Wierd Thing On Coolant Front

[mjbkites]

Hi guys

 

just got myself a lovely clean 2001 2.3 ghia and everything is fine apart form one issue.

 

I was sat in traffic and the car (temp gauge) never came above 90 the fan kicked in as expected and then we started to move. around 1/2 mile later down the road the

 

STOP check coolant light came up and the gauge was up in the red

 

I stopped allowed it to cool a bit and checked the coolant it was over full i cracked the expansion tank and allowed some of this to drain out.

 

I have managed to recreate the same fault by sitting on the drive allowing the fan to kick in and then drive round the block - this time however i was ready for it and put the heaters on full to assist with cooling this took the gauge down and helped regulate the temp.

 

any help would be very helpful. Oh to add on a long run the gauge does not move and car runs fine.

 

by the way the water was not overheating as when i cracked open the expansion take there was no mount Vesuvius awaiting me!

 

I think it may be the thermostat but just seeing what others think here before doing this

[Amarok]

Welcome to the Forum.

 

Fingers crossed its the Thermostat sticking

 

BUT the only thing that causes me concern is the line

 

'Oh to add on a long run the gauge does not move and car runs fine'

 

I had exactly the same problem on a 2.8 Injection Capri and the previous scoundrel had REMOVED the thermostat as the car had a cracked head!! on the run she was sweet as a nut, loads of power the only fault was the temp gauge didn't get past the 1st blue section and as it was summer I didn't check if the heater was putting out hot air, ticking over in traffic was OK and gauge started to move to the middle, when you were back running gauge went back to cool.

 

BUT if you were stuck in heavy traffic after about 10 minutes tick over up went the temp straight to the Red if I put Heater to full Hot that would just about keep the temp down but in a heavy jam or a really hot day she cooked!

 

Regards

Edited September 20, 2011 by Amarok

[mjbkites]

thanks for the reply, i am damn sure its not a head problem as there are no other tell tale signs like you expect.

 

the cars been maintained from fords since new and only covered 72k

 

and the temp gauge doesn't move sitting still its only when you have sat in traffic and then drive again it seems to be a problem. heater is blasting out hot air,no white smoke, no milky residue in engine oil.

 

think i will change the stat and see if that cures it

 

any one else?

[chrispb123456]

Go for the thermostat first, sounds like it could be stuck partly open causing overcooling when travelling along, then not opening fully when engine up to temperature.

 

Think im right in saying some of the ford engine models have a normal thermostat housing while others have the stat in the pipework, both types will have the housing but will be empty when stat is fitted in pipework, hope that makes sense to you.

[dbc]

 

the cars been maintained from fords since new and only covered 72k

 

 

Don't let that fool you. Mine was a 60k 2.3 with full history......you wouldn't believe the trouble I have had with this car!!

 

My head gasket went but it went between coolant and cylinder so no oil in water or visa versa. What I did get though was a lot of pressure in the coolant so the pipes were very heard to touch, I.E. couldn't squeeze them very easily but even with that although there was clearly a release of pressure when I took the cap off it didn't spray out all over the place.

 

Does sound more like a temp sensor or stat issue. Have you got an OBDII fault code reader? If you had an engine light on it should give you a code. I just picked one up of ebay for

[dbc]

Think im right in saying some of the ford engine models have a normal thermostat housing while others have the stat in the pipework, both types will have the housing but will be empty when stat is fitted in pipework, hope that makes sense to you.

 

Yeah you're right - The 2.3 has a plastic coolant out let on the end of the head with temp sensor fitted and it look just like the sort of place a thermostate would be fitted but in actual fact it in the pipework of the pipes that come from the outlet. Quite obvious to see when you know its not in the plastic bit.

 

the plastic house is prone to leaking so try to avoid taking that off if its ok. You shouldnt need to to get to the stat.

Edited September 20, 2011 by dbc