125k now so they are due, bought it with 98 odd k I think.
I don't know how long I need it for, it may be another few months, or another few weeks.
2005 Focus no heating
- Thread starter ChrisD.
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125k now so they are due, bought it with 98 odd k I think.
I don't know how long I need it for, it may be another few months, or another few weeks.
This seems strange. The car you sit in most of the time you can't be bothered to service yet you spend thousands modifying the car you don't spend much time in.
Just change the oil and thermostat for the sake of the next owner. Alternatively you could block the radiator a bit.
Does it get hot if you drive it hard then cold in traffic ?
Just change the oil and thermostat for the sake of the next owner. Alternatively you could block the radiator a bit.
Does it get hot if you drive it hard then cold in traffic ?
Why is it strange? It's a tool to get me to work and back, since July I have been waiting for a relocation with work which may happen any moment now. I'm reluctant to spend money on something when it's working and may be getting sold any time soon. In the past 6-8 weeks I've spent around £300 on keeping the Focus going, it's not a case of I won't spend anything on it.
As for how much I spend on my other can and what I use it for, I don't think that's at all relevant to this thread.
I only noticed the lack of heat this morning so haven't really done any testing to notice any behaviour or when it does it.
How hard is a thermostat to change myself? I've booked it into Ford at the end of the month to get the belts done but it would be nice if I can fix this myself this week.
What is wrong with your DC5 why you no fancy driving it to work ?
It's too warm
It's on track tyres, the suspension is hard, the engine mounts are pretty solid and the brakes can be snatchy unless warm. Great at driving down a back road or track, not so great on the M4.
I went out to the Focus last night after work and checked the coolant. The expansion tank was bone dry. I had a few litres of water with me so chucked it all in. The temperature gauge didn't move outside of its normal position on the way home and I had some heating. Dropped it off at the local garage and posted the key through the letterbox, they said they'll take a look today. From a quick google I'd imagine it's the thermostat housing. I'll ask them to change the oil as well. The DC5 wasn't that bad on the way in this morning.
Soldato
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When the thermostat housing was broken on mine, resulting in no heating in the cabin, the engine temp didn't rise when driving. It would only warm up when left to idle and in traffic, driving it would then result in the temp dropping so not sure your stat housing will be to blame.
Of course my actual stat was probably also stuck open which would explain the temps in my case but in yours, it seems weird that the engine temp is rising correctly if you believe the stat is to blame.
Your symptoms point primarily to a stuck thermostat, the OP's symptoms are caused by coolant loss. As coolant is lost, the heater is typically first thing to stop working, and the reported engine temperature could still be fairly normal at this point. It's only when enough coolant has been lost that the temperature sensor is no longer immersed that the reported temperature will drop.
Who pays over £300 for a basic service on an old Ford Focus? All you'd need to do is buy some oil from ECP for £20, an air filter for £5, some spark plugs (if applicable) for £15 and pay the garage £35 cash to fit the bits. Total cost of about £80 for a full service.
Who said I'm paying £300 for a basic service? It needs the belts doing.
So your answer to not wanting to pay for a large cam belt service, is to just not service it at all? Like you say, you spend three hours a day in the car on the motorway and breakdowns on motorways are inconvenient and dangerous for you and everyone else.
Soldato
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Glad that is all it is then, shouldn't be expensive
Glad that is all it is then, shouldn't be expensive
Well they said £300 something worst case scenario.
