More problems once again

[SHOguy 92]

Ok, so my last problem was a upper radiator hose I figured I'd post that here because that post has turned into a totally rant about how safe it is to leave your car running.

Ok so I got the hose on and it ran fine no overheating no leaking. Today I'm diving home and the cars heated up to the bottom diagonal line underneath the L on NORMAL. By then it should be blowing warm air, but all I get is freeze cold outside air. So I was thinking "wtf?", all of a sudden I watch the temp rise fom that diagonal line all the way up to O in about 4 seconds. I was just about to pull over whenit drops back down to that diagonal line, whcih took about 1 or 2 seconds and then the heat starts actually working bloing mildly warm air. Then I dive anoher mile or 2 and I watch it rise back up to O and drop back down to that line and the heat comes on a little better. Then the car finally gets warmed up to AL where it normally sits, there it rises up to M then drops back down to AL. After that I had no problems. So my question is whats wong?

 

[91taurisho]

Sounds to me like your temperature sending unit is bad, which is telling you that it's near the L in normal but it really isn't. That is a cheap fix so it's worth a try... I got mine for something like $4.15 at Checkers... They are around $10.00 or $11.00 at the ford dealer...

 

[JTM]

yeah, and be carefull when you unplug the wire from it.. i busted mine.. had to jimmy rig it..

 

[Sleeper]

It sounds as if there was air in your system, and it's gone now. keep driving, if you continue to have problems, start throwing parts at it. I suspect it should be all good. The sender for the temp guage shouldn't have any effect on your heater core having hot coolant in it.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

^^^ What he said. Most likely just air. But, you're going to want to monitor your temp and coolant level over the next several days to make sure everything stays the way it should.

 

[SHOguy 92]

Well I went for a second ride, samething once again. When I got back the overflow bottle was 2/3 empty so on each drive it eats up a 3rd of a tank. Also it may just be me, but the heat that seems to come out has a funny smell to it.

About a fauly temp sender, it could also be a slightly rusted thermostat which makes the car run colder, but what does that have to do with how the car blows heat? headbang It's a love hate relationship, I love the car and it hates me (hence the problems).

<small>[ December 14, 2003, 08:30 PM: Message edited by: SHOguy11 ]</small>

 

[Chris Benvie]

Tryin cleaning out your coolant sensor to get rid of the coolant usage problem

Did you burp the cooling system? It could just be an airpocket.

Try flushing the system and then make sure you burp it.

I would tkae caution on this as you don't want to warp a head because then you'll be in a world of hurt.

<small>[ December 14, 2003, 08:38 PM: Message edited by: AutobahnSHO1130 ]</small>

 

[rangerj]

SHOGUY,


You have air in the system. Each time a little air is "burped" the fluid gets replaced by sucking a little out of the overflow bottle.

Try starting the engine cold with the radiator cap OFF. Put the heat in the full on position. Let the engine warm up to full operating temperature and watch the radiator fluid change over as the thermostat opens. Let it change over several times. This lets the air escape or "BURP".

After the radiator fluid changes over 3 to 5 times put the cap on, and then shut it down. Let it cool down, and as it cools down it should draw fluid from the overflow tank. Make sure the overflow tank has fluid!

Let it set for several hours so that it cools down completely. Then check the fluid in the radiator. It should be full. Add fluid to the overflow tank to bring it up to the "mark".

This should solve your problem. If it does not, check your hose connections. You may be sucking air into the system. Make sure the overflow bottle hose is in good condition, especially at the connections.

Look for cracks in the hose. Is the hose soft and plyable, or is it soft and spongy (mushy), or hard and dry? Will it crack if you bend it 90 degrees? rangerj

 

[SHOguy 92]

Hey thanks everyone I'll try what you all recomend tomorrow night. I'll probably "burp" the system first and if that doesn't solve the problem I suppose I'll go and pick up a new thermostat and temp sender. Thanks thumb

 

[Chris Benvie]

rangerj:
SHOGUY,


You have air in the system. Each time a little air is "burped" the fluid gets replaced by sucking a little out of the overflow bottle.

Try starting the engine cold with the radiator cap OFF. Put the heat in the full on position. Let the engine warm up to full operating temperature and watch the radiator fluid change over as the thermostat opens. Let it change over several times. This lets the air escape or "BURP".

After the radiator fluid changes over 3 to 5 times put the cap on, and then shut it down. Let it cool down, and as it cools down it should draw fluid from the overflow tank. Make sure the overflow tank has fluid!

Let it set for several hours so that it cools down completely. Then check the fluid in the radiator. It should be full. Add fluid to the overflow tank to bring it up to the "mark".

This should solve your problem. If it does not, check your hose connections. You may be sucking air into the system. Make sure the overflow bottle hose is in good condition, especially at the connections.

Look for cracks in the hose. Is the hose soft and plyable, or is it soft and spongy (mushy), or hard and dry? Will it crack if you bend it 90 degrees? rangerj

Wohooo i was right..

 

[KM92SHO]

I kind of have the same problem its weird. my i had to replace the thermostat housing. and just since its been weird because my temp goes up gets to normal the heat will not be that great kind of cold then i just give the car some power while driving the temp will kick on and the heat will come on. any i ideas and do you think you could take a look at my other topic TRANNY NEED HELP

 

[SHOguy 92]

Actually its far worse, its now smoking from under the hood once I come to a stop. While I am at school right now my dads looking at it right now. When we had the hood popped before school his exact words were "I think you have a hole in your radiator." eek!

 

[Mr Anonymous]

SHOguy11:
Actually its far worse, its now smoking from under the hood once I come to a stop. While I am at school right now my dads looking at it right now. When we had the hood popped before school his exact words were "I think you have a hole in your radiator." eek!

Did you see the old upper radiator hose actually leaking, or did you just assume that was the problem 'cuz it was wet with coolant? From your original description I'm still thinking your end tank crimps have started leaking.

The best way to find a coolant leak is to get the car up to temp, and start looking around the entire coolant tract with a flashlight until you 100% positively pinpoint the source of the leak while someone sits in the car and monitors the temp and shuts the car down if it gets over the N in normal. Or take it for a pressure/leak test.

 

[Chris Benvie]

the smart thing to do would've been to put some sort of dye in the system, then hit it with a black light to see where its leaking from, but i think its a lil late for that now

 

[Monterusto]

i had an overheating problem for a while and couldnt figure it out for a while until one of my heater hoses showed a leak. when i cut the rubber hose off the metal hose found some kind of sleeve looking thing (cylindrical) lodged sideways. i dont remember exactly how it was effecting my heat but i think the heater wouldnt help cooling the car.