2001 focus gauge says overheating but no signs from engine - Focaljet

**bxw28** · 08-25-2008, 01:35 PM

Hi,
I have a 2001 1.6 ford focus. The problem is that when on the motorway at speed the temp gauge goes in to the red so i reduce speed but it then drops within a second or so back to norm. The first time this happened the check engine light come on but went off as soon as the temp needle droped. I can drive around the city all day long with no probs it is only on the motorway this is happening.I called out the rac who told me they think it is a eletrical prob because the engine shows no sign of overheating.I have had the t-stat changed coolent flushed and changed and the CHT sensor. Please help if anyone has any ideas. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY HELP OFFERED.

**bxw28** · 08-25-2008, 05:12 PM

Hi, i have just noticed that one of the fans is not working. Would this affect my overheating problem at speed (on motorway) i would have thought that this would only affect it at low speed when the engine is not getting the flow of air
Thanks

**tukanisvt** · 08-26-2008, 03:09 PM

Have you changed or checked your thermostat? or do you see any liquids falling out from a somewhat cracked tube?

Check those. Happened to my buddies ZX3 where the car wasn't really overheating but the gauge said other wise ... it was his Thermostat shot.

YOu can also unplug your battery for a brief moment to reset the ECU and see if that fixes the issue ... if it is a small electrical problem ... what about checking the fuses...?

**bxw28** · 08-26-2008, 05:26 PM

Thanks for your reply. I have changed thermostat there are no leaks i have also checked all fuses.I have got a auto electrician out to it tomoz so i will udate you then.
Cheers

**FORDSVTPARTS** · 08-26-2008, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bxw28

Thanks for your reply. I have changed thermostat there are no leaks i have also checked all fuses.I have got a auto electrician out to it tomoz so i will udate you then.
Cheers

Possible water pump, if it's not working at full capacity you could overheat at sustained freeway speed but be fine at lower speeds around town.

**bxw28** · 08-26-2008, 06:28 PM

Thanks for reply but i dont think the engine is overheating as the temp gauge will return to norn within 2-5 seconds would it not take longer if it had to cool down this is why i am thinking electrical prob. but if all checks fine with electrics tomoz i will have that checked.
Thanks

**bxw28** · 08-27-2008, 04:03 PM

Had autoelectrican out today and he said that the instrument cluster. I am getting one fitted at ford tomoz so i will let you know if it is fixed.

**bxw28** · 08-29-2008, 10:58 AM

Well problem still not solved had it back to garage but they have now said head gasket has gone. i will keep you informed if this fixes the problem.

**FORDSVTPARTS** · 08-29-2008, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bxw28

Well problem still not solved had it back to garage but they have now said head gasket has gone. i will keep you informed if this fixes the problem.

If the head gasket was gone you'd have a massive coolant loss and white sweet smelling smoke coming out of the tailpipe , is the reservoir full?

**bxw28** · 08-29-2008, 03:14 PM

Hi i have not lost any coolant and there is no smoke from the tailpipe. the garage siad they could not do the work and gave me the number for someone else.Do you think they are trying it on for money.

**michigankid83** · 08-30-2008, 11:45 AM

Hey bud, sorry to hear about the bad news. I have an 04 ZTS with the 2.3ltr Duratec, and after a year and a half i FINALLY fixed my overheating problem. Ill just explain what all was happening, what i did to fix it and hopefully it helps ya out. I bought the car in march still fairly chilly up here in Montana. thought there was nothing wrong with my car. Well first went the waterpump. the seals on the bearing shaft failed and i was blowing all my coolant out through a weep hole on the side of the pump housing. Bought the pump from NAPA for $45 and with my trusty Chiltons and 11 hours later i had it fixed. After this i found my car would still overheat. And what would happen exactly was it would be fine untill it was a hot day out, say above 75, and if idleing in stop n go traffic, or the drive-through it would start to climb into the red, well from trials i learned that with the A/C on the secondary fan comes on and would cool the engine back down. No leaks anywhere, knew the pump was working correctly cause of all the pressure in the top tube when i squeezed it while the engine was running. Onward i forged. I replaced the thermostat (which is in this stupid housing, I.E. special and from the dealer for $60!!!!!). Still overheats. then i started thinking that maybe it wasnt overheating at all and that it was just a bad CHT (cylinder head temp-sensor) so i did that too. Nope still did it. Right around this time i beacame a newbie to FJ, (love this place), and i explained what was doing on to the tech team and low and behold there is a "Engine Cooling Fan Resistor" on the bottom half of the fan shroud inbetween the two fans, and it was bad. Its supposed to control the secondary fans normal operation, either turns the fan on when the engine temp warrants it, or whenever the A/C was on. so if the resistors bad the only way to mimic normal opp. was to run the A/C. Hopefully this helps you out. And see what the tech department thinks, and check out my original thread in there reguarding all of this. Hopefully i helped ya out, let me know -K-

**bxw28** · 09-04-2008, 06:32 PM

Well no-one could find the fault so i sold the car and got a new one.Thanks to all that offered help.

**XboxHacka** · 10-03-2008, 03:21 PM

You sold it because of a Temperature sensor problem. WOW. I mean WOW your could have taken it to ford to fix that. They should have been able to hook it up to the computer and run diagnostics on it to find the problem. But WOW. lol that's all I can say WOW!

**Gun5** · 10-03-2008, 06:59 PM

nice thats all i can say

08-25-2008, 01:35 PM	#1
bxw28 Rookie Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 8	2001 focus gauge says overheating but no signs from engine Hi, I have a 2001 1.6 ford focus. The problem is that when on the motorway at speed the temp gauge goes in to the red so i reduce speed but it then drops within a second or so back to norm. The first time this happened the check engine light come on but went off as soon as the temp needle droped. I can drive around the city all day long with no probs it is only on the motorway this is happening.I called out the rac who told me they think it is a eletrical prob because the engine shows no sign of overheating.I have had the t-stat changed coolent flushed and changed and the CHT sensor. Please help if anyone has any ideas. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY HELP OFFERED.

08-25-2008, 05:12 PM	#2
bxw28 Rookie Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 8	Re: 2001 focus gauge says overheating but no signs from engine Hi, i have just noticed that one of the fans is not working. Would this affect my overheating problem at speed (on motorway) i would have thought that this would only affect it at low speed when the engine is not getting the flow of air Thanks

08-26-2008, 03:09 PM	#3
tukanisvt TEAM Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 579	Re: 2001 focus gauge says overheating but no signs from engine Have you changed or checked your thermostat? or do you see any liquids falling out from a somewhat cracked tube? Check those. Happened to my buddies ZX3 where the car wasn't really overheating but the gauge said other wise ... it was his Thermostat shot. YOu can also unplug your battery for a brief moment to reset the ECU and see if that fixes the issue ... if it is a small electrical problem ... what about checking the fuses...? __________________ Achmed: Wait, if I'm dead, that means I get my 72 virgins! (looks up) Are you my virgins? I hope not. Jeff Dunham: Why? Achmed: There's a bunch of ugly-ass guys out there!

08-26-2008, 05:26 PM	#4
bxw28 Rookie Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 8	Re: 2001 focus gauge says overheating but no signs from engine Thanks for your reply. I have changed thermostat there are no leaks i have also checked all fuses.I have got a auto electrician out to it tomoz so i will udate you then. Cheers

08-26-2008, 06:28 PM	#6
bxw28 Rookie Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 8	Re: 2001 focus gauge says overheating but no signs from engine Thanks for reply but i dont think the engine is overheating as the temp gauge will return to norn within 2-5 seconds would it not take longer if it had to cool down this is why i am thinking electrical prob. but if all checks fine with electrics tomoz i will have that checked. Thanks

08-27-2008, 04:03 PM	#7
bxw28 Rookie Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 8	Re: 2001 focus gauge says overheating but no signs from engine Had autoelectrican out today and he said that the instrument cluster. I am getting one fitted at ford tomoz so i will let you know if it is fixed.

08-29-2008, 10:58 AM	#8
bxw28 Rookie Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 8	Re: 2001 focus gauge says overheating but no signs from engine Well problem still not solved had it back to garage but they have now said head gasket has gone. i will keep you informed if this fixes the problem.

08-29-2008, 03:14 PM	#10
bxw28 Rookie Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 8	Re: 2001 focus gauge says overheating but no signs from engine Hi i have not lost any coolant and there is no smoke from the tailpipe. the garage siad they could not do the work and gave me the number for someone else.Do you think they are trying it on for money.

08-30-2008, 11:45 AM	#11
michigankid83 Rookie Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Billings, MT Posts: 12	Re: 2001 focus gauge says overheating but no signs from engine Hey bud, sorry to hear about the bad news. I have an 04 ZTS with the 2.3ltr Duratec, and after a year and a half i FINALLY fixed my overheating problem. Ill just explain what all was happening, what i did to fix it and hopefully it helps ya out. I bought the car in march still fairly chilly up here in Montana. thought there was nothing wrong with my car. Well first went the waterpump. the seals on the bearing shaft failed and i was blowing all my coolant out through a weep hole on the side of the pump housing. Bought the pump from NAPA for $45 and with my trusty Chiltons and 11 hours later i had it fixed. After this i found my car would still overheat. And what would happen exactly was it would be fine untill it was a hot day out, say above 75, and if idleing in stop n go traffic, or the drive-through it would start to climb into the red, well from trials i learned that with the A/C on the secondary fan comes on and would cool the engine back down. No leaks anywhere, knew the pump was working correctly cause of all the pressure in the top tube when i squeezed it while the engine was running. Onward i forged. I replaced the thermostat (which is in this stupid housing, I.E. special and from the dealer for $60!!!!!). Still overheats. then i started thinking that maybe it wasnt overheating at all and that it was just a bad CHT (cylinder head temp-sensor) so i did that too. Nope still did it. Right around this time i beacame a newbie to FJ, (love this place), and i explained what was doing on to the tech team and low and behold there is a "Engine Cooling Fan Resistor" on the bottom half of the fan shroud inbetween the two fans, and it was bad. Its supposed to control the secondary fans normal operation, either turns the fan on when the engine temp warrants it, or whenever the A/C was on. so if the resistors bad the only way to mimic normal opp. was to run the A/C. Hopefully this helps you out. And see what the tech department thinks, and check out my original thread in there reguarding all of this. Hopefully i helped ya out, let me know -K- __________________ michigankid83

09-04-2008, 06:32 PM	#12
bxw28 Rookie Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 8	Re: 2001 focus gauge says overheating but no signs from engine Well no-one could find the fault so i sold the car and got a new one.Thanks to all that offered help.

10-03-2008, 03:21 PM	#13
XboxHacka Hacking The Box Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bentonville, AR Posts: 408	Re: 2001 focus gauge says overheating but no signs from engine You sold it because of a Temperature sensor problem. WOW. I mean WOW your could have taken it to ford to fix that. They should have been able to hook it up to the computer and run diagnostics on it to find the problem. But WOW. lol that's all I can say WOW! __________________ Stock 2000 SE Silver Zetec ATX Focus Stock 2001 ZX3 Green Zetec MTX Focus They are Stock for Now lol But not Soon!!

10-03-2008, 06:59 PM	#14
Gun5 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Waco, TX Posts: 85	Re: 2001 focus gauge says overheating but no signs from engine nice thats all i can say __________________ 2000 Camaro Z28 M6 - TSP 2.5 5.3 Heads, 228/232, FAST 92/92mm intake :coolman: 2003 SVT Focus M6 (#3389) - Clear Corners, 2.5" Cat-Back, !Clutch Sensor !Counter Weight

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