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Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Steve Brookman on 13 September 2012, 18:47:16

Title: Ford Sierra overheating
Post by: Steve Brookman on 13 September 2012, 18:47:16
Evening all,

My 1993 Sierra 2.0 auto (been in the family for over 12 years) has overheated today. Whilst climbing a hill the gauge went right up-I put the heaters and blowers on but only lukewarm air came out. When i stopped I could hold the top hose with my hand-it didn't burn.

Any ideas?
I'm suspecting the thermostat but any advice greatly appreciated.

Steve
Title: Re: Ford Sierra overheating
Post by: tigers_gonads on 13 September 2012, 19:00:51
Imho, if the engines getting that hot and the rads cold then it can only be the stat not opening  :-\
Title: Re: Ford Sierra overheating
Post by: Lazydocker on 13 September 2012, 19:38:54
Waterpump or blockage IME ;)
Title: Re: Ford Sierra overheating
Post by: Martian on 14 September 2012, 08:29:56
First port of call is the stat, and if it's not that it'll be the vanes on the water pump that have rotted to the point that sufficient pressure cannot be generated to circulate the coolant (moderately common on those Pinto lumps).
Title: Re: Ford Sierra overheating
Post by: henryd on 14 September 2012, 09:19:57
If the stat was stuck closed the heater would be piping hot not lukewarm,I suspect air lock or water pump not doing its thing
Title: Re: Ford Sierra overheating
Post by: Kevin Wood on 14 September 2012, 09:48:09
If the stat was stuck closed the heater would be piping hot not lukewarm,I suspect air lock or water pump not doing its thing

Indeed. Water pump sounds like the most likely culprit. :y
Title: Re: Ford Sierra overheating
Post by: Nick W on 14 September 2012, 10:38:50
First port of call is the stat, and if it's not that it'll be the vanes on the water pump that have rotted to the point that sufficient pressure cannot be generated to circulate the coolant (moderately common on those Pinto lumps).

Pinto was long gone by '93!  This would be its utterly underwhelming successor, the twincam.

Worn water pump seems likely to me.
Title: Re: Ford Sierra overheating
Post by: tigers_gonads on 14 September 2012, 10:42:25
First port of call is the stat, and if it's not that it'll be the vanes on the water pump that have rotted to the point that sufficient pressure cannot be generated to circulate the coolant (moderately common on those Pinto lumps).

Pinto was long gone by '93!  This would be its utterly underwhelming successor, the twincam.

Worn water pump seems likely to me.


Wasn't the early 1.8's based on the pinto ?
Title: Re: Ford Sierra overheating
Post by: Kevin Wood on 14 September 2012, 10:51:01

Wasn't the early 1.8's based on the pinto ?

I think they went to the CVH pretty early on <shudder>.

The DOHC 8V lump was one of the better Sierra engines, I thought.
Title: Re: Ford Sierra overheating
Post by: Steve Brookman on 14 September 2012, 13:26:06
Thanks all,

I'll replace the thermostat and the pump and report back.

Cheers

Steve
Title: Re: Ford Sierra overheating
Post by: martin42 on 14 September 2012, 18:31:59
 If its still got original rad I would replace that aswell 
Title: Re: Ford Sierra overheating
Post by: Steve Brookman on 15 September 2012, 15:22:59
Quick update.
Changed the thermostat today and all ok. Took off the water pump and no wear to the vanes. Very easy access 3 bolts in thermostat 5 in pump and all undid without a fuss. Heaters better now as well.

Thanks
again

Steve
Title: Re: Ford Sierra overheating
Post by: JimE on 15 September 2012, 16:37:41
Quick update.
Changed the thermostat today and all ok. Took off the water pump and no wear to the vanes. Very easy access 3 bolts in thermostat 5 in pump and all undid without a fuss. Heaters better now as well.

Thanks
again

Steve

Nice to hear of a simple fix every now and again! Well done!
Title: Re: Ford Sierra overheating
Post by: 05omegav6 on 15 September 2012, 16:56:20
By definition,  Fix Or Repair Daily used to keep things simples :y

Quite easy to tweak the twin cam upto 150bhp as per the mk4/5 RS2000 8) Same block and head :y
Title: Re: Ford Sierra overheating
Post by: Steve Brookman on 16 September 2012, 14:17:08
Took it out this morning to a car show-15 miles there no probs, got practically home and the same thing happened again-getting hot and heater blowing out cold.

Will have another look tomorrow.
 >:(Steve
Title: Re: Ford Sierra overheating
Post by: 05omegav6 on 16 September 2012, 16:09:40
Just a thought, but have you tried flushing the heater matrix, radiator and engine separately  :-\
Title: Re: Ford Sierra overheating
Post by: Steve Brookman on 16 September 2012, 19:40:16
Thats the next thing to do, but heater was working very well until temp rose.
Noticed as well that the car seemed to missing on tickover-suspecting a possible head gasket as well.

Cheers Steve
Title: Re: Ford Sierra overheating
Post by: 05omegav6 on 16 September 2012, 20:27:02
If that the case suspect a crack between 3 and 4 :'(
Title: Re: Ford Sierra overheating
Post by: Steve Brookman on 17 September 2012, 16:28:42
Thanks

Friend having a look on Wednesday.

Steve
Title: Re: Ford Sierra overheating
Post by: 05omegav6 on 17 September 2012, 22:27:52
Sorry :'(

Have had 2 2.0 twin cam Granadas in the family, both suffered head failure at about 120k, and both failed in an almost identical way...  :-\

Fingers crossed for better news :y
Title: Re: Ford Sierra overheating
Post by: Steve Brookman on 18 September 2012, 07:14:58
Thanks
Has been in the family for 13 years so will be repaired whatever is wrong, only thing that has gone wrong in 13 years apart from a torque convertor seal which cost me £140 to have fixed 10 years ago. Bodywork is excellent for the year and it's usually quite good on fuel, though I have noticed an increase revently perhaps due to the HG.

Thanks

Steve
Title: Re: Ford Sierra overheating
Post by: 05omegav6 on 18 September 2012, 08:32:24
Hopefully you'll see another 13 years out of it :y It's obviously a Cologne built one 8), they do seem to be a bit more rust resistant than the Ghent ones :y
Title: Re: Ford Sierra overheating
Post by: Steve Brookman on 22 September 2012, 09:01:47
Quick update.
Had sniff test done-HG okay.

Changed engine fan sensor and temp guage sensor.

Still going way up when pootling around-on a run it's around 3 o'clock.

Had it ticking over in work - drivers side fan came on when gauge was nearly on the red-but I could still hold the top hose for quite a while.
Borrowed a infra red thermometer from work. When we got home and the guage was way up-the top hose was around 75 degrees and the bottom hose 85 - 90 degrees. The fan then came in.
It doesn't seem to be overheating but when it's up high on the guage-the heaters blow cold.

Will flush heater matrix this weekend.

Cheers

Steve

Title: Re: Ford Sierra overheating
Post by: 05omegav6 on 22 September 2012, 11:54:09
Good news :y

Hopefully a flush will cure it, I don't envy you the task of changing it if it's shot :-\
Title: Re: Ford Sierra overheating
Post by: Steve Brookman on 22 September 2012, 14:13:30
Thanks Al,

I hope it's not completely shot-I sometimnes hear a swishing noise so am hoping there is air in it.
Will have a look tomorrow!

Cheers

Steve