a/c causing engine to overheat.

vanessa0305 · 26-12-2005, 12:10 PM

If I drive my ea stationwagon without a/c the temp gauge will sit low under half way with little movements up or down from there. But when the a/c is on even on low the temp gauge will sit at about 3/4 and if its for a long drive it will creep higher and higher. Yesterday for the first time ever it breeched the normal operating temp field (just). I stopped the car at this point and turned the a/c off and then when I had sat for a little while I started off again and arrived safely at my destination. Is there anything I can do about this. I would normally think there was something amiss with the thermostat if it didn't drive perfectly with the a/c off. Any help would be appreciated.

naughtyfalcon · 26-12-2005, 12:24 PM

get the radiator cleaned,,clean all the sh*t out between the condensor and radiator,,get a new thermostat,,just a few things to get you started

the falcon

WizBang · 26-12-2005, 02:03 PM

My fairmont use to do that had the radiator cleaned and overhaul all the hoses and didn't do a thing but what I found when the temp gauge got over 3/4 you will look over the engine and it wasn't even hot and never worked it out what was wrong ,took it to ford a few times and keep saying the temp gauge was broken and change it or the temp sender but after doing that 3 or 4 times they also gave up so gave up on it and sold it

svo347 · 26-12-2005, 02:27 PM

Id try the first post. Then if no go check the viscous fan.
I had the same dramas with my ed, got a new radiator & fitted a BPT thermofan conversion and it was all sweet!!.

vanessa0305 · 26-12-2005, 06:14 PM

Can I clean my own radiator or do I need to take it to a mechanic for that? I have new hoses and a new thermostat but I have no idea what kind of thermostat they used or if its a ford genuine part.

naughtyfalcon · 26-12-2005, 06:47 PM

about all you can do yourself is run a heap of fresh water through it both ways,ist throught the top then turn it upside own and run water throught it again,,put your hand over the middle hole..it's best to take it to someone or just get a new one..just as easy and sometimes can be cheaper...

LUXO_8 · 26-12-2005, 06:54 PM

undo the 2 bolts that mount th radiator to the radiator suport panel..... this will allow you to tip the radiator back towards the engine.... so you can access where the leaves and crap is....

pull all the junk out between the radiator and condensor , and it should then be fine....

jedaarr · 26-12-2005, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanessa0305

If I drive my ea stationwagon without a/c the temp gauge will sit low under half way with little movements up or down from there. But when the a/c is on even on low the temp gauge will sit at about 3/4 and if its for a long drive it will creep higher and higher. Yesterday for the first time ever it breeched the normal operating temp field (just). I stopped the car at this point and turned the a/c off and then when I had sat for a little while I started off again and arrived safely at my destination. Is there anything I can do about this. I would normally think there was something amiss with the thermostat if it didn't drive perfectly with the a/c off. Any help would be appreciated.

I would check the thermo fan 1st, i have had a few ea cars
they do sit at around 3/qs on hot day & was told this by a
genuine radiator installer.
You helped me with my question on regassing my old girl.
I have been using my ac regurally the last week as it is hot
in my home town of nowra av 30- 35 & it does not
move above 3/qs.
In the past i found i had a stuffed thermo fan that
did not kick in at all.

Brent79 · 27-12-2005, 12:48 AM

Ive always wondered, do cars with an electric fan on the condensor make for cooler air conditioning??

Brent

vanessa0305 · 27-12-2005, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

undo the 2 bolts that mount th radiator to the radiator suport panel..... this will allow you to tip the radiator back towards the engine.... so you can access where the leaves and crap is....

pull all the junk out between the radiator and condensor , and it should then be fine....

Hi this seems to have done the trick. I did this and then took her out on the hwy at 110 with the a/c on full blast and it didn't go over 1/2 way! Wonderful thank you so much!!

LUXO_8 · 27-12-2005, 12:50 PM

awesome, glad to have been able to help

naughtyfalcon · 27-12-2005, 01:41 PM

kewl,,it always pays to clean out between the condenser and the radiator,,first thing that should be done if ya think it's getting a bit warmer than usual..

LUXO_8 · 27-12-2005, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naughtyfalcon

kewl,,it always pays to clean out between the condenser and the radiator,,first thing that should be done if ya think it's getting a bit warmer than usual..

yep, if its not this then the very next thing you should try is the viscous fan... then thermostat. but its usually always crap between the condensor and radiator....

naughtyfalcon · 27-12-2005, 01:49 PM

speaking of viscous clutch,,he he i just replaced mine about a week ago,,it has made a difference to the cooling,,i was thinking when this one goes i'll put a davies craige thermo on it,,or get one installed,,

vanessa0305 · 27-12-2005, 02:11 PM

what is the viscous fan and how can i test if its working?

**Papa Smurf** · 27-12-2005, 02:18 PM

It is also called a Fan Clutch. Directly behind the Fan blades sits a aluminium round object. It is the Clutch Fan Or Viscious Fan. It is screwed onto the fron of the water pump and is there to aid in better cooling. After the ED Ford dropped this unit and went for Thermo Fans.

One quick way to test it is to see how much drag there is when trying to rotate the fan. If it feels like it is in Heavey weight oil it should be fine but if it just rotates easy you will need to replace it. It is also a good idea to have a 10 bladed fan. The first run of the EA CFI's had 5 blades, totally useless.

naughtyfalcon · 27-12-2005, 03:04 PM

if you have to replace it and don't want the new fan you need to specify how many blades your current one has

vanessa0305 · 28-12-2005, 08:04 PM

Ok I checked my fan and I have resistance when I turn it but it does turn. When I turn on the engine I can hear the fan going. But even though she is now staying cool on the highway today she got very hot when I was driving around town. I am not sure why and when I got home I sat in the car with the a/c on waiting for it to overheat just to see how fast it happens and it was very very slow to heat up so I can't understand why just on this one occasion it decided to get so hot. I had been driving on and off all day and it was my second trip into town but it was the first time it had gone over 1/2 way and infact the needle went to the very top of the normal range. I will get my radiator flushed as soon as my mechanic comes back from holidays and keep an eye on my temp gauge until then.

vanessa0305 · 28-12-2005, 08:05 PM

I forgot to add my fan has 10 blades.

niko · 28-12-2005, 08:09 PM

also u may want to get a pressure test done of your cooling system, i know my car used to vary in temperature and i found where it was leaking

jedaarr · 28-12-2005, 08:17 PM

Did the gas installer check your radiator
for proper coolant refill, if it is only
water or cheap crap it will heat up, i
had a ea on gass once & belive me it got
hot without proper coolent in system.

:

vanessa0305 · 29-12-2005, 05:21 PM

It does have coolant in it. A good quality one. So I am sure thats not the problem. What is happening is when I drive on the hwy into town its fine and stays well below the 1/2 point with the a/c on. Then when I stop its still fine but when I get back into my car and turn it on the temp gauge is way up high but once I start driving again it drops back below the 1/2 way point.

naughtyfalcon · 29-12-2005, 06:44 PM

vanessa that is normal as when the motor is not running there is no cooling,,the only time i'd worry is if it went up and didn't come down..don't worry it's fine..

vanessa0305 · 31-12-2005, 08:33 PM

Do you think having a thermofan fitted will help as its still heating up alot if driving for more than an hour with the a/c on or if driving around town with the a/c on?

naughtyfalcon · 31-12-2005, 09:05 PM

it will help if you have it put on the outside of the condensor,the more moving air the better,but have it wired so it only comes on with the air con,otherwise you could strain the alternator,you have to remember the air con puts a strain on the motor which in turn makes it work harder,well you can guess the rest,but one thing people do do is repalce the clutch fan with a thermo fan,there by releasing some of the strain on the engine and some power.

i am looking at doing this when my current clutch fan roots itself,,but thats a while away hopefully..

any more info pm me

jedaarr · 01-01-2006, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naughtyfalcon

vanessa that is normal as when the motor is not running there is no cooling,,the only time i'd worry is if it went up and didn't come down..don't worry it's fine..

Naughty falcon is exactly right all cars heat up
when stopped as it is under pressure, & will fall
again onc u restart the engine.

gthofan · 01-01-2006, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jedaarr

Did the gas installer check your radiator
for proper coolant refill, if it is only
water or cheap crap it will heat up, i
had a ea on gass once & belive me it got
hot without proper coolent in system.

:

ur exactly right, keep the green stuff up to the radiator, i find the best coolant is castrol radi-cool, it costs $18 for 5 litres, but the ea requires 15 litres of coolant, so buy the concentrate, mabe more expensive, but kind to the head gasket, and the car, keeps mine runnin cool as a cucumber!!!!
maybe even the belt tension, if it is too tight there could be unneccesary drag, so the engine has to work harder to turn it.
well worth looking at that product.
*castrol radi-cool*