Focus ZX3 Overheating Problem

I purchased a used Focus, 2001 ZX3 about a month ago and started having trouble two weeks later.

When sitting in traffic, the temp gauge goes into the red. If I turn on the AC with the defrost selection it cools right down, turn it off, it heats back up to the red. I had on occasion been able to hear the fan come on however not always doing this.

Took it to a Ford dealer, they had it 5 days and couldn't seem to figure it out. They did a diagnostics and said though the high speed fan and low speed fan were both functional, the low speed fan was not coming on. They put in a new relay, no fix, then test drove and found the thermostat was stuck open so they replaced that. All well for a week but today I was in traffic again and again I went into the red! I thought certainly a Ford dealer must have had at least on other Ford in all their repairs with the same problem but they can't seem to figure this out and I don't want to continue having them repair on a hit or miss type of repair and pay the bill for nothing.

Anyone else have this trouble or know where I should go from here?
Thanks so much for any help/advice you could lend an otherwise very frustrated Focus owner

I had this problem on my 02svt and i took it in, they replaced the actual switch on the low fan and it worked fine. On mine, when it went into the red the high would kick on and cool it off, but the low wouldn't kick on to keep it from getting that hot...i have no idea why when i turned on the a/c i cooled down, but it did.

I had this problem on my 02svt and i took it in, they replaced the actual switch on the low fan and it worked fine. On mine, when it went into the red the high would kick on and cool it off, but the low wouldn't kick on to keep it from getting that hot...i have no idea why when i turned on the a/c i cooled down, but it did.


Thanks Turtle1217 for the reply! I mentioned that to the mechanics today and unfortunately they are saying that is not my problem. What they came up with, via tech support from Ford Motor is that all signals are correctly being sent to the fans. The problem they say is that the Low fan is not coming on at the desired temp rather waiting until it's hot enough to set off the High fan and they are then both coming on at the same time for some reason. Now they are saying though their original diagnostics showed the Low fan as being functional, the fan must be replaced to the tune of $654 including labor for a grand total of around $784 for this problem. Gee this is discouraging considering I have only owned it a short time. Also had the service engine light come on yet again today which I did not remember to ask them what that said. When it came on one week after purchase I had it checked and was told it said something about gas vapors and they assumed I had not put the gas cap back on correctly. We'll see but thanks again for taking the time to try and help, I appreciate it!

The same thing happens to my 03 SVT. I might have to take it in.

Man, and i thought i was the only one...lol.

Same here,It gets to red when i stop,
To cool the heat u have to drive,
I replaced the fan with a clean used one and it worked perfectley and with a cheap price!!

On your thermostat housing is a resistor. Replace it with a new resistor or one from a wrecking yard. It just pulls off of the housing, but the wiring plug has a spring clip. This should fix the problem. If the plug is fried, replace with standard spade connectors and heat shrink tubing.

:confused: Hi there everyone, so I am in the same predicament with the overheating. When I accelerate the thermostat goes down, but that happens a few times. My a/c has stopped working now and all of my coolant is leaking out.

Do I still need 2 find a new resistor and do I need a water pump as well?