hello all. I have a problem on my 2003 focus estate 1.8 tddi .. the heater is only working sporadically. the heater matrix has been flushed through and blown through with an air line. I have had a brand new thermostat and housing fitted and still its the same.. the car starts and runs fine. the temperature gauge starts on cold and slowly rises to sit in the middle. it doesn't over heat but does smell hot and the electric fan will come on even this time of year. it has been to three local garages who have spent two days on it. they don't have any answers. please can anyone help. I cant afford to pay ford main dealer prices for them to look at it and then there is no guarantee they will know.. please help, thanks, Steve.

Tel 07909994973 Norwich

Have they checked the water pump?

yes they said its ok.. fresh coolant and system bled so no airlocks

if its not losing any coolant at all then regardless of what the garage said theres something causing a blockage or the fan is faulty or the temp sensor is faulty proper diagnostics checking the live data would show which it was

As stratoc says, could be water pump impellor come off or spinning on it shaft, seen that before a couple of times on the 1.8tdci, only way to check is remove it.excatly the same symptoms as you describe, cyl head heats up putting fan on despite coolant in radiator cool, and water not being pumped round heater matrix.

Hi, does the heater get warmer if you hold the revs higher (say 2000 rpm) then go cold again if left to idle normally, or get warm when driving but goes colder when stood in traffic?

If yes then these are symptoms of a faulty water pump, usually broken impellers as mentioned above.

Other possible causes are a broken cable or clip from the heater control knob to the heater box behind the dashboard.

thank you for your replies..Ademk1 yes it does seem to warm up when on a run (ie over the 2000 rpm) I will get the water pump/impeller checked again..

a BIG THANK YOU to all above, I have the water pump changed and heater is now working. the impeller was in bits.. I'm happy now... Thanks again, Steve

Good news just don't go back to the original garage that could not fix it, such a simple and relatively easy fix any decent garage should have checked that. Water pumps are quite a common failure on a fair few Fords especially the Transit.