Hot Focus
I've owned this car for 5 years now and just recently I've noticed a change in my temperature gauge.
Last winter, a few minutes into my journey, if I stopped at a traffic light, my gauge would go from 'mid normal' almost down to 'low normal.' Now the weather is warmer, if I drive at speed or go uphill, the gauge goes to 'high normal'
Today I used the speed dial diagnostic trick and had the real time temperature read-out, again at speed I saw the temperature go as high as 113C (plus it was uphill a bit) at which point the gauge rises to 'high normal.' The odd thing about this is the temperature drops if I'm heading down hill.
I've had the coolant changed, made no difference, I'm fairly sure the thermostat is ok, I got the car up to normal from cold outside my house and the bottom hose got hot around 96C, which I think is normal.
But I haven't heard the fan come on for ages. Any ideas?
Last winter, a few minutes into my journey, if I stopped at a traffic light, my gauge would go from 'mid normal' almost down to 'low normal.' Now the weather is warmer, if I drive at speed or go uphill, the gauge goes to 'high normal'
Today I used the speed dial diagnostic trick and had the real time temperature read-out, again at speed I saw the temperature go as high as 113C (plus it was uphill a bit) at which point the gauge rises to 'high normal.' The odd thing about this is the temperature drops if I'm heading down hill.
I've had the coolant changed, made no difference, I'm fairly sure the thermostat is ok, I got the car up to normal from cold outside my house and the bottom hose got hot around 96C, which I think is normal.
But I haven't heard the fan come on for ages. Any ideas?
Asked on 3 May 2011 by kingfisher1967
Answered by
Alan Ross
If the thermostat had failed it normally fails in the open position, which normally means that the engine will take longer to reach its normal operating temperature, so I would not think it is that.
If, as you say, the fans are not coming on then it could be that your fan relay is faulty.
If, as you say, the fans are not coming on then it could be that your fan relay is faulty.
Similar questions
My daughter's Ford Ka overheated in a shopping centre yesterday. The AA turned out for her and decided the engine cooling fan was not cutting in. The car got home fine since it wasn't standing in traffic....
I was driving my car today. I went into town and on returning to my car it wouldn't start, but I have full power to the dash, central locking and lights, so I bump-started it and it started first time....
I’ve had my Ford Puma now for a month and the car overheats. I changed the water pump but it's still doing it, and my fan is not working. Can you help please?
Related models
Superb blend of keen handling and ride comfort. Seats five in comfort. five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating.
Elsewhere on 
.jpg)
