Grrr cars

[Yugguy]

Noticed my ps fluid needed a top up at the weekend. So got some fluid yesterday on the way home and decided to do it this morning before setting off for work as it's a 2 second job.

Except I dropped the cap down into the engine bay and ended up having to jack the car up and remove half the undertray to get to the damn thing.

Bah.

I've got to change the thermostat too as it's sticking open. To be fair it's probably the original and it's 11 years old so can't complain. Not a hugely technical job but to get to it I have to remove the intercooler and pipework. Then take all the undertray of to drain the coolant.

This is the problem I think with older cars. The engine has only done 65k and is serviced every year - it'll go on for ever, and the car itself is mechanically sound - I don't feel like it's going to break down. But things like bushes and pipes and thermostats do start to perish and wear out over time. Which is why come bonus time next April I'll be changing it. I'll be happy if I can get 500 quid on tradein.

 

[charger69]

the thermostat of ?

 

[Yugguy]

It's a Focus 1.8 TDCI, lynx diesel. I'm going to change the whole housing as it's cheap enough and they can go brittle over time as they're just plastic.

 

[charger69]

ok mate. do you have issues with it during winter? altho ford's are good cars, since it\s a diesel?

 

[obi_waynne]

How frustrating for you. I hate It when these simple jobs turn into a time consuming afternoon job.

 

[Yugguy]

ok mate. do you have issues with it during winter? altho ford's are good cars, since it\s a diesel?

No, it's just started not getting up to heat properly. The needle used to rise quickly to the centre and then stay there whatever the car was doing. Now it goes to a quarter, then stops for a bit, then slowly goes to the centre.

It's like I said, the car is basically fine. It's been well looked after. We bought it in September 2006, and below is its maintenance record - I like to keep records cos I'm sad (;->


Date
Mileage
Work
09/12/05
11925
Service
29/04/06
15254
Service
31/05/07
21941
Service
23/04/08
26001
Service
20/04/09
28877
Service
27/04/10
31105
Service. Exhaust replace.
28/04/11
33500
Service
08/06/12
36289
Service
06/12/12
38746
Aircon regas
23/05/13
.
Coil springs all round. Rear antiroll bar drop links. O/S front top suspension mounting.
30/05/13
39740
Service
18/08/13
.
Parrot bluetooth fitted
16/01/14
.
4 tyres
19/02/14
.
Front anti-roll bar drop links
06/05/14
50375
Service. CAMBELT and auxiliary belt. Fuel filter.
07/05/14
.
Rear brake discs and pads
18/05/15
59975
Service. N/S track rod end replacement. Tracking

 

[charger69]

looked if electrnics are ok?

 

[Yugguy]

Yeah as far as I can tell,no lights or weird behaviour. And the temperature gauge is doing the classic thermostat stuck open thing.

 

[charger69]

yeah, dunno what it can cause that?

 

[Yugguy]

No what I mean it is doing the same as every car I've had that needed a new thermostat.

 

[charger69]

oh ok mate.

 

[charger69]

this is where i don't know much at all, when it comes to these.

 

[Yugguy]

As far as I know pretty much all thermostats still use the column of wax that expands in the heat or contracts when cold to control the flow of water round the system.

You'd think in 2015 there'd be a better way, a valve controlled by a sensor or somehting.

 

[charger69]

well there comes my word, you can never trust electronics.