I have a 97 Contour with 4cyl Zetec. I've had it for a little over a year, and it has always tended to run hot (needle on the temp gauge usually resting between the "M" and "L"), but now it is constantly pushing into the edge of the "red" area.
The needle will drop when I can drive swiftly (like on the highway) but when I drive around town, it will go up rapidly. My first thought is that the thermostat is stuck, as the needle will go to the middle section of the temp gauge, then immediately drop down, then go back up again.
I read the Haynes manual for changing the thermostat, but it would require me to drain out the cooling system, and I don't really have access to do that myself (I live in a shared dwelling, I don't have enough clearance to get under the car with my jack) and I can't seem to even locate where the thermostat is!
Does this sound like a simple stuck thermostat, or is this indicative of further issues? I have read a few old threads on here where people took their car in for overheating, and had water pumps and all kinds of things replaced but still had the same issue.
Can anyone assist me? Thanks.
The needle will drop when I can drive swiftly (like on the highway) but when I drive around town, it will go up rapidly. My first thought is that the thermostat is stuck, as the needle will go to the middle section of the temp gauge, then immediately drop down, then go back up again.
I read the Haynes manual for changing the thermostat, but it would require me to drain out the cooling system, and I don't really have access to do that myself (I live in a shared dwelling, I don't have enough clearance to get under the car with my jack) and I can't seem to even locate where the thermostat is!
Does this sound like a simple stuck thermostat, or is this indicative of further issues? I have read a few old threads on here where people took their car in for overheating, and had water pumps and all kinds of things replaced but still had the same issue.
Can anyone assist me? Thanks.