Ive just bought a car for next to nothing that has some faults.

At the risk of sounding facetious, therein lies the problem!

The heater valve problem is quite easy to fix; there's a post further down this list about a Ford Puma HCV. Have a read; Fiestas are about the same.

I took it into the garage and they called me back saying it was the uplinks and some bushes. All cost me £140 (which was kind of over what I expected). I picked it up today and the noise was still happening. I took it back and they put it on the ramp ran it at speed and the noise was apparent. The mechanic then took it for a drive and came back, put it on the ramp again, stroked his chin and said he thought it was either the gearbox or driveshaft. He said he couldnt be sure but his gaffer was a gearbox expert and told me to come back tomorrow.

Well I looked on the internet and typed in all the words that describe this noise and kept coming up with wheel bearings. I took the car out swerve right and left at around 30mph and noticed the noise disappear when swerving left but got somewhat louder when turning right. I felt the wheels after I took it for a ride and the right tyre is somewhat hotter than the left. I rang the garage telling them that I thought it was the wheel bearing. The guy gave me a quote and said he was 99.9% it wasnt a wheel bearing. He reckons its the driveshaft or the gear box.

This doesnt sound right to me

Very common problem. I had it on my Focus. Got all the links done for £76 in early 2010. Sorry, I meant to come back and post a bit more!