Both my 03 Focuses have an odd temp gauge behaviour

[lbrowne]

I have an 03 with a Zetec, and I have 03 SPI.

If you start either one of these cars and let them idle (heck even for 20 mins) they will not reach dead center of the temp gauge, but about the quarter mark.

If I start the car and drive at a consistent speed, then it reaches the middle mark no problem. But if I'm coming home from work and I hit stop n go traffic right away moments after starting the car, the temp gauge won't hit the middle mark until I hit a stretch of consistent speed.

The heaters in both get nice and hot when I reach normal operating temps and this is not a case of the fans stuck on causing the motor to be cooled. The coolant levels are good.

Any ideas? I find it odd and I can't remember this behavior in my previous Focuses. Maybe age is catching up to me lol (I've owned about 6 or 7 now over the years)

[Sponsor]

[curtisparker82]

mine wont get warm while driving unless i drive about 5 miles and stop and say get gas and then start driving again...i've never let it idle for longer that 3-4 mins in the morning...and i drive the wheels off my car...

[amc49]

My '00 and '02 both work normally in the middle in summer but will not come up to the middle in good cold of winter unless driving constant like you say. Both zetec, I assumed they may slightly overcool in winter, don't care since summer here in Texas is the problem and they do great then. I have indicator lamps for low and high fans and actual a/c clutch on/off time, not unusual for car to run all day long in cold and maybe turn on low fan once for a short bit. In summer though that all changes bigtime.

[lbrowne]

Originally Posted by amc49

My '00 and '02 both work normally in the middle in summer but will not come up to the middle in good cold of winter unless driving constant like you say. Both zetec, I assumed they may slightly overcool in winter, don't care since summer here in Texas is the problem and they do great then. I have indicator lamps for low and high fans and actual a/c clutch on/off time, not unusual for car to run all day long in cold and maybe turn on low fan once for a short bit. In summer though that all changes bigtime.

Ok so it's normal then.

Also, if I drive it to normal operating temps and then have to stop and idle (like having to stop into the house for 10 mins) I come back out and the temp is down to a 1/4 and holding there until I start driving again.

[amc49]

If cold that day then yes, seeing you hail from Mountieland..........