Heating up ....

[CanuckSHO]

My baby ('92 SHO MTX) heated up the other day and I replaced the rad (big crack) and repaired cooling fan motor, problem is that it is still heating up when idling for a longer period of time. Since I am mechanically very un-inclined any help would be appreciated.

 

[Rockledge]

What do you mean "heating up"? Can you describe the symptoms in a little more detail?

BTW, welcome to the SHOforum.

 

[Jrodm12]

is your t-stat working properly (how old is it) and is the fan kicking on at the right time too?

 

[93MTXSHO_STUD]

mine does the same thing, at idle it gets to the "N" and then the fan kciks in and goes down to the "O" and the process continues. Ive replaced eveything but the water pump. Ive never had this happen to me in a car before, but i think its normal. As long as it goes down when your cruising down the highway i wouldnt worry about it!

 

[Emerald93MTX]

I noticed that when I was still using an analog cluster that my temp gauge would fluctuate to the M and when the fan came on it went back down to the O, but after installing my digital cluster with the new temp sender, it goes up to the middle line and doesn't move at all after that, no more no less, unless the car is off for a while and it goes back to the bottom line. I think it's just how the analog gauge represents the minor fluctuations of the coolant temp. Just my $.02.

 

[CanuckSHO]

thanks for replies ...

I didn't check T'stat, fan seems to kick in right, temp goes way up but when I'm cruising (@160 kmh) it goes back down to normal. I'm going to try T'stat and then check rad pressure .... any other sugestions.

 

[Jrodm12]

did the t-stat have a jiggle valve and you can test tstat on the stove or something...

 

[masho95]

I didn't check T'stat, fan seems to kick in right, temp goes way up but when I'm cruising (@160 kmh) it goes back down to normal. I'm going to try T'stat and then check rad pressure .... any other sugestions.

Where on the temp gauge does the fan kick in? Like what letter on the "NORMAL" scale? A bad ECT sensor could also be the culprit. Even though the temp gauges in the SHO are notoriously inaccurate, the fan should come on somewhere around the "O" in "NORMAL" IIRC. If it goes any higher than that it's something I would definitely look more into.

 

[Rockledge]

If you change the T-Stat, you might as well change the ECT while you are in there.

 

[Black89SHO]

Try cheaking the upper an lower radiator hoses , and aswell the engine coolant temp. sensor. It is located to the left of the thermostat housing. I am currently having problems heating-up aswell. I need a new ECT sensor or a cooling fan motor. Where did you get your fan motor ?? Good luck in solving this problem, for you and me both!!

 

[Black89SHO]

One more thing, you should drain out your rad. before you cheak your ECT sensor or thermostat. Or you will make a mess.

 

[93MTXSHO_STUD]

Yeah I replaced the ECt about 8 months ago, ive learned to luve with the problem, most likely, I think the gauges for the coolant temp sensor, and the actual gauge in the car are poorly designed because I've replaced everything there is to replace with the coolant system and still have the high temp at stop lights and such, another one of Ford's poorly designed instruments.

 

[yamahaSHO]

Is your fan coming on?

 

[93MTXSHO_STUD]

Yeah, the fan seems to come on at when the temp gets in between the N and O in NORMAL, the temp goes back down and then it goes up, but once I get moving it cools back to the M or so

 

[yamahaSHO]

Hmmm... That doesn't sound like the ECT sensor... How's the gas milage, do you have soot coming out of your pipes?

 

[93MTXSHO_STUD]

No, pipes are pretty clean, i get about 350 miles on a tank, 430 if im traveling.

 

[yamahaSHO]

Definitely not the ECT then...