Radiator problems - I think?

[Lohman446]

Something strikes me as odd - maybe a timing belt driven water pump might get to that range, but... I don't know, something there is screwy

[SCpoloRicker]

I'm sure there's localization cost difference too.. I couldn't get it too far w/o overheating, so I had limited options. I'll show you once I get the invoice.

[MarkM]

Just drive the car until it is indicating it has reached proper operating temperature then stop the engine and pull the hood (that sounds so alien and wrong to me) and then look at every hose and junction to see where the fluid is coming from...where ever it is replace that part (wait until it is COLD and do NOT remove the header tank cap until then)...you might very simply have too much coolant in the system and it is just the header tank chucking out the extra...if it has the correct amount of water in the system (there is an indicator mark on the header tank) and the temp gauge isn't over in the red then your thermostat should be ok but not totally out of the picture as it can still cause the header tank to chuck the water out if it is sticking. To replace a thermostat is about 30 mins tops and that includes refilling with coolant. Hoses are simple to replace. You really should be able to basic work on any vehicle. If yopu are that worried about still having the correct coolant and water mix stick a bowl under the car to catch the coolant when you pull the hose. not 100% sure with the Focus but you may well have a drian swtich on the radiator so that will make draining simple and reasonable dry on the driveway.
Even not getting too hot by the temperature gauge but coolant coming from the overflow pipe will mean the thermostat, so it will need replacing, a hose leak is self evident what you have to do.

BTW whoever it was who said you replace the water pump when you do the timing belt must have too much spare money.

So in short I think you have two things to look for
1. Simple hose leak
2. Faulty thermostat

[RoamingStorm]

The timing belt is not leaking green fluid...

that made me smile

[octane2079]

Pour in lots of stopleak, fill with water, drive to mechanic, bend over and take it, profit.

[WaffleBaron]

Something strikes me as odd - maybe a timing belt driven water pump might get to that range, but... I don't know, something there is screwy

I'm dumb ... looked it up and it says the Focus is crank pulley driven (Please don't hurt me... )

A Ford Racing pump for hte 2.0L focus is $40-60 so, yeah... somethings fishy...

[billybob_81067]

Just drive the car until it is indicating it has reached proper operating temperature then stop the engine and pull the hood (that sounds so alien and wrong to me) and then look at every hose and junction to see where the fluid is coming from...where ever it is replace that part (wait until it is COLD and do NOT remove the header tank cap until then)...you might very simply have too much coolant in the system and it is just the header tank chucking out the extra...if it has the correct amount of water in the system (there is an indicator mark on the header tank) and the temp gauge isn't over in the red then your thermostat should be ok but not totally out of the picture as it can still cause the header tank to chuck the water out if it is sticking. To replace a thermostat is about 30 mins tops and that includes refilling with coolant. Hoses are simple to replace. You really should be able to basic work on any vehicle. If yopu are that worried about still having the correct coolant and water mix stick a bowl under the car to catch the coolant when you pull the hose. not 100% sure with the Focus but you may well have a drian swtich on the radiator so that will make draining simple and reasonable dry on the driveway.
Even not getting too hot by the temperature gauge but coolant coming from the overflow pipe will mean the thermostat, so it will need replacing, a hose leak is self evident what you have to do.

BTW whoever it was who said you replace the water pump when you do the timing belt must have too much spare money.

So in short I think you have two things to look for
1. Simple hose leak
2. Faulty thermostat

LOL your whole post made me laugh, just because of the different terminologies that you guys have for the different parts.

[WaffleBaron]

BTW whoever it was who said you replace the water pump when you do the timing belt must have too much spare money.

That was me. The water pump on my Rodeo is timing belt driven, its all the same labor to replace the belt so if there are enough miles on the pump, you might as well replace it than having it go out a few months and having to pay for the same labor (and probably another new belt) again, not to mention the hydraulic tensioner. I would do it myself, but I have little time between both jobs and school and I don't have the tools or workspace to do it since I live in an apartment. So tell me again how much spare money I have to throw around because I can't seem to find it.

[billybob_81067]

Yeah those stupid timing belts on some cars can be a PITA... might as well replace everything designed to wear out while you're there. Kinda like putting a new throwout bearing in whenever you put a new clutch in. Just cause the old one is fine for now doesn't mean it will be for long!

[Lohman446]

I'm dumb ... looked it up and it says the Focus is crank pulley driven (Please don't hurt me... )

A Ford Racing pump for hte 2.0L focus is $40-60 so, yeah... somethings fishy...

It probably is. I was at home so didn't have a book handy to check, and haven't coped with a Focus in awhile.

There are only a handful of things on a car taht are going to reach $500 for the cooling system. Timing belt driven water pump (if equipped), heater core, maybe a radiator (but I highly highly doubt it), intake gaskets and head gaskets (neither of which are generally an issue on the Focus for leaking coolant).

[MarkM]

LOL your whole post made me laugh, just because of the different terminologies that you guys have for the different parts.

Which terms are different?
Header Tank is also called the Expansion Chamber
Hose is Hose
Radiator is Radiator
Coolant is Coolant
Thermostart is Thermostat
Drain plug is Drain plug (though is did make a typo in my post for that one)

[bofh]

Which terms are different?
Header Tank is also called the Expansion Chamber
Hose is Hose
Radiator is Radiator
Coolant is Coolant
Thermostart is Thermostat
Drain plug is Drain plug (though is did make a typo in my post for that one)

You did stumble over "Hood", but you didn't say the other word.

I have no idea what terms he thought were funny.

[MarkM]

That was me. The water pump on my Rodeo is timing belt driven,.

Well since this is a Focus...we have the same car here The Water pump is driven by a pulley belt but NOT the timing belt.
That was why I pulled up the idea of changing the water pump as the same time as the timing belt as not a great idea.
The only thing I would do with a high milage vehicle for the sake of it would be replace as many hoses as I could get to easily (some engines have a little two inch pipe between the block and the head though these are very old engines nowadays, but that is the one pipe you keep your fingers crossed is ok)
The other thing that can give the impression of a faulty thermostat or damaged water pump is a blocked crankcase breather...read the manual for the vehicle to find where this part is on your engine, cleaning rather than replacement should be tried before you replace this item. The cost of the item is pennies (relative to most things on an engine)

[MarkM]

You did stumble over "Hood", but you did say the other word.

I have no idea what terms he thought were funny.

By other word I assume you mean Header Tank/Expansion Chamber, these two terms are interchangable and we use both and manuals for different vehicles I have had over the years have also used either depending on the make.

For the record Hood to me means the soft top on a convertable. We use the term Bonnet for the Hood. We also use Boot for what you call the Trunk..though I prefer the description of Trunk.
The other different terms we use are Exhaust and the back part is simply the Back box, you use Muffler/Silencer

*edit I just noticed you changed did to didn't *

[Lohman446]

Pour in lots of stopleak, fill with water, drive to mechanic, bend over and take it, profit.

Stop leak is a great thing. Using more than half a bottle is even better. It tends to plug heater cores/radiators/coolant passages and makes the repair taht much more expensive :).

Folks.. if it can stop a leak, it can plug coolant passages.