Fiat panda dropping coolant

[ChefWifeLife]

We bought a runaround fiat panda in the last 3 months. My husband noticed it dropping coolant to the minimum level and has topped it up by about a litre since we've had it.

We paid for a 3 month warranty and took it to get checked. They did a pressure test and said it was fine and to monitor.

Four weeks later and it's still dropping coolant. No damp inside the car. No residue to suggest head gasket.

I'm taking it back tomorrow and they are going to do a UV dye test.

Neither my husband or I are car savvy. I'd like to understand how a pressure test could be fine but coolant is being lost somewhere.

As we live in a little village it's a right faff taking it back to the city be bought it (lesson learnt) and bus routes home are difficult. I want to go armed with as much information as I can (and a 7 year old on school holidays in tow).

Thanks for any help and feel free to talk to me like an absolute idiot when it comes to cars!

An interference engine, means the pistons and valves will smash into each other if the timing belt / chain slips or breaks, (£££££) so it's advisable to change it when recommended or if it has any sign of wear.

A non-interference engine will just stop if the timing belt breaks, so you could risk not changing it, and you'll just break down.

It's good to know, but generally replace components when recommended anyway.

The panda saga continues. Drove the car to the gym this morning and after i had started it noticed a gurgling sound from behind the glove box like @Simplegazette had mentioned before. Drove it home after and popped the bonnet, husband removed the cap to the expansion tank and a considerable amount of air came out. Now not gurgling. Assume it wasn't bled properly when they replaced the radiator?

DCs first car was a Fiat Panda (great little car btw) but I do remember the garage saying that as it was such a small car, the coolant reservoir was tiny, so to make sure it was topped up regularly.

Not a good idea to remove the radiator cap on a warm engine - it's pressurised and the hot water could scald you.
Perhaps top it up again and monitor it, hoping it was just an air bubble?