Fiat Panda Overheating Issue

Overheating, check engine light, and coolant leak definitely sound interconnected. A control unit communication error could trigger those symptoms, especially if it's messing with the engine's cooling system management. Have you tried checking the basics like coolant level or looking for any obvious signs of damage to the radiator or hoses? A faulty data link to the ECU could cause all sorts of weirdness, but it's also worth ruling out simpler things first. The CAN bus is how different modules communicate, so if there's an issue there, it can throw everything off. Even a software glitch could cause false readings. Is there a specific code being thrown by the check engine light?

Thanks for the detailed response! Coolant level is fine, and I don't see any obvious damage. I haven't checked the error codes yet. Could a defective cable or plug connection really cause all this trouble with the control unit?

Absolutely! A faulty connection is a prime suspect. Think of it like a loose wire on a light bulb – it can cause flickering or the light not working at all. Similarly, a bad connection to the control unit can lead to intermittent signals or complete loss of communication, which can cause the ECU to misinterpret sensor data or fail to properly control engine functions. Because the symptoms are quite serious, I suggest you take your car to a workshop to have it checked out. Better safe than sorry!

Appreciate the advice. I took it to the shop, and you were right – it was a defective plug connection on a component. They fixed it for 95€. Everything seems to be running smoothly now!