Replacing the Thermostat on a Fiat Punto 1.1 - Fire Engine

The procedure outlined here is valid for all Fire engines, which are installed on the Lancia Ypsilon, Punto, and Seicento. Drain the coolant: remove the radiator cap and open the bleed valve on the opposite side.

Then, remove the lower radiator hose, ensuring to place a container on the floor to collect the coolant that will flow out (at least 2 litres), and be careful not to touch the coolant as it is corrosive and toxic. Remove the air filter by disconnecting the intake hose, unclip the front spring holding the cover, and unscrew the two screws at the top left and bottom right of the filter box. Disconnect the mass air sensor connector.

At this point, the filter box can be removed. Disconnect the battery starting with the negative terminal, remove the battery retaining bracket with a 10 mm spanner, and then extract the battery.

To completely remove the battery compartment, use a 13 mm socket to unscrew the three bolts at the bottom. Disconnect all cables attached to the battery compartment.

Remove the hose that leads directly to the thermostat. The thermostat is secured by two 10 mm bolts that need to be removed.

At this point, you can remove the thermostat. Before reinstalling the new thermostat, ensure to clean the installation area well and then follow the procedure in reverse to reassemble all components.

Finally, refill the radiator with new coolant and bleed it using the designated screw to avoid air bubbles.