2001 Ka Cooling System

[pist nbroke]

Hi Gents,

After some advise please. My neighbours daughter drives a 2001 Ford Ka and about a week ago it overheated to the point where it stopped running. It was recovered by the AA and although it now runs, has not been driven since.

I must have been in a good mood that day because I said i would take a look.

My first observation was that the heater doesnt blow hot air, so i removed the thermostat and it wasnt working. For the sake of £20 (not Ford) I chucked a thermostat and housing on it and went to bleed it.

Upon start up within minutes header tank was boiling over loads and loads of air in the system. This didnt really settle and I could not get it to bleed, after running it for ages the heater wouldnt get hot.

Also if you try to put the cap on the header the system pressurizes straight away with the top hose going rock hard. And when i turned it off there was lots of gurggling from the back of the engin bay (heater matrix area) and another load of air made it out of the header tank.


So thats where I am, OK its likely that the head gasket is blown, head warped etc but just wondered why it wouldnt bleed and the heater not get hot.

Any advise appreciated
Thanks