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!

[_georginaamyc]

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

[_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

[_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

[_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

[_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

[_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?????!?

[_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

[_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

[_georginaamyc]

FINAL UPDATE
After a few days at a new garage, several trips out at 70mph in it. We finally have the answer!!
The water pump impeller isnt moving fast enough when the car is hot. Which would make sense if the car doesnt seem to overheat at 30mph but does when over 50mph!

[_georginaamyc]

Mr2Mike said:

_georginaamyc said:

FINAL UPDATE
After a few days at a new garage, several trips out at 70mph in it. We finally have the answer!!
The water pump impeller isnt moving fast enough when the car is hot. Which would make sense if the car doesnt seem to overheat at 30mph but does when over 50mph!

I did mention this as a possibility. It's not uncommon for water pump impellers to become partially detached from the drive spindle since manufacturers started making them out of plastic.

My car is 10 years old so its still metal haha
I did tell the first garage about the pump but they dismissed it

[_georginaamyc]

Another, yes ANOTHER update.
The impeller was not the problem, the part got replaced and still having the same problem, its back in the garage. We're all now at a loss and have no clue as to what the problem is. Any insight right now would be so much appreciated!!!!!

[_georginaamyc]

E-bmw said:

OK, so we have established that the fan isn't the problem it is the engine overheating as was suggested some time ago now.

Typical causes of engine overheating.
Low water flow - pump failure/rad blockage/waterway blockage/stuck thermostat/low level/air-lock.
Cylinder head/gasket failure.

All you can do is keep ticking them off until you get the answer.

Not low water flow
Not the pump
Not thermostat
Not gasket (as up to yet)

Today we're checking radiator flow, air lock, matrix, and temp sender

[_georginaamyc]

This is hopefully my last post!!!

I have a smooth driving car at last. New thermostat, water pump and temp sender. Flushed the system 5 or more times and we're working again!! Still not sure what the problem was, but for now its been solved