Help fiesta '56 fan problem!

[_georginaamyc]

The fan keeps kicking in loud whenever i drive for longer than 20 minutes or so. The engine isn't overheating however the temp goes just a little over half way, the only way to keep it down is to put the heaters on. Topped the coolant up as it was just a bit under the max line. After driving today for about 35 minutes, when i shut the engine off there was a loud high pitch humming noise from inside the car. Nothing has changed with the car, it still drives great. The engine runs like it always has done, any help would be appreciated!

[Peanut Gallery]

Are you running AC? - overpressure in the AC system could kick the fan into overdrive.

[_georginaamyc]

In the 15 months ive had the car, ive never ever used the air con because i know it drains fuel

[E-bmw]

_georginaamyc said:

In the 15 months ive had the car, ive never ever used the air con because i know it drains fuel

Give your 'ed a shake man, it is worth MAYBE 2 mpg IF constantly on maximum!

Having your windows open at 60 will ruin the car aerodynamics more than enough to make more of a difference.

FYI, if you don't use it regularly, it will fail early, the seals are lubricated by the gas/oil mix getting round the system when in use.

Edited by E-bmw on Tuesday 26th July 17:38

[E-bmw]

Aside of that if the fan is starting & stopping & the car isn't overheating what is the problem.

Everything sounds like it is doing what it should.

[_georginaamyc]

Okay but even so- the AC isn't the problem here is it??

[_georginaamyc]

The problem is the temp DOES go over half way, the fan kicks in VERY loud, i can only keep the temp down when i have the heaters on inside otherwise it would over heat

[E-bmw]

OK, so your issue is with "half way" what temperature is "half way"?

You also say it is "very loud".

Sound is caused by air movement, a fan is designed to move air.

What I am trying to get at is that the fan has to be noisy to work, the fan is cutting in when it is asked to by the system, so the fan is working correctly & is not the issue!

If you have a problem with overheating this is not the fault of the fan.

Edited by E-bmw on Tuesday 26th July 19:29

[_georginaamyc]

Its just that the fan never used to kick in- the fan has only started up within the last sort of 6 months? There are 4 cars on my drive way and this is the only one where you can hear the fan
I dont know what temp half way is, but it never used to go over it except once about 8 months ago when it overheated at 80mph

Plus the loud sort of whaling noise when the engine was turned off

[Mr2Mike]

Sounds like you have a problem with the cooling system; blocked radiator, stuck thermostat, broken water pump (impeller no longer fixed to shaft) etc.

[_georginaamyc]

I did take it into the garage today and they said they have found absolutely nothing wrong with it. They intitally thought it was thermostat but that seems to be working as it should. but I know my car and something is wrong! My thought was the water pump so just waiting to hear back from them again

[S0 What]

Does the managment light work? the fan comes on full when in LOS on fords of that year, i'd get the water temp tested propperly if it's not overheating the fan may be loud because it's knacked and allways came on fast but was quieter before? had a few of these Fiesta and Kas with siezed cooling fans or knackerd bearings?
Another reason it's on more now than 6 months ago is it's summer and hotter out so the air passing through the rad will not cool the coolant as well as it did 6 months ago when it was cold ? hense the fan is on longer anfd faster, just a thought.

[_georginaamyc]

Well the garage had it all day yesterday and found now fault with it, which is annoying really because it IS playing up.
They said i could have an intermitant thermostat proplem, or coul be the start of a head gasket problem. But they basically said keep driving it until it eventually breaks then they'll fix it

[S0 What]

Changing the stat take 45 mins ish, sniffing the coolant for ex fumes takes about 1 min, change garages! they obv have no interest in taking the job on.
What engine is it ?

[_georginaamyc]

He did say the stat opened and closed as it should, ans couldnt find another fault. My other garage said it may be a start of head gasket problem but i'm not convinved as coolant/water is regulating as normal. My only other thought now is a faulty hcv? Engine is 1400 zetec

[_georginaamyc]

UPDATE:
Have taken the car out on a long drive- it seems to get hotter the faster and longer i drive. We put the car in idle and it cooled down. The fan sounds like its working over time. When the car was idle at lights etc the gage was moving up and down it looked like it didnt know where to go. Opened the bonnet all hoses are doing what they should, coolant was bubbling away- is this the thermostat OR a faulty gage?????!?

[NigelAllen]

Knackered impeller on the water pump, or early sign of head gasket failure. A sniff test should find that, even this early.

[_georginaamyc]

Not the impeller as the water is regulating as it should and when i took it to the garage they checked every possibility and head gasket was never mentioned. It shot up to red and came back to half way in a matter of seconds

[Peanut Gallery]

_georginaamyc said:

UPDATE:
(snip) coolant was bubbling away (snip)

As in actual bubbles, or just moving around through the header tank as it should?

[_georginaamyc]

Peanut Gallery said:

_georginaamyc said:

UPDATE:
(snip) coolant was bubbling away (snip)

As in actual bubbles, or just moving around through the header tank as it should?

Just moving around as it should, not bubbles like it was boiling