Ford Focus problem

square_bear

Hello
I wonder if anyone has some advice.

I recently bought an 03 Ford Focus 1.8 hatch from a Ford dealership.
There is an occuring problem with the cooling fan. It comes on now and again without the engine overheating. Sometimes even when the car is started first thing in the morning.

I have taken the car back twice and both times the garage has said that it can find no fault. The first time they said that they changed the thermostat, the second time they put in a 'relay'?

But still the fan comes on.The temperature needle never goes beyond half-way.

Is this a fault or not?

Thanks.

goldspanners

the fan doesnt come on only when the engine is over heating.
it will come on and off as required.
i wouldnt say its a fault as such. some vehicles when they are started up will turn the fan on at full speed as part of a start up test.
if the fan was on constantly or wasnt coming on at all then i would be concerned about that.

square_bear

But the fan does not always come on when it is started up.
Last night as the car was being parked the fan was on.
The car was started this morning, the fan started.
Could the switch that turns it on be sticking or something?

So, keep an eye on the temp gauge when it starts and go by that?

Thanks

goldspanners

square_bear wrote: »

But the fan does not always come on when it is started up.
Last night as the car was being parked the fan was on.
The car was started this morning, the fan started.
Could the switch that turns it on be sticking or something?

So, keep an eye on the temp gauge when it starts and go by that?

Thanks

the temp gauge should be showing cold until the car engine has been running for a while, how quickly the engine temp rises will be determined by the outside temperature.
it should rise steadily and as your does,sit half way,this is normal.
the one thing that could be at fault that would cause the fan to come on would be the cylinder head temperature sensor. according to the haynes manual on your 1.8 model this is located on the back of the cylinder head,nearest the timing belt end and below the inlet manifold. apparently for your engine the alternator has to be removed to gain access, t cant be refitted once taken out,it needs to be renewed as it wont seal properly again.
if these are cheap enough then it would be worth doing to try and cure the fault.
i dont really notice when my fan comes on in mine unless im stationary for a while.

credit_crunch_victim

nothing to do with the air conditioning is it
this would sound like the cooling fan

square_bear

Would the cylinder head temperature sensor be normally covered under the warranty?

square_bear

credit_crunch_victim wrote: »

nothing to do with the air conditioning is it
this would sound like the cooling fan

Definately the cooling fan.

harveybobbles

The air con fan sounds just like a cooling fan.............. Run your car with the air con system OFF and see if it comes on...

goldspanners

square_bear wrote: »

Would the cylinder head temperature sensor be normally covered under the warranty?

if its defective then i would hazard a guess at saying yes it should be replaced as its not really a wear and tear item.

square_bear

harveybobbles wrote: »

The air con fan sounds just like a cooling fan.............. Run your car with the air con system OFF and see if it comes on...

No, it's not the air con. It is the cooling fan.