Ford Ka+ Radiator: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults
The Ka+'s Fiat-sourced engine sidesteps the 1.0 EcoBoost's well-documented cooling issue seen elsewhere in Ford's range — here's what genuinely applies instead.
Illustration for editorial purposes
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Ford Ka+ Radiator: OEM Part Number
| Manual gearbox, all engines | Standard radiator with no transmission cooling circuit |
|---|---|
| 4/6-speed automatic (torque converter) | Radiator includes a built-in internal transmission fluid cooler as a separate circuit within the same tank — if this internal cooler fails, coolant and transmission fluid mix into a pink, milky fluid nicknamed the "strawberry milkshake of death," which can destroy the transmission if not caught quickly |
| Powershift (dual-clutch automatic, where fitted) | Uses a separate standalone transmission oil cooler rather than one integrated into the radiator tank — confirmed as a genuinely different cooling architecture from the older automatic's built-in design |
The Ka+'s Cooling System Considerations Are Genuinely Different From Other Fords — Ford Ka+ Radiator
Unlike most other Fords on this site, the Ka+'s 1.2-litre engine is Fiat-sourced rather than a Ford EcoBoost design (see our Timing Belt guide for the Ka+ for more on this shared platform), so the well-documented 1.0 EcoBoost degas bottle cracking issue discussed across much of Ford's range doesn't directly apply here. That said, plastic cooling system components on any engine can age and develop leaks over time — checking for coolant weeping around hose connections and the thermostat housing is still a sensible part of any pre-purchase inspection, regardless of which engine family is under the bonnet.
Ford Ka+ Radiator: The Part That Keeps Everything Else From Cooking
It's an unglamorous part, but on the Ford Ka+, the cooling system is behind almost every serious non-wear engine failure that could have been prevented. Spotting trouble here early is about as cheap an insurance policy as exists against a genuinely expensive repair bill.
Ford Ka+ Radiator: What It Does
On the Ford Ka+, heat from the engine coolant is shed to the surrounding air through the radiator, keeping engine temperature in a safe range. On automatic gearboxes, it often doubles up, cooling transmission fluid through a separate internal circuit too — which is why getting the exact part number right matters more here than on a simple heat exchanger.
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Ford Ka+ Radiator: Faults, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice
These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Radiator Guide for the three common failure modes, confirming fitment against your VIN, and OEM vs aftermarket guidance.
More Ford Radiator
The same part, covered across other Ford models.