Does this sound like a faulty thermostat?

[Forrepell]

Hello again you geniuses!

When I drive the car it's is fine. When I stop and start the engine (from about 20 times in a few hours) the temperature rises but then I accelerate the temperature immediately drops (I'm a courier - don't ask ).

After then about 40 start and stops (in a few hours), the car sounds like it struggles and fails to "get into gear" and is very very hot but the temperature reading continues to be at a low level. So I put the peddle right down to the floor and rev counter goes right up and is fine after that. At this point the car starts the common coolant leak. This only happens on hot days and not when it rains.

I'm hoping to replace the thermostat before pointing at the head gasket, as advised by a mechanic.

Any idea? It's a ford galaxy 2.3 automatic 2001.

I've not been able to locate the part number or any eBay/eurocarparts listing for a thermostat as the mechanic said as soon as I take it out it'll break because it's only one way apparently?

[insanitybeard]

Is the radiator fan working when the engine is hot? And what condition/ colour is the coolant? I'm fairly sure I've read (on another forum IIRC) that some of the 2.3 petrol engines fitted to the Galaxy have thermostats that you can only buy as a genuine Ford part, you can't get 'em from the factors. Also, I think that I've read somewhere that the 2.3 engine has a housing which looks like it should house a thermostat but doesn't, the thermostat is actually fitted somewhere else.

This needs clarifying by somebody more familiar with the 2.3 petrol setup in the Galaxy than I.

[Forrepell]

Is the radiator fan working when the engine is hot? And what condition/ colour is the coolant? I'm fairly sure I've read (on another forum IIRC) that some of the 2.3 petrol engines fitted to the Galaxy have thermostats that you can only buy as a genuine Ford part, you can't get 'em from the factors. Also, I think that I've read somewhere that the 2.3 engine has a housing which looks like it should house a thermostat but doesn't, the thermostat is actually fitted somewhere else.

This needs clarifying by somebody more familiar with the 2.3 petrol setup in the Galaxy than I.

Both the radiator fans don't come on at any temperature. This is another issue. Do you think it could be linked? Any way I could make them "permanently active"?

[insanitybeard]

If the fans aren't working and you're doing lots of slow speed stop start driving then I'm not surprised it's overheating on hot days. I.M.O you need to address that before anything else, when the engine gets hot the ECU will attempt to activate the fans to increase airflow through the radiator and improve cooling, which isn't happening if the fan isn't running. I did post a link regarding the fans on your previous thread here.

[Forrepell]

OK. I replaced it for a known working one. Granted it takes longer to overheat now (for some reason).

But still does not power the fans on. When it overheats the car struggles to get into gear and you could fry your breakfast on the engine. Any idea on what to check now? Is it worth running a scan on the car?

[insanitybeard]

What have you actually replaced?

[Forrepell]

What have you actually replaced?

Sorry. Forgot to say. I replaced the fan controller.

[insanitybeard]

I'd try disconnecting the fan motor connector (engine off) and powering it up manually with 12V, see if you can make 'em work, it's possible the fan motors themselves have packed up. If you can power them up manually then you know the fault lies elsewhere.

[Forrepell]

Do you know how I can get 12v to it?

[insanitybeard]

12V straight off of battery + with a suitable bit of cable, of course you'll need to earth it as well.

[Forrepell]

OK. So the fan controller was fine, I replaced it anyway.

I also replaced the actual engine fans and still no joy.

I checked the fuse according to the relevant layout and noticed that there is only a 10 amp fuse for the "fan". Should this not be 40 amp fuse? I changed it to a 30 amp (as didn't have a 40) and still didn't power on the fans.

I'm clutching at straws here; I know. But just wondering if this is any relevance (the fuse)?

[insanitybeard]

It's at the stage now where you need to carry out (or have somebody carry out for you) pinpoint wiring checks to find out what is or isn't happening with the fan control circuits. You could have wiring issues, or there could be something like a dodgy sensor giving a duff reading somewhere. I'm not sure if the 2.3 uses a separate coolant temp sensor for the fans to the one used for the temperature gauge, though if it was a dodgy sensor I'd still expect the fan to work when the air con was switched on unless you've got more than one issue and the air con isn't working for another reason. Either way, you need to stop replacing parts now and get some diagnostics carried out.

[Forrepell]

It's at the stage now where you need to carry out (or have somebody carry out for you) pinpoint wiring checks to find out what is or isn't happening with the fan control circuits. You could have wiring issues, or there could be something like a dodgy sensor giving a duff reading somewhere. I'm not sure if the 2.3 uses a separate coolant temp sensor for the fans to the one used for the temperature gauge, though if it was a dodgy sensor I'd still expect the fan to work when the air con was switched on unless you've got more than one issue and the air con isn't working for another reason. Either way, you need to stop replacing parts now and get some diagnostics carried out.

Thanks for the help, it's very much appreciated.

I wasn't going to risk going to ford and paying an extraordinary amount of money just for diagnosing the problem (and still have to pay it if they couldn't diagnose it). I took the plunge and just setup a switch and relay to turn the fans on when needed, simple. Not ideal but it works, cost Ã,£5