Overheating

Tiny
VOLLEY2BALL22
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 FORD FOCUS
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 142,000 MILES
I have a 2000 ford focus that is overheating when I idle. I have replaced the thermostat, and its not the sensor because it shows my car is overheating. The car wasn't overheating as long as I had the heat on 4 on the inside of the car, but then the heat and a/c quit working. Could this be the resistor or is it that the radiator needs flushed. Neither have been changed or done since I bought the car about 4 years ago?
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Saturday, March 26th, 2011 AT 5:34 PM

23 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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It sounds like you have a cooling fan issue here are two guides to help us get the problem fixed.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-electric-fan-motor

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-overheating-or-running-hot

Please run down these guides and report back

Cheers
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Saturday, March 26th, 2011 AT 5:59 PM
Tiny
MUNICH1984
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Thanks for this post I had a cooling fan go out I replaced it now the car works great!
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Thursday, August 23rd, 2018 AT 11:18 AM
Tiny
ALEXV55
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  • 2000 FORD FOCUS
  • 140,000 MILES
2000 focus ztec engine overheats only on highways when ac is on and when driving over 55 to 60 mph. Gauge reaches to the red zone but no warning lights come on. When driving on local streets or idling, temperature gauge stays in the middle.

Coolant level is fine, was changed 10000 miles ago and maintenance history is good. Both fans come on as soon as I turn the ac on so relay is working. When it overheated, I pulled over and checked and both fans were running. One of the fans (in front of exhaust manifold) changes speeds as car warms up so fan resistor and temp sensor is ok. I can't tell for sure if the other fan changes speeds or not.

Other reads seem to indicate that the car has a high speed and low speed fans so I am guessing the fan that apparently doesn't change speeds is a low speed fan but I could be wrong.

Thanks.
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Thursday, August 23rd, 2018 AT 11:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SEANGRANT00
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I would check the temperature sensor. This may just be a bad sensor. Are there any check engine lights on?

Here is a guide hat can help you

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-overheating-or-running-hot

Please let us know what happens so it will help others.

Cheers
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Thursday, August 23rd, 2018 AT 11:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ALEXV55
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No, there is no check engine light on. Is there a way to check temperature sensor to find out if its gone bad
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Thursday, August 23rd, 2018 AT 11:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SEANGRANT00
  • MECHANIC
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It is called the Cylinder Head Temperature (CHT) sensor, I would check first for the wiring is intact and no cut or rubbing against anything. I have attached an image on where to find it.

This is a passive sensor, so by the resistance of the sensor in turn gives the PCM the temperature and then its decided how to cool the engine.

Sean
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Thursday, August 23rd, 2018 AT 11:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ALEXV55
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It was a bad thermostat. Replacing it fixed the problem.
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Thursday, August 23rd, 2018 AT 11:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
THELOSTONE
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My car is overheating, at this moment I already replace the temp gauge sensor, thermostat and the radiatior, but the car still over heating. What else could be wrong.
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Thursday, August 23rd, 2018 AT 11:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BLUELIGHTNIN6
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Make sure coolant level is good, proper coolant is used and that radiator fan(s) working properly.
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Thursday, August 23rd, 2018 AT 11:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ANGELAKRAUSEFORD
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One of the most typical reason for an engine overheating problem is a faulty thermostat. Nevertheless, there countless products that could create a getting too hot problem. Ford suppliers will certainly make updates to the air conditioning system software application to much better take care of engine temperature levels throughout just what the car manufacturer calls "a one-of-a-kind getting a too hot problem."
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Thursday, August 23rd, 2018 AT 11:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
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Great addition to this thread! Please feel free to help out whenever you are on the site :)

Cheers, Ken
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Thursday, August 23rd, 2018 AT 11:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
LINDSAY S
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  • 2000 FORD FOCUS
My Ford focus over heats and my ac doesn't work. But when I turn on the air full blast it helps a little to keep it just cool enough that I can make it home. I was told that someone thinks its a spring or door that is not opening to cool. I just want a second opinion and mabey a ball park price?
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Thursday, August 23rd, 2018 AT 11:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
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Turning on the A/C turns on the condenser fan drawing more air, your primary fan may not be working, you may have a blocked radiator or coolant loss problems, check these out first.
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Thursday, August 23rd, 2018 AT 11:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BRITTANIJAREEBEACH
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  • 2000 FORD FOCUS
Engine Performance problem
2000 Ford Focus 4 cyl Manual 144000 miles

my car was over heating, so a friend bypassed the sensor to the fuse box under the hood and the fan started working again, but when I drove it, it broke down like the computer broke in the car. What happened?
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Thursday, August 23rd, 2018 AT 11:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
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What exactly is it doing now-cranking over and will not start or just won't crank over at all/nothing when you turn key to start
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Thursday, August 23rd, 2018 AT 11:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SBOYCE
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  • 2000 FORD FOCUS
Engine Cooling problem
2000 Ford Focus Engine Size unknown Two Wheel Drive Automatic 120000 miles

I had my water pump fixed 6 months ago since then I have had 2 hoses leak anti freeze. Also the heat in car was not working properly, so I brought it to the mechanic and he told me that it was my thermostat and that the hoses leaked because my system was dirty and had to flushed 2 times. Now 6 days after he fixed everything the leak started and no hoses were popped but it looks like it was coming from radiator. Now my question is if I gave this shop my car with all these complaints, and he flushed my coolant system woul'nt he see the problem being the radiator?
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Thursday, August 23rd, 2018 AT 11:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
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How often have you flushed the system prior to the radiator?
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Thursday, August 23rd, 2018 AT 11:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SBOYCE
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I have owned the car for 4 yrs, I bought it with 72,000 mi. Only flushed once prior to this month when it was done twice.
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Thursday, August 23rd, 2018 AT 11:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
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Here is my read on this.

There is a fair chance the you gave it the first flush. Rarly do folks do maintenannce in the first 4 years especially if they are the type that replaces the car at early intervals. Too many people are sold on payments. Since the coolant was as dirty as it was, it was probably acidic which damages the system components internally. (Hopefully there was never any stop-leak added to this system.) So you have a combination of scale build-up and acidic fluid and the possiblility of an electrolysis situation that fords can have. This is a recipe for future headaches, that your now experiencing. Thermostat may have just been ready for replacement but may have been a victim of the environment it was trying to exist in.

You mention:

"the heat in car was not working properly, so I brought it to the mechanic and he told me that it was my thermostat and that the hoses leaked because my system was dirty and had to flushed 2 times"

So, Thermostat was sticking and needed replacement makes sense. Hoses may have been compromised from the condition, may have been an add on sale based on the assumption of the situation. Don't know. May have even been a poor job of thightening the clamps when the water pumps was replaced, (if either of the mentioned hoses were attached to it). This is where the trust factor of the shop is at stake. This is entirely realistic this happened. So since there is a leak, can the system reach full pressure?

So now that the system has been flushed properly, there has been scale removed from the heater core and radiator. The system can now be brought to full capacity and pressure. Only now the radiator and heater core may be less stable with the scale removed exposing weak spots. Also if one of these hypothetical weak spots are boarderline regarding the pressure it can handle, and the system has more pressure, a new leak can pop almost immediatly or shortly there after.

Now here's the scary part. You may be looking at a heater core in the near future as well.

I hope this helps clear things up a little. Autos can make shops look incompetent, albeit the are shops that make all shops look incompetent.

I hope I have done my job anyways.
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Thursday, August 23rd, 2018 AT 11:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
FLAPPINGANIMAL
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  • 2000 FORD FOCUS
Hi. My ford focus has developed a coolant leek. I have to keep topping it up every 100 miles or so or the tank is empty and the car over heats. I was told that it was a leek in the water pump. I was also told that I would need a new cam belt if a new pump was to be fitted. Is this correct? Also, when the coolant gets low my heating system seems not to work, no hot air is blown out. However when I top it up it gives off a little more heat. Are the two connected in some way? If the coolant gets low, could this affect the in-car heating? Many thanks, I will look forward to your reply. Peter.
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Thursday, August 23rd, 2018 AT 11:19 AM (Merged)

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