Overheating

Tiny
GAVINAYLWARD
  • MEMBER
  • 2006 FORD FIESTA
  • 1.2L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 120,000 MILES
It started a couple of months ago when the water pump went. After changing that I changed hoses as it was leaking. The car still was still raising on temperature gauge and steaming.I changed the thermostat at and housing. I have had it checked for head gasket by AA man and said it was fine. When I drive it on town journeys it is fine, but when I go on the motorway it usually raises then comes down then raises again but recently did steam from expansion tank. I have near enough changed most things, I have ordered a new expansion tank and cap which I will change tomorrow. The car is not leaking water but seems to be losing water. The oil seems fine and there is no smell coming from the water tank. I have had various fitters to look at this and it is puzzling. Every one can you shine an inexpensive a light on it?
Thursday, September 14th, 2017 AT 6:46 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,237 POSTS
Once you change the tank and cap report back. It is possible the cap is not holding pressure properly and letting coolant escape. That would allow for the loss and the lower pressure could be why it gets hot.

If you can get a cooling system pressure tester you could pump it up to the rating on the cap and see if the pressure drops. If it does not then the cap is the likely problem. If it does not hold pressure then you will need to check the heater core and see if it is leaking. They can leak and the only sign is a damp carpet or coolant coming out the HVAC case drain under the car.

Please report back once the new tank/cap are in.
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Thursday, September 14th, 2017 AT 7:17 PM
Tiny
GAVINAYLWARD
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I have changed the tank but had to use the original cap as they supplied me the wrong cap. Touch wood I have taken it for a good run on the motorway and as yet the temperature gauge has yet to move. Thanks very much for replying if there is any change or starts to overheat I will get back in touch. Though when I inspected the tank I could not find any thing wrong with it.
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Friday, September 15th, 2017 AT 11:33 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,237 POSTS
I would get the proper cap. It's possible that the new tank holds the cap tighter as it isn't aged.
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Friday, September 15th, 2017 AT 8:25 PM
Tiny
GAVINAYLWARD
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Took the car out Saturday morning and the car overheated. So I've been instructed to take out the thermostat and run the car without it, my mate don't think it's opening because the pipes going into the engine are quite cold and boiling coming out.
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Sunday, September 17th, 2017 AT 10:26 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,237 POSTS
Run a pressure test on it first. It's possible you are getting some leakage internally leaving an air pocket at the thermostat and it doesn't open. The pressure test would show you if it's a leak.
Pull the plugs one at a time, you are looking for all of them to be the same color. Find one that is very clean and you likely find the problem.
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Monday, September 18th, 2017 AT 12:18 AM
Tiny
GAVINAYLWARD
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
OK, we bypassed heat tempreture valve tonight as my mate thought that could be the problem. The pipes on the right side of engive are warm but not the same on the right, thought that the thermostat wasn't opening but proved it was. Really scratching my head now, seems to think that there must be a cracking or maybe head gasket problem but the signs are not showing that.
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Monday, September 18th, 2017 AT 12:45 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,144 POSTS
I couple things I can think of would be a blown head gasket which doesn't show up on every test. The next would be a water pump that the impeller has rotted away or has fallen off the input shaft.

Either way we are going to need to do some digging to find the problem.

Here are some guides that can help.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

and

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

Please let us know what happens and upload pictures or videos of the problem.

Cheers, Ken

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Wednesday, September 20th, 2017 AT 11:43 AM

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