Escort.w.reg.2000.1.6 16v.heater blowing cold.heater matrix not blocked as have connected hose pipe to inlet and it came thru although it was very dirty water to begin.when connected outlet back on and run water into again it came out of top of reservoir bottle.im stumped.any ideas would be apreciated.thanks.gav

Check that the heater pipe are hot, there are 2 pipes 1 in and 1 out. if both cold could be stat .If 1 is hot and the other is cold it could be air or blocked heater matrix, with car running take cold pipe off . if water flows out check its warm, if it flows out cold leave till water warms up then put pipe back on, make sure you keep radiator topped up while your doing it, if no water comes out when you take the pipe off the matrix is blocked, take both hoses of and flush through with a hose pipe.

Firstly before commencing any new work , ensure that you do not have an air lock caused by replacing the previous various parts. Follow the pipe from the thermostat, with engine running and it should heat up when thermostat opens. Follow this pipe towards both the Heater matrix and the carburettor. Both should warm up slowly. Have the heating on inside the car to blow warm. Then feel the exit pipes from the Heater Matrix. The exit pipe should also heat up. If they remain cold the you have an blockage within the Matrix which can either be air or debris. To cure air, let car cool down and remove expansion vessel cap. Then remove exit pipe from heater matrix and hold pipe aas high as possible.....if air is causing the blockage then it will purge itself, when water starts coming out of Matrix, reconnect pipe and top up levels as required. If nothing comes out, the matrix is blocked, may respond to after market flushing treatments or may require removal (pig of a job) Do check before this that oil is not getting into water circuit (dark floating bits if mild, all light brown if bad)or vice a versa (white scum on bottom of dipstick)which would indicate blown head gasket is causing car to overheat!

Hi
You can take the cold inlet pipe off at the bulkhead and attach a hose pipe to blow it through, make sure the water has somewhere to come out, If this does not work then most likely you will have to replace the matrix.

no the water should bypass thermostat, its is more likly that either your heater matrix has an air traped or is blocked from sediment, i would opt to first try the blocked test . undo both pipes that go to the matrix , using a hose pipe connect to bottom pipe on matrix and turn hose on to flush out matrix, continue running until water runs clear not rusty colored, then connect to top pipe and repeat, repeat several times until your happy it is clean, reattach bottom pipe and fill from expansion bottle until water flows from matrix then re attche the other hose, you can also try this on your main radiater . hand book states it should be flushed every 2 years .

I'm not particularly familiar with that vehicle but all that I have seen also have a valve that opens and closes to allow or restrict the fluid flow to the heater core. It could be a problem if you haven't already eliminated it. The air defecting doors under the dash that direct air to the floor or to the defroster are also suspect.

IF ENGINE RUNS AT RIGHT TEMP SOUNDS LIKE YOU MAY HAVE AIR BLOCK, OR BLOCKED HEATER MATRIX, CHECK FIRST CHECK THE HEIGHT OF THE HEATER MATRIX IN THE CAB , IF ITS HIGHER THAN THE FILLER/EXPANSION TANK. THEN COULD BE AN AIR LOCK, LOOK FOR THE HIGHEST PIPE AND SEE IF THERE IS A BLEED VALVE, IF NOT TAKE BOTH PIPES OFF THE MATRIX FEEDS (TWO PIPES GOING FROM ENGINE BAY TO INSIDE OF CAR, AND FLUSH OUT WITH HOSE TO SEE IF IT IS BLOCKED, AND RECONNECT LOWEST PIPE FIRST AND FILL SYSTYM TILL WATER APPEAR FROM TOP AND RECONNECT RUN MOTOR, AND KEEP TOPIN UP, YOU CAN BUY A COOLENT FLUSH SOLUTION TO CLEAN THE SYSTYM OUT

IF ENGINE RUNS AT RIGHT TEMP SOUNDS LIKE YOU MAY HAVE AIR BLOCK, OR BLOCKED HEATER MATRIX, CHECK FIRST CHECK THE HEIGHT OF THE HEATER MATRIX IN THE CAB , IF ITS HIGHER THAN THE FILLER/EXPANSION TANK. THEN COULD BE AN AIR LOCK, LOOK FOR THE HIGHEST PIPE AND SEE IF THERE IS A BLEED VALVE, IF NOT TAKE BOTH PIPES OFF THE MATRIX FEEDS (TWO PIPES GOING FROM ENGINE BAY TO INSIDE OF CAR, AND FLUSH OUT WITH HOSE TO SEE IF IT IS BLOCKED, AND RECONNECT LOWEST PIPE FIRST AND FILL SYSTYM TILL WATER APPEAR FROM TOP AND RECONNECT RUN MOTOR, AND KEEP TOPIN UP, YOU CAN BUY A COOLENT FLUSH SOLUTION TO CLEAN THE SYSTYM OUT

TO FIND THERMO STAT FOLLOW TOP HOSE FROM THE RADIATOR IT WILL DIRECT YOU TO IT
BUT IF ENGINE RUNS AT RIGHT TEMP SOUNDS LIKE YOU MAY HAVE AIR BLOCK, OR BLOCKED HEATER MATRIX, CHECK FIRST CHECK THE HEIGHT OF THE HEATER MATRIX IN THE CAB , IF ITS HIGHER THAN THE FILLER/EXPANSION TANK. THEN COULD BE AN AIR LOCK, LOOK FOR THE HIGHEST PIPE AND SEE IF THERE IS A BLEED VALVE, IF NOT TAKE BOTH PIPES OFF THE MATRIX FEEDS (TWO PIPES GOING FROM ENGINE BAY TO INSIDE OF CAR, AND FLUSH OUT WITH HOSE TO SEE IF IT IS BLOCKED, AND RECONNECT LOWEST PIPE FIRST AND FILL SYSTYM TILL WATER APPEAR FROM TOP AND RECONNECT RUN MOTOR, AND KEEP TOPIN UP, YOU CAN BY A COOLENT FLUSH SOLUTION TO CLEAN THE SYSTYM OUT

I think you could be right about there being air trapped in the system.
Or the heater core(radiator) is plugged.
Either way you need a pressurized radiator coolant pump to put the coolant in without air being trapped.
Although,i have seen it done by jacking the vehicle up high enough that the radiator was now higher than the heater core level, and then the coolant was put in.
But this is dangerous to try.

hiya if you warm engine up to normal temp then check / feel the two heater hoses from engine up to the point of passing into the bulkhead ? if one hose is hot/warm? and the other is cold? the cold hose is the return from heater matrix(radiator) the problem you have is probably the heater coolant control valve failed? this is electric operated and not servicable but easy diy job to renew tou will find the plastic valve on the rear of bulknead behind where h/hoses pass thro you will have to remove the plastic grill below w/screen the h/hoses are connected to the valve along with elec plug connection pull off plug then with ignition and temp control valve on max check you have a live feed on wires to valve ? if no? check fuses if yes? then replace valve hope this helps it is not uncommon fault with these valves on escorts and fiestas