[piano4eva11382]

Hello I have a '97 Mustang 3.8 V6 I bought used in 2003, and it now has 113k on it. Ever since I got it it has done fine during the cooler weather, but when it warms up the car's temp guage reads hot. I've checked the antifreeze, it's full. It doesn't use any oil. I don't believe the radiator has been flushed, I may try that. It's had a new thermostat put in. I am sick of worrying with it. I am a girl who drives alone alot of the time. I am tired of a car that I can not take farther than 25 miles at a time in the summer months. Could it be that my guage is wrong? Has anyone noticed similar problems in mustangs around this yr model? Do they just have a tendency to run a little hotter than most vehicles? Any advice or comments would be appreciated. Please help!!

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by piano4eva11382 Hello I have a '97 Mustang 3.8 V6 I bought used in 2003, and it now has 113k on it. Ever since I got it it has done fine during the cooler weather, but when it warms up the car's temp guage reads hot. I've checked the antifreeze, it's full. It doesn't use any oil. I don't believe the radiator has been flushed, I may try that. It's had a new thermostat put in. I am sick of worrying with it. I am a girl who drives alone alot of the time. I am tired of a car that I can not take farther than 25 miles at a time in the summer months. Could it be that my guage is wrong? Has anyone noticed similar problems in mustangs around this yr model? Do they just have a tendency to run a little hotter than most vehicles? Any advice or comments would be appreciated. Please help!!

Well I hope your car uses oil. That could be a problem right there. Try to flush your radiator. Is your car throwing any codes? Or is it just running hot, and when it does run hot how does it act?

[97stanger]

i have a 97 also. I noticed that it is normal for my car to run between the "a" and the "l" on the guage. Is that what yours is doing?

[piano4eva11382]

Well, when I said it "doesn't use oil" I meant that it's not losing any, like I'm not having to add oil, just have it changed every 2-3 thousand miles. The oil pressure guage stays the same. It does say "check engine" but we got a code reader and it ended up to be something to do with the fuel line. It has had this overheating problem since before the check engine light came on. When it runs hot, I really can't tell that it's acting any different than it normally does, I haven't seen any smoke coming out from the hood. And 97stanger, yes, it does run between "a" and "l" in the warmer months. Sometimes it even goes to "l" or higher on a hot day. Maybe this is ok for it to do this, it's good to talk to someone else with this car. Thanks everyone for your replies.

[Steamboat 16]

is your water pump working?

[Cricket]

I really havn't known Mustangs to be a car that overheats a lot, thats a prob I don't know many people to have. The fact that it still acts normal may make you want to take a look at the wiring for the guage. I have a 98 and my car runs right in the middle of the guage once it warms up and thats in all kinda of weather.

[the gillz]

try water wetter might bring it down a few degrees till you find out whats wrong.

[Bies08]

When it goes over the I or H or whatever it is....does the water boil out?? My grand am overheats ALOT too. Mainly in the summer too. Ummm..idk bout the over heating problem but mine leaks antifreeze too. I need to put a new intake gasket on it. Next time it overheats see if your water boiled over.

[xxrals22xx]

my friend leaked antifreeze u might of cracked the block or u need a head gasket ^

[mustang1072]

Originally Posted by xxrals22xx my friend leaked antifreeze u might of ed the block or u need a head gasket ^

if u think xxrals is right... u can see by sticking your fingers in the end of the exhaust n if there is antifreeze there u got a problem

[GreenFaleen]

Did it start after the thermostat you may have had a bad one put in thats not rare or it was put in backwards. After 25 miles with normal driving should not overheat any car except in maybe death valley. Get your thermostat looked at seems like it is giving false readings. If she had a cracked block or a blown head gasket she would have much more obvious problems than overheating.

When you are over heating is it the gauge or are you smoking from the hood?

[elgrenas]

Originally Posted by piano4eva11382 Hello I have a '97 Mustang 3.8 V6 I bought used in 2003, and it now has 113k on it. Ever since I got it it has done fine during the cooler weather, but when it warms up the car's temp guage reads hot. I've checked the antifreeze, it's full. It doesn't use any oil. I don't believe the radiator has been flushed, I may try that. It's had a new thermostat put in. I am sick of worrying with it. I am a girl who drives alone alot of the time. I am tired of a car that I can not take farther than 25 miles at a time in the summer months. Could it be that my guage is wrong? Has anyone noticed similar problems in mustangs around this yr model? Do they just have a tendency to run a little hotter than most vehicles? Any advice or comments would be appreciated. Please help!!

well i just fixed that problem on mine. started racing another V6 stang, left his ass smelling my dust in second gear. when i got to the coffee place shit was droping water like crazy. yeah water pump took a dump. so check your pump.

[piano4eva11382]

Well I had another temp guage put underneath the hood. I haven't driven the stang today, but I may tomorrow. My Dad says if it's reading 190 degrees, thats about the normal temp for it to run. I'm selling it though. Not because I don't like the car, just for my silly peace of mind, I may be paranoid, but it's got 114k miles and I need to trade it in or sell it anyway. It's a beautiful car and powerful too, as far as that goes. Thanks everybody for your advice and comments. This is a kewl site

[GreenFaleen]

no problem just be sure to get another stang