Extra Fan not spinning in my festiva 1994

[hariseffendi]

Hi all

I am a new member of this forum. I have something to ask, may someone could help me.

I have been experiencing losing collant for months and I kept topping it up. I thought it was normal. But at the end I had to top it up earlier than before (every week), and finally last week the radiator was leaking bad. The mechanic urged me to replace it with a new one.

I asked him what made my radiator leaks. But he couldn't answer. It looked like no defects at all. But after that, we noticed that my extra fan (in front of the AC) did not spin. It is only radiator fan which spin when the engine is hot.

1. What could make my radiator leaks? (I used to use plain water before)
2. What is the function of extra fan?
3. When it spin?
4. Should it spin promptly together with the radiator fan to cool the engine when it gets hot?

The mechanic (doesnt understand ford festiva well) assumed that the extra fan made my radiator burnt due to the lack of supports for radiator fan. He suggested me to check the electrical and cables to make sure that the extra fan is still working.

Please someone help me. I am still afraid of driving my car for a long journey cos I dont want to burn my new radiator.

Haris

[FB71]

the extra fan (condensor fan) only runs when the A/C is on, and the system refrigerant pressure gets high. This normally only happens when sitting for long times in traffic.

[perucho]

I asked him [the mechanic] what made my radiator leaks. But he couldn't answer...The mechanic (doesnt understand ford festiva well) assumed that the extra fan made my radiator burnt due to the lack of supports for radiator fan.

You need to find another mechanic. That one sounds very incompetent.

1. What could make my radiator leaks? (I used to use plain water before)

Corrosion maybe? You must have antifreeze or another corrosion inhibitor in your cooling system or it will corrode and get clogged or leak.

[hariseffendi]

Hey thanks guys.

@ FB 71 : To be honest, in Brisbane I never experience long traffic so may be that is why I hardly find the extra fan spin. But I will try to turn the AC on by iddling the car in my car pot. Hope it will spin.

@ perucho : Ok mate, I will find another mechanic.

[Paul39]

Ford Festiva is a Kia Pride is a Mazda 121. People familiar with Kia or Mazda should be more able to help you. Once a car is out of warranty, you are better served by finding a good private mechanic.

Finding a good mechanic is like finding a good doctor, dentist, or attorney. You have to keep asking people until you get good recommendation.

As newer cars are made to run hotter for better driveability and gas mileage it is good to keep 50 - 50 antifreeze and water in the radiator. The boiling point is much higher and the anticorrosion part keeps the inside from rusting.

Festivas and cars with aluminum heads do not take kindly to being overheated, as the heads sometimes warp.

Paul