cjsollicito, it is possible, but it is only one component of the cooling system that can cause this. Here are a few others:

'''Water pump malfunction

Worn or loose drive belt'''

Thermostat stuck closed

Damaged fins

Clogged radiator cooling tube

Excess foreign material

(rust, dirt, sand, etc.)

Reduced air flow

Cooling fan does not operate

High resistance to fan rotation

Damaged fan blades

Damaged radiator shroud

Improper coolant mixture ratio

Poor coolant quality

Insufficient coolant

Coolant leaks

Radiator cap Loose

Poor sealing Radiator

Cracked radiator tank

Cracked radiator core

Reservoir tank Cracked reservoir tank

Overflowing reservoir tank

Exhaust gas leaks into cooling system.

I would say start with your coolant first and work your way down the trouble shooting list. The attached images show you the location of the thermostat.

I'm a little confused by your question. Are you talking about the air conditioning fans running and the engine overheating? The air conditioning deals only with the inside of the car, not the engine. The engine has its own cooling system (fan, radiator, etc.). Running the AC actually puts more strain on the engine, since the AC compressor gets its power from the engine.

When was the last time you had your engine coolant flushed? Chances are wherever you live must be pretty hot, and it's the heart of the summer right now. My Focus is recommended to have its coolant system flushed every 60k miles.