And, then came the steam

[HeelBird]

We cruised from home to Chapel Hill last night to attend the Carolina-NC State basketball game (my 402nd consecutive home game attended, by the way) and got Atlantis within a couple of miles of the Smith Center...stopped at a shopping center to pick up a couple of folks who were to ride on in to the site with us....I heard a tone which I thought was the door ajar signal, bu they hadn't yet opened a door. As we pulled away and headed back to the street, the unmistakable odor of steam was evident, then we saw the steam coming from under the hood.

Got the SHO back to a parking place, used the guests car to get to the game and enjoyed a nice win, then called the roadside assistance folks who arranged to get the techno rocket hauled as far as Cary for repair.....I learned that the service will only move the stricken vehicle 35 miles, so even then my car is about 80 miles from home.

Talked to one of the service techs today....discovered that the issue isn't a faulty/leaky hose, but a failed computer module that controls the engine fan. They ordered a new one, had it shipped overnight, so it'll be Monday evening before I can bring it home.

Scary to think how much that part would cost outside of the warranty!

 

[kevinspann]

I want to say you're the second person who is posting about this issue. It was either this, or his fans needed replacement, I don't recall.

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

This also happened to a couple of EB Flex owners. One was in Ft. McMurray Alberta. Happened in winter (way below Zero) and the parts took over a week to arrive in Canada.

Believe this happened with a certain batch of Fan Modules, so isn't likely to happen again to you.

 

[HeelBird]

Tech didn't mention what models, but did day he'd seen it happen a couple of times before.

I'm thankful that it happened in a shopping center parking lot, rather than somewhere along the highway on the 220 mile round trip at night.

 

[79turboghia]

This happened to my wifes 2011 with approx. 6500 miles on it. The dealer had to call the factory and they said to replace the fan relay, they did and it was fine. The dealer could not figure it out without the help of the factory guy's.

 

[thebigjimsho]

had the fan module go on my '07 Town Car. Had to replace the whole fan assembly. That was a pain to my wallet...

 

[HeelBird]

A guy at church today asked me whether the engine was cast iron or more aluminum.....suggested I follow up with the techs to assure there wasn't any heat damage.

 

[typhoon5000]

I heard a tone which I thought was the door ajar signal, bu they hadn't yet opened a door. As we pulled away and headed back to the street, the unmistakable odor of steam was evident, then we saw the steam coming from under the hood.

Without trying to sound too much like a dick but, didn't you notice the message center and temp gauge telling you your motor was overheating before seeing/smelling the steam when the new tone sounded and you noticed the doors weren't opened yet?

I'm thankful that it happened in a shopping center parking lot, rather than somewhere along the highway on the 220 mile round trip at night.

It wouldn't be an issue on the highway since you're moving enough air through the radiator to not need the fan running.

had the fan module go on my '07 Town Car. Had to replace the whole fan assembly. That was a pain to my wallet...

I had the fan module go out on my '03 Crown Vic Police Interceptor too and I only had an issue in traffic. It happened to me on a road trip from Buffalo to Detroit and never had an issue until I was waiting at the boarder crossing coming into MI. I just shut the car off while waiting in line and once I got going again on the freeway, temp was fine. I was able to just get the module and replace it without doing the whole fan assy. Maybe '05+s are different?

 

[Billm0066]

Without trying to sound too much like a dick but, didn't you notice the message center and temp gauge telling you your motor was overheating before seeing/smelling the steam when the new tone sounded and you noticed the doors weren't opened yet?

Yeah he did, that's why he drove off Fyi it does make you sound like a dick. Why even ask it? He obviously didn't notice it.

 

[thebigjimsho]

I had the fan module go out on my '03 Crown Vic Police Interceptor too and I only had an issue in traffic. It happened to me on a road trip from Buffalo to Detroit and never had an issue until I was waiting at the boarder crossing coming into MI. I just shut the car off while waiting in line and once I got going again on the freeway, temp was fine. I was able to just get the module and replace it without doing the whole fan assy. Maybe '05+s are different?

My Town Cars are for work. I chauffeur people around. I've been very fortunate on 2 separate instances. I had the fan module fail on a trip back from NYC to Boston. I also had my A/C go out on the way down to NYC from Boston. In both instances, I was driving luggage or parcels.

With the A/C, I had a colleague with a large group in his custom van. But more came along and they didn't have room for both luggage and people. So I was running luggage down to NYC. I had to deal with 90 degree temps and no A/C, but at least I could get the job done.

When the fan module went I had dropped off some sort of stock sale document for a somewhat eccentric client and was returning a signed paper. I was in traffic on the Merritt Parkway in CT when the TC started to overheat. The good thing was my client didn't need me to be back right away so I got off the parkway and took all backroads and it stayed cool enough. I did have to stop once to let it really cool down but it made it back. Just had to keep it in clean air...

 

[HeelBird]

I was looking at the passengers standing outside of the car, waiting for them to get in, while listening to the pregame radio broadcast. Warning tone wasn't a continuing one...just a one shot deal. Nothing flashing on the info center to get my attention while I drove the 50 yards to the street.

Some of the needed parts arrived today...promise was given that the last one will be in hand by mid-morning tomorrow, with Atlantis being ready to launch by mid day.

We shall see. :woo-hoo:

 

[HeelBird]

Atlantis back home in the hangar tonight, good as new.