Ford Sierra overheating

[Steve Brookman]

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

[tigers_gonads]

Imho, if the engines getting that hot and the rads cold then it can only be the stat not opening 

[Lazydocker]

Waterpump or blockage IME

[Martian]

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).

[henryd]

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

[Kevin Wood]

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.

[Nick W]

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.

[tigers_gonads]

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 ?

[Kevin Wood]

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.

[Steve Brookman]

Thanks all,

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

Cheers

Steve

[martin42]

 If its still got original rad I would replace that aswell 

[Steve Brookman]

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

[JimE]

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!

[05omegav6]

By definition,  Fix Or Repair Daily used to keep things simples

Quite easy to tweak the twin cam upto 150bhp as per the mk4/5 RS2000 Same block and head

[Steve Brookman]

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