HI, I have a mk5 fiesta, im not getting any hot air, it blows warmish for about 10 seconds then goes cold, both pipes on HCV are warm/hot, the bottom rad hose is warm, and thermostat opening, fan kicking in etc...im stuck!

2nd problem when I start the car, I can hear a little whining/rubbing noise, sounds like a pump or something, then when I press the clutch down the noise goes?

any ideas?

the noise you can hear in neutral with the clutch up is very common in fiestas. It's just the gearbox idlers turning. Not sure why this is audible in fiesta/focus models especially but is present in just about every Fiesta I put a clutch in (lots). Do not be misled by people who will tell you it's the thrust bearing, it's unlikely to be so. (normally opposite symptom) Can't help you with the heat though!

HI, I have a mk5 fiesta, im not getting any hot air, it blows warmish for about 10 seconds then goes cold, both pipes on HCV are warm/hot, the bottom rad hose is warm, and thermostat opening, fan kicking in etc...im stuck!

2nd problem when I start the car, I can hear a little whining/rubbing noise, sounds like a pump or something, then when I press the clutch down the noise goes?

any ideas?

The heater may have a bypass valve, when the water temprature drops below a certain theshold it may bypass the heater matrix, the low atmospheric tempratures may mean the engine is overcooled and you are taking too much heat out of the system

try giving the engine more time to warm up and use a lower fan setting

If there is even a slight problem, the cold weather can "magnify" it

is the temp gauge lower/ higher? ,

Alternatively you could have an air lock/ some Ford engines have a 2nd thermostat

is the coolant level ok and the car otherwise running ok?

Cheers flying clutchman that's a relief!

@FOCA

I have let it warm up to normal temp before and driven it for around 40 minutes on the M25 and it was the same!

The temperature gauge don't really reach the halfway mark. No coolant in there at the minute as the previous person didn't bother I guess, its just been topped up with water and a bit light brown/orange looking. The car was running nice and quite a few weeks back but idle seems a tad rough, nothing major but I notice the slightest thing. Haha. But it starts/drives fine.

Sounds like your stat is lazy and is stuck open or at least stuck partially open. Does the engine and temperature in the car get warmer if the car is stationery but gets cooler when driving?

chances are with water that colour, heater matrix might be a little blocked...may also find thermostat is stuck open so engine not getting to temperature.

so if it was mine, would add a flush additive to system, run it up to temp, drain off, renew the stat, probably worth running a hose through heater matrix to flush it out...then refill including a coolant