Snotter running cold.

[MrFlibbles]

My little Fiesta 1.25 daily snotter has a small issue.

It takes an absolute age to heat up. If i leave it idling on the drive the guage will climb to half way and the fans will cut in.

In normal "urban" driving, it will run at around a quarter on the guage. On the motorway, it barely rises from cold. The heater never blows particulary warm.

What do we think? Thermostat? Is that a DIY job? (i have no skills at all, but i do have a second car should i break it completely. )

Could i bodge it by puttign a bit of cardboard over part of the rad?

ETA that i want to spend minimal about of money on the PoS.

Edited by MrFlibbles on Monday 17th November 20:29

[Sheppard000]

I feel it is down to the weather, I do short journeys and have the same problem, to spend the least amount of money, use the cardboard method and just keep an eye on the water temperature, just incase.

[buggalugs]

Thermostat - shouldn't be too bad to change. If you get one from a motor factors rather than the scap car then it'll come with a fresh gasket which will be handy! Should only cost a few squid, and a few more for fresh antifreeze.

[C. Grimsley]

Yes i would say a thermostat too. Quite an easy fix dependant on where it is.

Carl C.G. Cars Leicester

[oakdale]

Most likely the thermostat, bit of a fiddle to do as you have to remove the alternator but it's worth changing it, as a duff stat on this will adversly effect fuel consumption.

[MrFlibbles]

oakdale said:

Most likely the thermostat, bit of a fiddle to do as you have to remove the alternator but it's worth changing it, as a duff stat on this will adversly effect fuel consumption.

That was my concern, but im getting 45 to the gallon?

[oakdale]

Start the car and after a couple of minutes, hold your hand on the hose that comes from thermostat.
If the stat is working correctly, the hose should stay coolish then suddenly become hot, but if the thermostat is faulty it will warm gradually.
The cooling fan should not come on until the temp gauge is reading quite high, if it comes on when the gauge is reading normal then it may be the temp sender at fault but this wouldn't account for your poor heater.

[MrFlibbles]

oakdale said:

Start the car and after a couple of minutes, hold your hand on the hose that comes from thermostat.
If the stat is working correctly, the hose should stay coolish then suddenly become hot, but if the thermostat is faulty it will warm gradually.
The cooling fan should not come on until the temp gauge is reading quite high, if it comes on when the gauge is reading normal then it may be the temp sender at fault but this wouldn't account for your poor heater.

Thanks I'll give that a try! (the temp sender is fine, the fans come on about where i'd expect)