ford escort 1.6i heaters

[suzukisj32]

hi there all

im new to the site just this minute joined ive just bought a ford escort 1.6i carbroilet but discoverd a fault with the heaters it blows cold air ok but switch it to hot and it blows luke warm for a few seconds and blows cold again any one got any good ideas what it could be

many thanks

 

[ratm]

I apoligise in advance for the unhelpfulness of my reply but I've got a similar post in the Repairs and Maintainance section for a Renault Megane and I'm not having much success with it.
I've tried cleaning, flushing, bleeding, draining and refilling, flushing again pressurising and bleeding while hot (Not recommended). I've even tried lifting the car on one side to clear any air and nothing seems to make any difference.
I considered changing the heat exchanger but it's a fairly major job and I honestly don't know if it's worth it because I'm not sure if that's what's wrong.
Good Luck!

 

[Stivino]

With regards to the Ford. Is the temp gauge reading normal? If so, I'd be inclined to flush the matrix (just to make sure it's clear) and bleed it first. After flushing I'd run it with a hose off to make sure the water is being pumped through ok.
The Renault should have a bleeder on the top hose. Loosening it with the engine running should tell you if it's clear.
If you say you've tried everything it might be one of those things you have to see for yourself. (By that I mean for me to see)

 

[suzukisj32]

hi Stivino

thanks for the reply yes the temp gauge is reading about half way which id say is normal,im pretty useless with cars could you or any 1 give me some hints and tips on doing this !!flush the matrix (just to make sure it's clear) and bleed it first. After flushing I'd run it with a hose off to make sure the water is being pumped through ok!!

many thanks

 

[Stivino]

You've answered your own question. Run it through with a hose if you can. If you get a good flow, it's clear. Bleed it last.

 

[tamson]

just replace it.there not that exspensive

 

[TicklyT]

Sorry to come up with a real downer..... Could it be an early symptom of head gasket failure, or a cracked head?.... Products of combustion leaking into the cooling system, and accumulating in the heater matrix, causing an air lock. Sniff the water in the coolant expansion tank, and see if it smells of exhaust fumes.

I'm just about to commit our old Escort for open heart surgery. Similar heater problem, but it's accompanied by excessive coolant loss, overheating, and cream cheese plus a strong smell of exhaust gases in the expansion tank. With all these symptoms, and the reported propensity for head and head gasket failure on CVH engines, I think I'm on safe ground with that diagnosis on ours.

 

[Belle427]

check all the coolant hoses in the engine bay too,if there are partial blockages in smaller hoses the flow can be affected,especially if they are returns to the header tank,i had this on an escort a few years ago

 

[jayzee]

Tickly tee do you write novels for a living.First thing to check is water valve opening to allow water to flow into heater...

 

[TicklyT]

Tickly tee do you write novels for a living.First thing to check is water valve opening to allow water to flow into heater...

Assuming the OP has already hosed through the heater matrix as suggested, I think we can assume the valve is doing it's job correctly.

I've got a feeling that checking the water valve opening on ours won't improve the circulation of the cream cheese in the exhaust gas filled cooling system we have at the moment

 

[Oobie]

my ford escort heaters are steaming up my windscreen on the passenger side when i switch it to hot, and theres what i can only think is steam/smoke coming from the vent, but it's only on the passenger side, when i use the heaters that blow air into the car theres no steam/smoke only when i use the windscreen directional, and when it's set to hot....any ideas?

Kind Regards


Oobie

 

[Stivino]

Sounds like a wee leak from the matrix or connecting hoses.