2001 Ford KA overheating

Car: Ford KA
Year: 2001
Variant: 1.3
Categories: Electrics, ECU, Warnings & Lights
Hi all,

Sudden problem with my ford ka.

Small split has appeared in the pressure vessel (looks like steam melt) and car boils over very quickly once taken for a drive.
I've checked oil and coolants and no sign of any oil/water mixes in either.
The electric fan switches on as soon as it gets hot and keeps running and hot water bubbles back through the radiator return pipe as well as the direction flow pipe.

just wondering as everything appears to be working if the water pump may have failed and if there is an easy way to check it?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Tor
Posted: Jun 29, 2010 (13 years ago)
Not sure what you mean by " Pressure vessel " , is this radiator header tank ? If so , and it's leaking , you will have to replace it .If heating up quickly , could check thermostat is not sticking .If cooling system is pressurising , could be head gasket .Depends where head gasket goes whether you get emulsified oil or not.If losing water , a pressure test on cooling system will show any external leaks . A sniff test (block test ) will confirm if head gasket gone . You say the electric fan is cutting in o.k and the water pump would appear to be all right if it's circulating water back to header tank .

Hope this helps.
Posted Jun 29, 2010 (13 years ago)
its more likely to be an air lock, i suggest you replace the header tank(as its split) and drain the coolant, replace it with a 50/50 mix of anti-freeze and water, if uno you're cars then its a simple job but if not then u will need to run the engine once its filled to the max mark then let it run till all the air bubbles out of the header tank, and fill up as required, hope that has helped
Posted Oct 5, 2010 (13 years ago)

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