest (the seats don't recline)

[fiatfsm]

On my 126 the heater control is next to the choke, I suppose they have moved it on later cars? Seems weird putting it by the rear seat!

[paul harbinson.]

No the controls are still in the same place.On early 126's the heater control used to start the engine

[Fiatboy]

Okay well the heater works okay -  i proved that on a late night highway drive.

Ièm in krakow now.

Overfilling Oil!!!   I stopped for gas and used the usual *check engine oil when warm on a flat surface* dictum (before readign this thread).   It appeared to be low about 1 liter (bottom line on dipstick)  So I added about 800ml of 15w40.

Now someone in this thread mentioned checking the oil when the engine is cold....    Have I just overfilled my poor maluch? ?

Thanks for all the info so far - u guys rock!!

[fiatfsm]

As long as you gave it a few minutes before checking it your car will be fine! Shouldnt worry too much about over filling, it will burn off.