Fork KA - Flashing Temperature Light/Heater not working

moneysavvy35

Hey Guys

As the title says. I noticed my heater hasn't been working for about 3 weeks now. Today I was driving & tempreture gauge light was flashing on & off. It stopped for a little while then it came back on again.

In addition to this, over 1 month ago, I started smelling a kind of fishy type odour - almost like that copydex glue they used to use in schools - at the time I didn't realise it was the car..but its happened on a couple of occasions since, and it smelt today also. Today was the 1st time the light came on.

I put tempreture light (on/off) in google & all manor of things came up....any ideas. Please Help Me...

worried_jim

I am guessing there is no coolant in the engine, either a split pipe or a head gasket gone which could be very serious. Go and check the coolant level now, also look under the oil filler cap for a mayonnaise like substance.

OddballJamie

Common fault on KAs is the heater control valve, also check the thermostat, after that the water pump.

Firstly check you have coolant left in the system, then you can check the pipes for heat. Watch your hands.

Steve059

Another vote for the heater control valve.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

either this:


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/190851067725?lpid=83&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=83&ff19=0

or

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/270913344432?lpid=83&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=83&ff19=0

without knowing the engine hard to diagnose where the problem may lie in terms of the smell.

OddballJamie

Handy clip here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFaf4dCz--c

OddballJamie

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

either this:


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/190851067725?lpid=83&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=83&ff19=0

or

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/270913344432?lpid=83&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=83&ff19=0

without knowing the engine hard to diagnose where the problem may lie in terms of the smell.

If the OP is keeping the car for a couple of years at least I'd recommend getting a Ford HCV, reason being the cheaper ones are noisy (can hear the pulsing inside the cabin) and made from very brittle plastic.

Regarding the smell I'm wondering if it's burnt coolant, ours over flowed the tank when it overheated.

colino

With the heater not working, smell of antifreeze and the temperature idiot light finally coming on, you'll be lucky to get away with just a head gasket.

OddballJamie

colino wrote: »

With the heater not working, smell of antifreeze and the temperature idiot light finally coming on, you'll be lucky to get away with just a head gasket.

Ours was alright when the HCV went and found out we had a sticky/late thermostat. Temperature light came on too, even the rad fan came on but because the thermostat wasn't opening the system up, the rad couldn't cool it down.

Don't understand why you are calling it an idiot light?

Strider590

OddballJamie wrote: »

Ours was alright when the HCV went and found out we had a sticky/late thermostat. Temperature light came on too, even the rad fan came on but because the thermostat wasn't opening the system up, the rad couldn't cool it down.

Don't understand why you are calling it an idiot light?

Because only an idiot doesn't pop the hood and check the basics, when their car makes weird smells, strange noises or when the warning lights come on......

facade

As Strider says, they used to be called idiot lights because they duplicated a gauge on the dash, e.g. low fuel comes on when the fuel gauge is reading zero, oil light when the oil pressure reads zero, ignition light when the ammeter read discharge etc.

They were to draw your attention to a problem that you should already have spotted by scanning the dials- hence the term "idiot light"

Nowadays, with no dials except a speedometer and fuel gauge, they are the first line of defence, and are called "warning lights"

But old habits/names die hard