welshpete Posted July 18, 2015 Share Posted July 18, 2015 Hi guys, I have a late 2002 52 plate 1.8 L X with the duratec H E engine. Today it got really hot, the temp guage was off the scale! Checked uder the bonnet, rad was cool (due to fan kicking in), expansion bottle was !Removed! hot, as were the engine and some of the hoses. This leads me to believe the thermostat has become stuck closed, or, it has an air lock. Where is the thermostat located on this engine, and is it an easy access to change it? If it is an air lock, is there a bleed valve, and if so, where is it? Thanks guys, Regards Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iantt Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 its a bit of a pain to get at, remove o/s headlight and access through there, the 4 8mm headed bolts not to bad to remove, the hose clips are the pain, ok if you have angled long nosed pliers or small vice grips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshpete Posted July 19, 2015 Author Share Posted July 19, 2015 Thanks for the advice......on testing the car on shortish run, not sure if problem is more serious than the thermostat....the expansion bottle is pressurising a lot, but on squeezing all the hoses I could reach BEFOR|E driving, the water in the bottle was moving.....head gasket perhaps? No oil in water or vice versa, no scummy sludge in oil filler cap so not sure.... any tips/advice? Regards Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iantt Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 Not common for headgaskets to go on your engine type, but thermostats , they go often , either staying closed or breaking up in the housing., I would get a thermostat / housing assy , or at least remove it and inspect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazzell Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 Hi, Could also be a knackered water pump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshpete Posted July 23, 2015 Author Share Posted July 23, 2015 Well, got round to changing the stat on the Mondeo...What an !Removed! of a job!!! Headlight out, power steering pipe bracket taken off, but with hnds as big as mine still no room!!!! After a couple of hours and some seriously chopped and scraped hands, got the old one out. It was in 4 pieces and as rusty as an old farmyard bucket!!! The wax core was non existent, the three metals supports for the bottom copper disc had rotted to nothing, and the spring was in two halves!! Flushed all the pipes and the rad out with clean water, then used two cans of rad flush, filled with coolant/antifreeze, run for n hour, topped up fluids and developed a !Removed! air lock! Why do they not have a bleed valve on the Duratec same as on the Zetec engine my old Focus? Anyway, all sorted now, car is running sweet as, all I have left to do now is find out why the CD player in the in dash 6 disc changer wont work! The joys of motoring lol Thanks for all the helpful tips and advice guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pragmatix Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 CD player is a common fault and not cheap to fix , glad you got the cooling sorted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Ford UK Shop
Sponsored Ad
Name: eBay
Ford Model: FordUK Shop
Ford Year: 2024
Latest Deals
Ford UK Shop for genuine Ford parts & accessoriesDisclaimer: As the club is an eBay Partner, The club may be compensated if you make a purchase via the club
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.