Signs You Need a Radiator Repair at Your Ford Dealer

The radiator in your Ford has the role of removing heat from your engine. As your engine works, it generates large amounts of heat. This heat must be removed to prevent damage to the engine. Over time the radiator can become worn or damaged, and you’ll need a radiator repair. As your Ford dealer, we’d like you to know some of the signs that you need to visit us for a repair.

Damaged Thermostat

Coolant flows through your engine and absorbs the heat generated by the constantly moving parts. This heat is transferred to the radiator by the coolant, where it’s cooled by air flowing through the grille. The coolant is released when the thermostat detects that your engine temperature has reached a set point.

If your thermostat is damaged, it could jam open or closed. An open thermostat will continue to release coolant regardless of the engine temperature. This will make your engine colder, which reduces its efficiency and increases fuel use. A closed thermostat won’t release coolant, and your engine temperature will rise. We can easily replace the thermostat to fix this problem.

Damaged Radiator Hoses

The radiator is connected to the cooling system by two rubber hoses. One of the hoses brings hot coolant into the engine, and the other removes the now-cooled coolant. These hoses operate in a harsh environment where the temperature regularly reaches over 200 F. These hoses can wear out in time.

As the rubber ages, it becomes less flexible and prone to cracking. Any cracks in the hose will steadily widen and deepen, and this can cause a leak. Leaking coolant will reduce cooling system efficiency and increase your engine’s temperature. Our technicians will test the hoses and replace them if they’re damaged.

Broken Thermal Switch

The hot coolant is cooled by airflow over the radiator tubes. As air blows in, it flows over the tubes and removes the heat inside them. The faster your car moves, the faster cooling will take place. If your car is idling, airflow is greatly reduced, and your engine could overheat as a result. To prevent this, your radiator has a fan attached at its rear.

If the temperature rises, the thermal switch will switch on the radiator fan. The fan blows cool air across the back of the tubes and blows the heat out of your engine. A worn or damaged switch won’t activate the fan, and your engine will start to overheat. We can replace the switch to fix this problem.

Overheating can damage your engine. Call us today at Brown’s Ford of Johnstown, and schedule a radiator repair in Johnstown so our Ford technicians can speedily fix the problem for you.

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