Car trouble..any pointers?

[f-fuxake]

Just going to have a look at Mrs F-F's car which broke down yesterday.
She said the fan was making a weird whirring sound louder than normal and also kicking in a lot sooner than usual.
When the temp gauge went into the red I told her to park up and turn the engine off.
When I got there there was no steam or obvious loss of water. Both belts seem to be intact.
Any ideas chaps? We'll be getting Green Flag to bring it back home and I'd like to try and fix it myself if not too complicated.
Cheers

[Fuzzy Wuzzy]

f-fuxake said:

Just going to have a look at Mrs F-F's car which broke down yesterday.
She said the fan was making a weird whirring sound louder than normal and also kicking in a lot sooner than usual.
When the temp gauge went into the red I told her to park up and turn the engine off.
When I got there there was no steam or obvious loss of water. Both belts seem to be intact.
Any ideas chaps? We'll be getting Green Flag to bring it back home and I'd like to try and fix it myself if not too complicated.
Cheers

Temperature sensor of some sort? Get the ECU scanned for error codes.

[DrTre]

Fooshed water pump = no water circulating (would prefer it to be a fooshed temp sensor as mentioned)

Edited by DrTre on Tuesday 15th December 10:26

[f-fuxake]

Cheers,it's a Puma by the way.

[Emsman]

Blocked rad?
Water pump screwed?
Is there any water in it- you say no sign of loss, has it got any in?

[Matt Evans]

Has the bearing dried up in the fan, stopping it from cooling as efficiently? Would exlain the loud whirring noise.

[f-fuxake]

Thanks chaps, would it make a half mile journey if I make sure the water's topped up and run the heater on full?

[DrTre]

f-fuxake said:

Thanks chaps, would it make a half mile journey if I make sure the water's topped up and run the heater on full?

Probalbly be OK. I've driven further with no belts through no choice. Car was fine. Depends really if it's teh temp sensor which really means nothing is really that wrong with the cooling system (although your cold running circuit will switch over to normal running early I think ?!) or if its' a screwed pump, which means no water is being moved around the system (with teh engine rnning you should see swirling in the coolant tank?)

ETA having said all that, get the mods to move this to Engine and Drivetrain where more mechanically minded people than I will advise (which isn't to say everyone else on the thread so far aren't more mechanically minded than me...))

Edited by DrTre on Tuesday 15th December 11:03

[Cas_P]

f-fuxake said:

Thanks chaps, would it make a half mile journey if I make sure the water's topped up and run the heater on full?

Should be OK for such a short journey, just keep a good eye on the temp gauge, as said the rad might just be buggered, though keep checking the water. No mayo in filler cap etc?

[Emsman]

Shouldnt be too much of an issue- as already stated, take your time and keep an eye on the temp.

[f-fuxake]

Right,got it home with no bother. Temp gauge went to halfway but that's normal.
The culprit seems to be a breather pipe (15 mm bore) which had wedged by the cooling fan. That would explain the funny noise last night. Just idled the engine and the fan kicked in nicely.
Any ideas what the pipe is? it comes out of the top of the block to the right hand side (1.7 Ford Zetec)
Phew!!

[Emsman]

Is it the emergency inflation pipe?

Sorry mate!

[Emsman]

Breather for the crank case?

Try replacing and re-routing well clear of the fan?

Dissconnect and see what comes out- assuming you wil be draining/re-filling water system.

Dont forget your anti freeze.