Hi Guys, :smile:
I'm new to the forum & would like to know if anyone could give me any advice to an overheating problem that i have with my UK 97 escort estate (1.6 16v zetec).
Over the last couple of weeks, the running temp has been quite high for this time of year (late autumn) with the cooling fan coming on quite a lot on short journeys of stop - start traffic. (it would only normally do this in the summer)
High speed motorway driving seems to keep the temperature down ok, as does turning up the heater to alleviate some of the heat, right up until i stop driving for a minute or two then the temp seems to rise a lot more rapidly then it should (especially now that the weather is cool)
I thought at first that it may be the catalytic converter that was causing the problem as it was no good, and the problem started around the same time as the cat started rattling, but i have had a new cat fitted this weekend and the engine temp is still getting hot, so it can't be that.
The cooling fan comes on and off as required and manages to lower the temperature untill it is needed again.
I don't think it's the head gasket becuse there appears to be no coolant loss or coolant in the oil.
The heater works fine, & their are no other running problems of any kind.
Any help would be appreciated. :uhoh:
Thanks from Craig. :banghead:

Sounds like the radiator is getting clogged up. One way to tell is carefully feel the top of the radiator after warm-up. It will be hot. Get down on the ground and feel the bottom of the radiator. If the lower portion of the radiator is cool then it is clogged up. It would normally be hot like the top.

Thanks, I will try feeling the Radiator when I come home from work in it tomorrow evening, and let you know the outcome (thats if I can get my hands in to feel it as there is limited space !)
If it does turn out to be this then what would I do to rectify it ? - drain coolant, flush through & refill ? Or could the radiator be on it's last legs ?
Why would it be clogged up ? & what with ?

Any other suggestions or possible answers from anyone please let me know as I don't have a great amount of vehicle maintenace knowledge, but I do have some, and I have seemed to have spent a fortune on garages over the last 18 months or so on stuff thats needed doing due to the cars age now.
Thanks again. Craig.

They get clogged up with minerals from the water. A radiator shop can 'rod it out' but I think it's best to find a new radiator. Every since I bought my new radiator I've used distilled water. On my old radiator when it would overheat I could still lay the palm of my hand on the lower radiator area. A sure sign nothing is going through there. If you go to the radiator shop they will remove both (plastic) sides of the radiator and run a rod through the cooling tubes to push the crud out. Then they will reassemble it, hopefully with new seals.

Ok thanks for the advice, as I posted earlier I will try to check the radiator tomorrow evening after work & post a reply as to the outcome, cheers.

:lol2:
Well done, it looks like you are right about the radiator.
I had a feel of it tonight when I came from work, (I had to remove the front grille first so I could get my hands in) and approximately 1/3 of the top section is hot, but the remaining 2/3 of the bottom is cold.
So I will have a go at getting it cleared out first before being commited to buying a new one.
The only thing is at the moment is that it is dark when I go to work & dark when I get home, so I will have to wait until the weekend at least when I can see what I am doing!
Luckily, the overheating isn't too bad at the moment so it can wait until then when I can get a proper look.
Many thanks for picking your brain with my problems, as if you probably don't have enough of your own! :naughty:
I will keep you posted as to the outcome when I get it sorted out, so cheers for now, Craig. :lol:

Glad to be of help Coke King :)

:lol:
I Couldn't be bothered to wait until the weekend to try & sort it out, so out came the work lamp & I had a go in the dark last night when I came home from work!
It was a right pain trying to see properly, but looks like it was worth it, - I drained off the old coolant, and ran some clean water through the radiator and other pipework with a garden hose a few times, then refilled it all up aagin with fresh coolant & gave it a try. :uhoh:
I Ran the engine up to temperature & much to my suprise all of the radiator was getting hot - good news :smile:
Took it out for a 4 - 5 mile drive to test it out, & the temp gauge stayed as low as it should have ( in the lower end of normal ), and when left standing at idle, took ages to reach the point where the fan would have to come on.
So hopefully, a complete success & will stay like that now & be ok.
Yippee!
Amazing what a quick rinse with a hose can do!
I never expected it to be any different when I refilled it, but I was very suprised.
Thanks, I will remember this for the future, if it ever happens again.
:lol2:

:) Good deal! :)