Ford Escort cooling fan - overheat problem

newlywed

My ford has suddenly started to overheat The temp gauge on the dash goes up and up (till I put the heaters on inside the car to bring it down again). But when you get out of the car there's no obvious steam or anything.

It has happened since being stuck in traffic recently. I think the engine cooling fan isn't cutting in.

I have checked oil, water/coolant levels etc and that is all fine. I've had a new rad and new water pump a couple of months ago.

About a year ago we had a new switch put on (no idea what it was called ) for the fan and all had been working well up till now

When the engine's cold you can manually move the fan with your hands, so it doesn't seem to be seized at all.

Can anyone help with ideas of what to do/try (girly easy descriptive instructions please )?

Thanks.

TonyMMM

Run the car until the temp gauge goes up, open the bonnet and have a look if the fan is turning or not .....?

If the fan is OK, it could be a stuck thermostat

newlywed

You can usually hear the cooling fan cutting in when you drive it - I haven't heard it, but will check.


This is the fan switch thing we had replaced last year - looked a bit like this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/THERMOSTAT-RADIATOR-FAN-SWITCH-FORD-ESCORT-ORION-50010_W0QQitemZ120335557833QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item1c048ee4c9&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1689|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

newlywed

OK 100% definitely the cooling fan isn't going at all even well over 3/4 way up towards the red (usually it cuts in just above half way).

Any ideas anyone?

Bowdyjan18

find the fan switch unplug it from the sensor and croos the two pins with a split pin or a bit of wire...need the ignition on btw...If the fan comes on then the switch is goosed

if the fan does not come on the fan is goosed or you have a blown fuse.

newlywed

The fuses looked ok on initial looking

Will dig out the manual and check which bit is the fan switch - I think I know which bit it is as that was replaced.

If the fan is "goosed" - what's the rough price/parts/time ballpark on that one for a 96 cvh escort?

newlywed

ps. I really hate cars when they go wrong

flang

If you look down at the radiator you find fine a metal bolt sticking out the side with some wires going into a connector (somthing like this) This is the fan temperature switch.
In order to test the fan is working unplug the connector from the bolt type switch and cross the connectors using some wire. (like this yours will only have two wires)
Start the engine and the fan should run instantly. This now confirms that the fan is working and the switch is faulty.
You may leave the crossed wire in the connector and keep the fan on all the time although eventually it may run the battery down (ive driven cars like this for years) although the best option is replacement.

flang

newlywed wrote: »

The fuses looked ok on initial looking

Will dig out the manual and check which bit is the fan switch - I think I know which bit it is as that was replaced.

If the fan is "goosed" - what's the rough price/parts/time ballpark on that one for a 96 cvh escort?

Hi newlywed,

A new fan motor is around £10/15 from a breakers or £40/50? new, No more than an hours labour.
If its just the switch £10 new 30mins/1 hours labour.
Both are an easy DIY

newlywed

Thanks flang

Will give the wire trick a go later and see what happens. Think I remember what the switch looked like as last year my dad did that and proved it was the fan switch at the time so it was replaced (I can't ask him as he died recently ). But I didn't think the switch we replaced was down by the rad, I thought it was on the top (ford cvh engine), so will check in the manual.

Those kind of prices don't seem too horrendous, mechanic is away next week so may have to come back for instructions for OH on how to fix it

Got the haines manual so will check there too.

BeenieCat

)I don't havea clue about cars, but i had a Ford Escort (R reg) last year and i had various problems with it.

Anway it kept overheating cos the fan wasn't turning even though it wasn't stuck and i drove it on a really hot day, and the fan belt snapped :eek:, i had no idea it snapped so i carried on driving for about 8 miles lol, anyway the AA took me home (80 miles away) and my garage had to replace the water pump, i was lucky i hadn't "blown the gasket" he said.

He replaced with 2nd hand parts maninly and it cost me £100.

Had to sell the car anyway cos clutch was on its way out, i now have a trusty £300 Saxo which is serving me well so far