Car running hot, need quick help!

carney · July 20th, 2011, 09:02 AM

Okay I'll start by saying i have a 15 minute, at most 5mi commute to and from work. On the way here it was running very hot, i'd say about 3/4-7/8 on the temp gauge, almost in the red when i got here. Two things I'm asking.

1. How the hell can i limp home without getting it to overheat?
2. Whats the underlying problem and how the hell do i fix it?

01 Slate Stang · July 20th, 2011, 09:20 AM

Check coolant levels first before u leave to go home make sure its all good, other than that there rly isnt a whole lot to do other than drive a lil bit till it goes over half then stop cool down then start again. once back id try looking at thermostat to see if its stuck. another thing to check is once ur back ( or before u leave ) start engine let it warm up a bit. u should see 2 hoses on ur radiator. one is an inlet hose one outlet. check to see if both are warm. if one is hot and one cold u more than likely have a clogged rad. keep us posted as to what u find on these few items.

bigjohnstud4200 · July 20th, 2011, 09:46 AM

Yeah, I would check the top hose.. it should warm up and not be cold. Also, check that your fans come on? Is it a lot of stop and go? If you are moving, do the temps reduce? If you are moving and the temps are not reducing, I would say your flow is clogged.

goren813 · July 20th, 2011, 11:40 AM

Check for leaks as well. Right where upper rad. hose meets engine, under car, by radiator cap. As said check that upper hose is warm/hot.

Sucks to say I just had to replace the water pump on my '00 for this same issue. Was only ~$75 and the job isn't tough.

goren813 · July 20th, 2011, 11:41 AM

Check for leaks as well. Right where upper rad. hose meets engine, under car, by radiator cap. As said check that upper hose is warm/hot.

Sucks to say I just had to replace the water pump on my '00 for this same issue. Was only ~$75 and the job isn't tough.

whyxitx · July 20th, 2011, 01:26 PM

like they said, check the coolant level.

carney · July 20th, 2011, 01:45 PM

Well it limped home barely, it looks like i got a crack in the water pump or the gasket

whyxitx · July 20th, 2011, 02:06 PM

Yuck

carney · July 20th, 2011, 02:13 PM

Yay for throwing more money away

whyxitx · July 20th, 2011, 02:17 PM

1slowv6 · July 20th, 2011, 04:19 PM

hmm check coolant level first, then check the radiator for leaks, and check the radiator cap. after you check those then you can go into the water pump because 70% of overheating is caused by faulty gasket or bearings in the pump.

it could also be the fan i forgot that one.

_random things that could cause overheating_

incorrect timing

lean air/fuel mixture

exhaust restriction

faulty torque converter

incorrect cam timing

faulty radiator cap

carney · July 20th, 2011, 06:06 PM

Well 4 hours later and it was indeed the water pump. Hairline crack running on the passenger side of it. Feels good to actually do something involving the engine.

whyxitx · July 20th, 2011, 07:04 PM

Good job at fixing it

Happy 3000th post

RedDevilGT · July 20th, 2011, 08:32 PM

I got in here a little late, but I was going to say you can run your heater at full blast to get you home. It will draw away the heat from your motor, but it would have sucked for you

I had an overheating issue not too long ago, but luckily it was just my thermostat. In order to get home I had to turn on my heater, and when it's already 120* out it's no fun at all

carney · July 21st, 2011, 02:05 AM

Well it just ended up being false hope. Ended up replacing the thermostat and flushing the upper and lower house as well as the radiator and putting new coolant in. Still overheating, I'm thinking something might be wrong with the heater core. Suggestions?

bigjohnstud4200 · July 21st, 2011, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by carney

Well it just ended up being false hope. Ended up replacing the thermostat and flushing the upper and lower house as well as the radiator and putting new coolant in. Still overheating, I'm thinking something might be wrong with the heater core. Suggestions?

I doubt it's the heater core, but do the temps reduce if you put heat on full blast?

carney · July 21st, 2011, 12:07 PM

Very minimally, but the heat is blowing too cool for full heat to be on. Its parked right now i think i might have to take it to a shop im out of ideas

brokenweasel · July 21st, 2011, 12:15 PM

You can run a bypass hose that bypasses the heater core- if the heater core is bad, that would fix it. You also might be able to do that in the parking lot of the parts store, some hose clamps, hose, screwdriver, and some leaked coolant on the ground, and you might be good to go.

goren813 · July 21st, 2011, 01:45 PM

Sooo did you replace the water pump?

carney · July 21st, 2011, 01:48 PM

Water pump was replaced, thermostat was replaced, upper hose, lower hose, and radiator was flushed and new coolant was put in.

July 20th, 2011, 09:20 AM	#2
01 Slate Stang Regular 2001 Mustang 0 - 60 5 minutes Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 83 iTrader: 0 reviews	Check coolant levels first before u leave to go home make sure its all good, other than that there rly isnt a whole lot to do other than drive a lil bit till it goes over half then stop cool down then start again. once back id try looking at thermostat to see if its stuck. another thing to check is once ur back ( or before u leave ) start engine let it warm up a bit. u should see 2 hoses on ur radiator. one is an inlet hose one outlet. check to see if both are warm. if one is hot and one cold u more than likely have a clogged rad. keep us posted as to what u find on these few items. __________________ Famous people walk on red carpet because they are rich... I walk on toilet paper because I'm the shit

July 20th, 2011, 11:40 AM	#4
goren813 MM's Official Lucifer '00 3.8L & '05 4.6L Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Odessa, FL Posts: 3,620 iTrader: 0 reviews	Check for leaks as well. Right where upper rad. hose meets engine, under car, by radiator cap. As said check that upper hose is warm/hot. Sucks to say I just had to replace the water pump on my '00 for this same issue. Was only ~$75 and the job isn't tough. __________________ "Fast she goes...in the city of Overdose"

July 20th, 2011, 11:41 AM	#5
goren813 MM's Official Lucifer '00 3.8L & '05 4.6L Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Odessa, FL Posts: 3,620 iTrader: 0 reviews	Check for leaks as well. Right where upper rad. hose meets engine, under car, by radiator cap. As said check that upper hose is warm/hot. Sucks to say I just had to replace the water pump on my '00 for this same issue. Was only ~$75 and the job isn't tough. __________________ "Fast she goes...in the city of Overdose"

July 20th, 2011, 04:19 PM	#11
1slowv6 Enthusiast 2000 v6 mustang Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: St. petersburg FL Posts: 738 iTrader: 1 reviews	hmm check coolant level first, then check the radiator for leaks, and check the radiator cap. after you check those then you can go into the water pump because 70% of overheating is caused by faulty gasket or bearings in the pump. it could also be the fan i forgot that one. _random things that could cause overheating_ incorrect timing lean air/fuel mixture exhaust restriction faulty torque converter incorrect cam timing faulty radiator cap __________________ If Nissan motorsports is Nismo..Wouldn't Honda motorsports be Homo?

July 20th, 2011, 08:32 PM	#14
RedDevilGT SG 2005 Mustang GT 2001 Mustang V6 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 4,139 iTrader: 0 reviews	I got in here a little late, but I was going to say you can run your heater at full blast to get you home. It will draw away the heat from your motor, but it would have sucked for you I had an overheating issue not too long ago, but luckily it was just my thermostat. In order to get home I had to turn on my heater, and when it's already 120* out it's no fun at all __________________ 01' V6: SCT tuned, Dual Flowmasters & H-pipe, 8000k 35w HID's, Steeda Short Shifter, BBK CAI, Eibach pro-kit, 3.73's and t-lok. 05' GT: SCT tuned, C&L Racer, FRPP cams, Pypes Pype Bomb's, Shorty Antenna, Painted Mirror covers, Decklid Panel

July 21st, 2011, 01:45 PM	#19
goren813 MM's Official Lucifer '00 3.8L & '05 4.6L Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Odessa, FL Posts: 3,620 iTrader: 0 reviews	Sooo did you replace the water pump? __________________ "Fast she goes...in the city of Overdose"

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