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In alt.autos.ford.focus me <me@privacy.net>:
> Michael Heiming wrote:
>> In alt.autos.ford.focus me <me@privacy.net>:
>>
>>>shelma wrote:
>>>
>>>>Ok I won't give up on her yet. I suppose having 55,000 miles I should do a
>>>>coolant flush anyhow so I'll start with that. If Still no luck then I'll
>>>>buy a new thermostat. Thanks all for your help.
>>>>
>>
>>
>>>If temp is getting to normal I would think it's not the thermostat, as
>>
>>
>> You are sure you know how a car engine coolant system works and
>> what happens if the thermostat doesn't close anymore?
>>
>> [..]
>>
> Well I thought the thermostat (when working normally) stayed closed thus
> reducing the flow of coolant through the radiator, keeping more heat in
> the engine until it reached temperature, at which time it opened up
> allowing more coolant into the radiator, and cooling the engine.
> Now if it's stuck open then you would have a large flow of coolant
> through the radiator even when the engine is cool/cold, you would be
> losing heat through the radiator when you don't want to, and the engine
> won't heat up.
> Thats not to say it won't build up heat it just won't reach full
> temperature, especially in chicago, they are getting highs around
> 0 to -5C right now.
> I may be wrong though.
Not quite, there are two coolant loops, switched together from
the thermostat. The symptoms you'll encounter if the thermostat
doesn't close anymore are more or less exactly what the OP is
encountering.
Michael Heiming wrote:
> In alt.autos.ford.focus me <me@privacy.net>:
>
>>Michael Heiming wrote:
>
>
>>>In alt.autos.ford.focus me <me@privacy.net>:
>>>
>>>
>>>>shelma wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Ok I won't give up on her yet. I suppose having 55,000 miles I should do a
>>>>>coolant flush anyhow so I'll start with that. If Still no luck then I'll
>>>>>buy a new thermostat. Thanks all for your help.
>>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>If temp is getting to normal I would think it's not the thermostat, as
>>>
>>>
>>>You are sure you know how a car engine coolant system works and
>>>what happens if the thermostat doesn't close anymore?
>>>
>>>[..]
>>>
>
>
>>Well I thought the thermostat (when working normally) stayed closed thus
>>reducing the flow of coolant through the radiator, keeping more heat in
>>the engine until it reached temperature, at which time it opened up
>>allowing more coolant into the radiator, and cooling the engine.
>
>
>>Now if it's stuck open then you would have a large flow of coolant
>>through the radiator even when the engine is cool/cold, you would be
>>losing heat through the radiator when you don't want to, and the engine
>>won't heat up.
>>Thats not to say it won't build up heat it just won't reach full
>>temperature, especially in chicago, they are getting highs around
>>0 to -5C right now.
>>I may be wrong though.
>
>
> Not quite, there are two coolant loops, switched together from
> the thermostat. The symptoms you'll encounter if the thermostat
> doesn't close anymore are more or less exactly what the OP is
> encountering.
>
>
Ok, they must have changed things since the 70's era cars.
In alt.autos.ford.focus me <me@privacy.net>:
> Michael Heiming wrote:
>> In alt.autos.ford.focus me <me@privacy.net>:
>>
>>>Michael Heiming wrote:
>>
>>
>>>>In alt.autos.ford.focus me <me@privacy.net>:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>shelma wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Ok I won't give up on her yet. I suppose having 55,000 miles I should do a
>>>>>>coolant flush anyhow so I'll start with that. If Still no luck then I'll
>>>>>>buy a new thermostat. Thanks all for your help.
>>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>If temp is getting to normal I would think it's not the thermostat, as
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>You are sure you know how a car engine coolant system works and
>>>>what happens if the thermostat doesn't close anymore?
>>>>
>>>>[..]
>>>>
>>
>>
>>>Well I thought the thermostat (when working normally) stayed closed thus
>>>reducing the flow of coolant through the radiator, keeping more heat in
>>>the engine until it reached temperature, at which time it opened up
>>>allowing more coolant into the radiator, and cooling the engine.
>>
>>
>>>Now if it's stuck open then you would have a large flow of coolant
>>>through the radiator even when the engine is cool/cold, you would be
>>>losing heat through the radiator when you don't want to, and the engine
>>>won't heat up.
>>>Thats not to say it won't build up heat it just won't reach full
>>>temperature, especially in chicago, they are getting highs around
>>>0 to -5C right now.
>>>I may be wrong though.
>>
>>
>> Not quite, there are two coolant loops, switched together from
>> the thermostat. The symptoms you'll encounter if the thermostat
>> doesn't close anymore are more or less exactly what the OP is
>> encountering.
>>
>>
> Ok, they must have changed things since the 70's era cars.
Not really unless you are thinking about VW boxer engines, which
didn't have liquid cooling those days in addition to a non
working heating system... ;-)
Well I guess I started some sort of a debate with my question huh? It feels
good to hear that 55,000 miles is nothing. Now I still have addressed the
problem yet so still am not sure if it's the coolant or the thermostat. I
don't know which one to root for.
Addressing one of the posts, my temperature gauge works perfectly fine in
the car. It reads cold when it's cold and normal after a little time
running. The gauge never goes over normal and the engine is not
overheating. I am going to check the coolant tommorow (temperature was -1
this morning and didn't want to deal with a cold drive to work so I got a
ride). I will let you know what happens.
> Well I guess I started some sort of a debate with my question huh? It
> feels
> good to hear that 55,000 miles is nothing. Now I still have addressed the
> problem yet so still am not sure if it's the coolant or the thermostat. I
> don't know which one to root for.
> Addressing one of the posts, my temperature gauge works perfectly fine in
> the car. It reads cold when it's cold and normal after a little time
> running. The gauge never goes over normal and the engine is not
> overheating. I am going to check the coolant tommorow (temperature was -1
> this morning and didn't want to deal with a cold drive to work so I got a
> ride). I will let you know what happens.
Not that my opinion's worth much, but I'd bet against the thermostat given
a normal response by your gauge. The low coolant/plugged heater coil/bad
flapper in the dashboard thoughts others mentioned would be my candidates.
I filled the radiator with coolant yesterday and have noticed a difference,
problem is definitely better. So it does seem like my problem is that I
need a coolant flush.
Thanks for everyones help
In alt.autos.ford.focus shelma <shelma@noemailsplease.com>:
> I filled the radiator with coolant yesterday and have noticed a difference,
> problem is definitely better. So it does seem like my problem is that I
> need a coolant flush.
> Thanks for everyones help
Glad to hear your heating works better again, even if I really
had expected you to take the 10 sec. and check for sufficient
coolant fluid before even attempting to ask a newsgroup.
"shelma" <shelma@noemailsplease.com> wrote in message
news:1b6a07fdb408fa8032912843615ce1a8@localhost.talkaboutautos.com...
>I filled the radiator with coolant yesterday and have noticed a difference,
> problem is definitely better. So it does seem like my problem is that I
> need a coolant flush.
> Thanks for everyones help
>
Your problem may not be solved yet. If you get heat after adding coolant,
you may have a leak in the system. The system is almost closed, so there is
little or no evaporation. Having to add coolant indicates a problem.
I am having the same problem you are having. Little or no heat. When I add
coolant to the system I have all kinds of heat until I have to add water
again.
I have a leak some place and can't find it. It could be as simple as a pin
hole in a hose or a hole in the heater core.
You need to have a pressure check done on the cooling system to locate the
leak.
Thanks Michael for your comments. I asked a newsgroup because I'm a single
mother who knows absolutely nothing about cars. I honestly didn't even
know the coolant had to do with the heat, I honestly thought coolant just
affected the air conditioning. I'm sorry if I botherd you with my
question.
Thank you though everyone else and VJC, it seems that I do have a leak. A
coworker pointed out a fluid in my parking space and it does appear to be
coolant. I suppose I'll just have to live with it until I can afford to
fix it.
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