hi guys ive been having problems with the heaters on my white fiesta for over a year now, ive changed the following , 83 degree thermostat,
brand new heater matrix,
new antifreeze
water pump

fan cut in when on half way on the temp guage and all pipes are hot

heaters are warm not hot

I know the ohv engines dont get as hot as zetecs but I swear there meant to get a lot warmer than mine do
heater fan works on all 3 speeds, there was a strange smell from the vents thought it was the matrix so changed that and it was blocked the smell is a lot better could there be a problem between the vents and the matrix?

any ideas guys?

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Rip Ben Elvin (jam)

I'd investigate into a blockage in the air vents somewhere before the matrix, but if its blowing out as fast as it should be then it should be putting out hot air. Is the air coming out the same speed/heat at all the vents?

Also check the fan itself and make sure no fins are missing.

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Rip Ben Elvin (jam)

In all honesty, I can't really remember how hot the old 1.3 heaters got! I'm sure it was hot enough though. I'm used to the Si now though, that gets lovely and toasty! lol

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Are you absolutely sure you've bled the system properly when putting new coolant in? Sounds just like an air lock in simplest form Phil. I know you're not stupid and I dont want to sound patronising mate but sometimes the simplest things turn out to be the problem.

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Quote Clarkson, Top Gear, 17th July: "I'm not having a stroke... just driving a Nissan!"
Quote Ry, Mallory Park, 3rd Dec: "Ahhhh crap... Just a bit too over eager really!"
"I used to be an adventurer like you, but then I took an arrow in the knee"

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Rip Ben Elvin (jam)

You sure theres no blockages in the pipes going into the bulkhead and matrix then? The stat wouldnt really have much effect on the water going into the car. Does sound very odd. Despite it not being a hot running engine, it'll be hot enough to give you a good blast of heat.

I'd definitely check out the heater controls, maybe the flaps arent opening enough to allow enough heat in? Escort I had had a similar issue with the dial, despite it being turned fully it wasn't actually open fully.

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Quote Clarkson, Top Gear, 17th July: "I'm not having a stroke... just driving a Nissan!"
Quote Ry, Mallory Park, 3rd Dec: "Ahhhh crap... Just a bit too over eager really!"
"I used to be an adventurer like you, but then I took an arrow in the knee"

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Rip Ben Elvin (jam)

There definitely sounds like a blockage somewhere still. Maybe the matrix isn't where it is. Have you thrown any sort of flushing agent into it?

I would systematically check each and every hose on your system Phil, especially the ones going through the bulkhead. Remove each one. I can't remember now what the setup on the Fiesta's are, but you know where the hoses go to the bulkhead, do they attach to anything or literally go through the bulkhead? If they attach to something, maybe it's that which has a blockage?

You seem to have eliminated all the issues I would have thought of, but this would be a step I'd have to take in order to ensure there's absolutely nothing stopping the coolant getting to your matrix and therefore giving you heat. If you're getting a bit of heat, there's a bit of coolant getting there. Just not enough to give you full temps!

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Quote Clarkson, Top Gear, 17th July: "I'm not having a stroke... just driving a Nissan!"
Quote Ry, Mallory Park, 3rd Dec: "Ahhhh crap... Just a bit too over eager really!"
"I used to be an adventurer like you, but then I took an arrow in the knee"

cheers des its proper annoying though as I have just put 20quids worth of new antifreeze in it
im going to try and somehow get it out without loosing to much, I still have the old anti freeze in a bucket so im probs going to filter it through and reuse that and give it a good flushing, would rad flush be any good? defo worth taking the pipes off the matrix and the other ends and make sure water can pass through with a hose like you said, will do this tomorrow and update if im successful

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Rip Ben Elvin (jam)

I know mate, I had some coolant issues on the Pulsar which meant spending loads of fekkin money on more

If you can save as much of it as possible you'll be fine to use it again. And that's great you have your old stuff, fill it back up with that, and add some flush. All the instructions will be on the bottle in regards to running it up to temp etc etc, but definitely inspect all your pipes first. That way, if you find any kind of blockage, clear it, and then run the flush, you'll have better chance of making sure it's all cleaned up

Just make sure you get a flush that can also clear oil deposits (some dont), gives a better clean. Think the Wynns stuff does generally.

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Quote Clarkson, Top Gear, 17th July: "I'm not having a stroke... just driving a Nissan!"
Quote Ry, Mallory Park, 3rd Dec: "Ahhhh crap... Just a bit too over eager really!"
"I used to be an adventurer like you, but then I took an arrow in the knee"

On my old 1.4 cvh the cooling system was too efficient, therefore the cold air was cooling the radiator quicker than it could pass thought it, try blocking half the radiator with a price of cardboard, this will allow the system to heat up and transfere a higher temperature water through the matrix, other than that is the fan cutting in at the right temperature?

I re bled the system and checked all pipes were not blocked, spoke to my mate and I need to check what a genuine ford thermostat degree rating is mines a qh one atm and its 83degrees perhaps its not getting enough as the temp gauge is always on the m

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Rip Ben Elvin (jam)

I cant remember, is the M up the higher End of the range on the dash?

Gutted it wasnt something simple, but at least you have now ruled it out. Ok, so, if that stat you have in there opens too early, your temps wont be enough to get it warm in the matrix. If that stat opens later, you should be getting decent temps. The pipes that go into the bulkhead are part of pre open stat circuit arent they? Sounds like a potential good call though, too cold a stat. Not really sure how much more you can go higher up though, would it be a couple of degrees or maybe 10 more or so?

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Quote Clarkson, Top Gear, 17th July: "I'm not having a stroke... just driving a Nissan!"
Quote Ry, Mallory Park, 3rd Dec: "Ahhhh crap... Just a bit too over eager really!"
"I used to be an adventurer like you, but then I took an arrow in the knee"

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Rip Ben Elvin (jam)

83 is still hot so would still expect decent temps.
They make them that low so must work for some cars therefore shouldn't be the issue IMO

You tend to only run cooler stats on race engines or higher spec engines.

Sorry if I missed this, but have you plumbed in your own water temp gauge to check? OEM gauges and senders in old cars are static so to be certain of temps it may be worth borrowing a gauge of a mate.

Faulty / mis-packaged stat is the only thing I can actually think of

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Rest in peace Ben "Jam" Elvin. Gone but never forgotten.

As we discussed on FB, I'd certainly change the stat for a higher temp one. Due to every other sensor relying on everything else being within its set tolerances, it might well make a difference. I know the temps dont sound too much of a difference, but if the stat is opening too early it'll throw everything else out. The fact your guage is reading on the lower side of the scale its a definite indication its not getting hot enough.

Worth a shot if you've exhausted all other options!

_________________


Quote Clarkson, Top Gear, 17th July: "I'm not having a stroke... just driving a Nissan!"
Quote Ry, Mallory Park, 3rd Dec: "Ahhhh crap... Just a bit too over eager really!"
"I used to be an adventurer like you, but then I took an arrow in the knee"

changed the stat with a 92 degree one and ive got heatage now im never buying stuff from the halfords books from now on car feels more alive now when warmed up as well

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Rip Ben Elvin (jam)

Awesome mate! Was going to ask you if there were any updates on this yesterday but forgot Once we found out that the operating temp should have been at above 90 deg's and yours was an 82 one, that had to be the problem

Once you get a few miles under it and the ECU relearns everything your fuelling should improve too

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Quote Clarkson, Top Gear, 17th July: "I'm not having a stroke... just driving a Nissan!"
Quote Ry, Mallory Park, 3rd Dec: "Ahhhh crap... Just a bit too over eager really!"
"I used to be an adventurer like you, but then I took an arrow in the knee"