[dannyq]

Hey, newb question here. I find in my focus it never really heats up. The air coming out of the vents are kinda hot after a while but it takes FOREVER for the temp gauge to get up to normal. ????? . Thanks.

[smith21]

i'm not a specialist with stuff like this, but are you running an open air filter? Cuase i kno mine took a LONG time 2 heat up when i was, now i'm running something like the stock box, and it heats up much faster

[2001 ZTS]

Same with my Focus, a very long time to get warm. It seems all cars these days take a long time to heat up, must be the efficiency of the engines or something. The never really warm up on idle, you've got to drive a while.

[meford4u]

Change the thermostat. You probably run the stock thermostat, but you can get them to open up sooner to allow for the heater core to heat up faster. I am sure Part's Source or CT would have this and solve your problem.

[dannyq]

meford4u,Dec 17 2005, 08:09 PM Wrote:Change the thermostat.  You probably run the stock thermostat, but you can get them to open up sooner to allow for the heater core to heat up faster.  I am sure Part's Source or CT would have this and solve your problem.
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Thermostat. I was thinking the same. Or it could be that its just the car. Anyway its going to the dealer on tuesday. Thanks guys!

[microbunny]

Thats so odd cause i was just sayin to a buddy yesterday that my car heats up in only a few minutes..

my 2000 was slow

my 2003 was slow

but my 2005 is insanely fast...within 2 minutes the car is rocking hot

[Focus man. Focus.]

I have a 2002 ZX5 with an open air filter (K&N Typhoon) and it only takes about 5 minutes to get to operating temp. No trouble at all.

[meford4u]

The one thing I should also mention about the thermostat is that they have a tendency to stick. Stick open, heat up slowly because the coolant is doing the full circulation throught the heater core. Stuck closed and I doubt you would get any heat. Just changing it will probably fix the problem. And change the coolant at the same time.

[ZTS_DJ]

Focus man, Focus.,Dec 17 2005, 05:10 PM Wrote:I have a 2002 ZX5 with an open air filter (K&N Typhoon) and it only takes about 5 minutes to get to operating temp.  No trouble at all.
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same here im running an open filter and mine is fine

[MAlby7]

Ya I find my car having the same problem! SO Meford you're saying my t-stat is probably going if not gone already? So if I go to crappy tire I could get a replacement and that should fix the problem?

[meford4u]

MAlby7,Dec 17 2005, 05:16 PM Wrote:Ya I find my car having the same problem!  SO Meford you're saying my t-stat is probably going if not gone already?  So if I go to crappy tire I could get a replacement and that should fix the problem?
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Yep. Just get the winter thermostat. It's actually the regular thermostat, but just don't get the one that is the summer thermostat.

[NOS2Go4Me]

Never heard of that before... 2001 with a Ractive SRI and 3" K+N cone filter. Never had a problem heating it up, and it's been -25C here more than once already this year.

[dannyq]

Thought i'd put what it was for anybody in the furture.


Yep, it was the thermostat. Works great not.

[dannyq]

Ok, another question. I got the thermostat changed, along with the coolant. When I drove it for a long time this aftermoon, I could smell coolant, but after a while it went away, is this normal? Is it just some coolant burning off?

[NefCanuck]

dannyq,Dec 20 2005, 05:39 PM Wrote:Ok, another question. I got the thermostat changed, along with the coolant. When I drove it for a long time this aftermoon, I could smell coolant, but after a while it went away, is this normal? Is it just some coolant burning off?
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I'd say keep an eye on the coolant level in the recovery tank, but yeah, probably a sloppy mechanic spilled a bit.

What? Did you think they'd use a funnel to ensure no spillage? :lol:

NefCanuck

[nass]

when the stock unit fails does it stay open or closed?

I get heat but it takes a while to get there and I find it's no where near as hot as it was before. I used to be able to singe the hairs on my arm before :(


what's the time/effort for replacing the unit yourself?

[meford4u]

nass,Dec 21 2005, 12:52 PM Wrote:when the stock unit fails does it stay open or closed?

I get heat but it takes a while to get there and I find it's no where near as hot as it was before. I used to be able to singe the hairs on my arm before :(


what's the time/effort for replacing the unit yourself?
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It usually stays open when they fail. What happens is now the coolant travels throught the block, and instead of being diverted back into the block because operating temp has not been reached, the bad thermostat stays open and now the coolant is running throught the whole system including the heater core which is cold, and cools down the coolant. That's why it takes longer.

I am not sure where the thermostat is on the Focus, as I haven't looked, but this is typically really easy to fix as they are usually situated on the top of the engine block where the rad hose intake is.

It's just really messy and spillage dose occur.

I hate spillage.