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Bunch of problems for the newb

A

avengerc4

CEG'er
Joined
Mar 18, 2009
Messages
222
Location
Munster, IN
Hi all. I tried to search for some of these issues and came up with some info but didn't know if it was different on the SVT's. Basically I have a couple main problems and some smaller ones.

Main issue. The fan doesn't work behind the radiator. I was thinking try to hook it up direct power and see if it turns on and if so maybe a relay or fuse?

Next concern...coolant flush. My car will overheat at stops (prolly cause the fan doesn't turn on) but there is some rust in the coolant so I want to flush it out and put new in. Any special way to do this?

With the above overheating issue sometimes at stops when it's warm out (not when it's cold) the temp guage will flutter a bit to the hot side and then when I start to move goes back to normal. Always in the winter it never even hit the center so I'm wondering if it's because the fan doesn't turn on or if I may have a bad thermostat or something. Just wondering if anyone has any ideas.

Next kinda small thing but something none the less. When I start the car with the defrost on or AC on the car will loop through the RPMs. It'll go from 500 to 3000 to 450 to 2000 to 400 to 3000 to 750 to 1500 and just go nuts until the car is warmed up then it's fine. Just when you start it up will it do this. Any ideas?

Thanks a lot for all the help! Have a great week.
-Joe
 
the cooling fans are known to have motors that seize, at least mine did
 
Yes you can hook up the fan to the battery and see if it works. If it does work, check to see if the fan comes on when you turn the ac/defrost on (it should.) If the fan works but doesn't even come on when you turn on the ac/defrost, it's probably a bad relay. As for the RPM problem, it could be that your ac is out of coolant. The coolant lubricates the the pump and makes the pulley easier to spin. Also, are you sure there is rust in the coolant or is it just Red.
 
Overheating

Overheating

It helps a lot if give the members year, engine size and mileage. Zetec and Duratec have some different problems. Draining the coolant, changing the thermostat and refilling may be helpful. Checking to make sure the water pump is not failing is a good idea.
The idle issue could be related to several different issues. It would help to know if you have any codes that could help find what is wrong. If you supply some of the above info you will be amazed at the great answers you receive. Welcome Dan.
 
well I think it's rust...there are particles of something at the bottom of the overflow tank just sitting there so I think that's what it could be but none the less with stuff in there it might be time for a flush.

Sorry Dan I wasn't thinking. I just figured the SVT would help. SVT 2.5L 5 sp manual. No codes at all. 160750 miles and keeps going up 100 a day. I drive 100 miles to and from work so it's goin up there quick. I bought it with 150 around january or so.

Now there is another idle issue. When I accelorate and go to change gears the revs will either jump up like I'm hitting the gas pedal still or stay the same...only sometimes do they actually drop like they are suppose to. I am taking my foot off the clutch and the clutch is pushed in enough to be able to change to the next gear. Even if I shove it to the floor it will still do this. It's starting to tick me off cause it keeps making the car jerk all around.
 
Pugulis said:
Yes you can hook up the fan to the battery and see if it works. If it does work, check to see if the fan comes on when you turn the ac/defrost on (it should.) If the fan works but doesn't even come on when you turn on the ac/defrost, it's probably a bad relay. As for the RPM problem, it could be that your ac is out of coolant. The coolant lubricates the the pump and makes the pulley easier to spin. Also, are you sure there is rust in the coolant or is it just Red.
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hmmm...I didn't know this...how would I check the AC coolant? I've never heard of that before


and thanks again all...learning a lot and I like it :)
 
Your idle problem sounds like a IAC valve. But you say it only does it when A/C is on? A/C off and after start-up, idles down slowly without jumping back up? Not sure then, hopefully somebody else will post.
 
Silver Bullet said:
Your idle problem sounds like a IAC valve. But you say it only does it when A/C is on? A/C off and after start-up, idles down slowly without jumping back up? Not sure then, hopefully somebody else will post.
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yah my one friend told me about that but I thought that would make the car not start? I saw a couple posts on that and the people talked about the car not being drivable. I dunno it could be...any way to check it?

Thanks again for all the help I'm gonna be doing this sunday so hoepfully I can get a little more info on the coolant flush (how to do it basically) and just some more general info. Thanks a lot
 
avengerc4 said:
yah my one friend told me about that but I thought that would make the car not start? I saw a couple posts on that and the people talked about the car not being drivable. I dunno it could be...any way to check it?

Thanks again for all the help I'm gonna be doing this sunday so hoepfully I can get a little more info on the coolant flush (how to do it basically) and just some more general info. Thanks a lot
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No way to check the IAC I know of. You can try cleaning it but consenus posted here in the past is it won't help for very long. $70 part if you buy from Tousley or Team Ford. Local autoparts maybe as low as $50 but aftermarket sometimes a gamble.
 
Silver Bullet said:
No way to check the IAC I know of. You can try cleaning it but consenus posted here in the past is it won't help for very long. $70 part if you buy from Tousley or Team Ford. Local autoparts maybe as low as $50 but aftermarket sometimes a gamble.
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thanks a lot. I guess I'll get it from Steve...I didn't know he's all over the place...cause he's on focaljet also and sells stuff for the SVT Focus for 10% over cost or something like that. Thanks a lot for the info!
 
avengerc4 said:
thanks a lot. I guess I'll get it from Steve...I didn't know he's all over the place...cause he's on focaljet also and sells stuff for the SVT Focus for 10% over cost or something like that. Thanks a lot for the info!
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Steve is your best option. Great customer service also. He owns a SVT Focus that's why he frequents the forums. And don't forget to post back here when your problem finally resolved.

For genuine Ford parts I cannot find cheaper than Tousley anywhere in the US. And their discount good for all parts not only SVT. I buy for my work Crown Victoria, ex wifes Mercury Villager, etc.
 
thanks I'll keep that in mind.

Anyone else have any ideas on the coolant flush before I go do it tomorrow and my car don't run after? ;)
 
Well did the coolant flush. Holy hell was that nuts. good think my two good friends were there to help me out. We ran the water through it to flush it and whatnot. Thing is it never heats up enough to kick on the thermostat and the fans...is this good bad or what?

I tried putting on the AC and the fans kick right on but are real slow. But the car won't get hot enough to kick on the thermostat and fans even when driving. Like after we flushed the coolant I drove it in third at around 5k RPM's to see if the temp would go up high enough and it never did. Parked it back in the garage and still nothing...even at idle or with foot on gas revving at 2k in the air. nothing. good?

Also holy crap. We bled the brakes and it was a milky BLACK. Like the never changed the brake fluid in 160k miles. Honestly. Does the clutch share the same resevoir? We didn't bleed the cluth cause we didn't know. But either way in about 20k I think I'll do it again just cause it was nasty...the bottle is still black. ewwww...but before when you slammed on the brakes and the ABS kicked in the car would shut off. I tried it last night and the car shut off once but not again after...so could it have been the bad fluid? I dunno...

Also rotated the tires. finally...

don't know if changing the coolant helped the idle or cause it's colder out. yesterday and today everything was fine. but it is snowing again.

Also I have the old setup where the tube from the intake manifold goes into that plastic container. Should I remove that and just put a straight through line? Thanks
 
I would leave the filter alone until you get the other bugs worked out. It shouldn't make any difference but why add another variable, ya know?

Coolant doesnt last forever so new fresh coolent or if you cleared gumbed up coolant passages with the flush could very well be the reason it is running cooler now.

Im not sure about the fan issue...
 
SHOgoFast said:
I would leave the filter alone until you get the other bugs worked out. It shouldn't make any difference but why add another variable, ya know?

Coolant doesnt last forever so new fresh coolent or if you cleared gumbed up coolant passages with the flush could very well be the reason it is running cooler now.

Im not sure about the fan issue...
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I hear you. Just didn't know if that is what could be causing some of the idle issues or not since my friend said the newer contour svt's don't have that on there. I gotta find my build number. The car was built in like 7/07 which is pretty early isn't it? weird...

but thanks again for all your help. I gotta figure out this fan thing and the thermostat...


Also do you know if the clutch works on the same fluid as the brake fluid or am I gonna need to flush that also? Thanks!
 
Ive got a set of SVT fans. If your interested Pm me. Ive also got a wiring harness for the fans for a 98 if your interested in that too.
 
svttour said:
Ive got a set of SVT fans. If your interested Pm me. Ive also got a wiring harness for the fans for a 98 if your interested in that too.
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awesome thanks. I'mma try and see if I can figure out if it's the fans or what. Thanks a lot and I might pm you if it is needed!
 
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