ford fiesta problems, please help

[pcvman]

Hi, can anyone help, I am not mechaically minded at all but need advise, so please bare with me while i explain.

I have a 1998, R reg ford fiesta 1.4 si,
as it stands even with the cab heater switched off there is hot air coming in, my temp gauge climbs to just near the red when climbing hills then drops back to the middle of the (NORM),

some people have said my heater Matrix is nackared.
thermosta was mentioned as being a possible cause
as is that the water pump is on its way out.

both hot and cold pipes coming into the cab are hot, yet when i put the blower on full(4) it is burning hot for a while then starts to cool.

im am at a loss to what it may be.

if it is the heater matrix, what is the cost of a new or second hand, and what am i looking at price wise to put right.

and this question is also with regards to anyhting else.

someone please help

[marshalla]

Sounds more like your radiator is shot - probably lost a lot fins and is getting clogged with gunge at that age. Does your rad. fan kick in properly when the temperature is climbing ?

[pcvman]

marshalla said:

Sounds more like your radiator is shot - probably lost a lot fins and is getting clogged with gunge at that age. Does your rad. fan kick in properly when the temperature is climbing ?

the fan kicks in fine and the temp drops, when sat idle the temp sit at norm, when i travel along the motorway at 60 / 70 the temp gauge sit happy in the norm, but the minute i start to climb a hill so does the neddle.

[marshalla]

what about when you just sit with the engine idling ?

[Grant.D]

You'd be better asking on a specific forum I think... I believe your problem is a reasonibly common one - I've seen it crop up with Puma's sharing the same engine as your Fiesta.

Grant

[pcvman]

marshalla said:

what about when you just sit with the engine idling ?

at traffic lights it occasionaly rises slightly,
yet sat in a car park it climbs a bit then drops to norm, the bit that baffles me is the cab heater, all blowers off, temp switch to cold and within 5 min its like siting in a sauna

[marshalla]

pcvman said:

marshalla said:

what about when you just sit with the engine idling ?

at traffic lights it occasionaly rises slightly,
yet sat in a car park it climbs a bit then drops to norm, the bit that baffles me is the cab heater, all blowers off, temp switch to cold and within 5 min its like siting in a sauna

That sounds more like a stuck diverter valve - there's usually one to switch the flow of hot water to the matrix on and off.

As for the other "problem" - if the temperature is falling back, it's not too bad - could even be something as simple as a perished seal on the pressure cap.

[pcvman]

marshalla said:

pcvman said:

marshalla said:

what about when you just sit with the engine idling ?

at traffic lights it occasionaly rises slightly,
yet sat in a car park it climbs a bit then drops to norm, the bit that baffles me is the cab heater, all blowers off, temp switch to cold and within 5 min its like siting in a sauna

That sounds more like a stuck diverter valve - there's usually one to switch the flow of hot water to the matrix on and off.

As for the other "problem" - if the temperature is falling back, it's not too bad - could even be something as simple as a perished seal on the pressure cap.

thank you so much for the input, ive just posted this topic on the ford forum, i just wish i knew within a good percentage what i was looking at cost wise to put right, as the car is only worth around £800 and cant afford to pay big or get new set of wheels.

[pja]

There is quite a common problem on your model fiesta (mother-in-laws has got this problem)
The hot/cold control is electronic as apposed to cable operated

There is a small water valve fitted to the heater matrix hoses in the scuttle pannel (nr the wiper linkage) that packs in & doesnt shut the hot water off to the matrix

It could well be this with your heater but I'm not sure why it overheats uphill


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ford-Fiesta-Heater-Control-V...

Edited by pja on Sunday 13th June 15:43

Edited by pja on Sunday 13th June 15:46