whatsnexttogo
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- Dec 29, 2023
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Hey All! I appreciate the time anyone spends on reading this and offering suggestions. To start with I have been having some issues with my instrument cluster. I took it out and noticed the copper traces the connectors touch had been bent out of place in several spots. I bent them back and super glued them down as best as possible and since doing so my fuel gauge appears to be working again. However my voltage, oil pressure, and coolant pressure gauges don't appear to work and always sit as far to the left as possible. When I connect an OBD sensor I do get back coolant temp data that starts around 56F and goes up from there as the car runs but the actual temp gauge never moves so not sure if its sensor issues on these or a cluster problem.
So with the above info in mind I was driving on the highway when I noticed a ton of white smoke coming from my hood. I pulled off to the side let it cooldown and gave it a quick check. I saw that everything under the hood was covered in anti-freeze and the reservoir tank was completely empty(The cap was also popped off but I am not sure if that was me forgetting to put on last time I filled it or if it popped on its own). I also found that the upper radiator hose had been leaning on something hot and this had burned a sizeable hole in the house, which is where I assume all the coolant came from. I had my wife pick me up and we went and got a new upper radiator hose and a bunch of coolant as well as some distilled water to try and wash the coolant off the engine bay. I replaced the upper radiator hose, refilled the overflow tank with coolant, and dumped distilled water on everything to wash the antifreeze off before it dried. I then started the car back up and drove for another couple miles but while doing so noticed there was a very odd gulping kind of noise when accelerating only, I probably should have stopped but was only a mile from a shop so tried to keep going and get it off the highway. About 3-5 mins in I heard a loud bang and the hood flooded with white smoke that even started coming through the firewall into the car. I pulled off as quickly as I could but the power died completely while doing so and I coasted to a stop. The car would also not start after this. I waited 5-10 minutes before popping the hood to see what happened but I did not notice anything out of order. Rather than try anything else I just had the car towed at this point. It is worth noting the tow driver started the car up just fine and turned it around to get it hooked up to his truck as well as dropping it in the road and driving it into my driveway just fine. After getting it home I did a little diagnostics on it and OBD device shows coolant temps starting at 56ish and I let it run up to a 102F before I turned the car off after noticing a burning smell. I don't see any further coolant leaks but the heater never blows hot air and when gripping the upper coolant hose I never feel it get hot or coolant flowing into it. After shutting the car off at 102F coolant temp on the OBD the car will not start again, it hesitates like its low on battery and just stops. If I wait 30mins to an hour it will start up fine.
At this point I am thinking it may be some sort of blockage in the coolant system or the temp sensor housing is stuck closed(replaced this in the past 3 years though). The few shops I have called recommend a coolant flush but don't have the machinery to do so and recommended the ford dealer. Since I don't want to pay an arm and a leg to the dealer looking for opinions here before I just replace the coolant temp sensor again.
Sorry for the book!
So with the above info in mind I was driving on the highway when I noticed a ton of white smoke coming from my hood. I pulled off to the side let it cooldown and gave it a quick check. I saw that everything under the hood was covered in anti-freeze and the reservoir tank was completely empty(The cap was also popped off but I am not sure if that was me forgetting to put on last time I filled it or if it popped on its own). I also found that the upper radiator hose had been leaning on something hot and this had burned a sizeable hole in the house, which is where I assume all the coolant came from. I had my wife pick me up and we went and got a new upper radiator hose and a bunch of coolant as well as some distilled water to try and wash the coolant off the engine bay. I replaced the upper radiator hose, refilled the overflow tank with coolant, and dumped distilled water on everything to wash the antifreeze off before it dried. I then started the car back up and drove for another couple miles but while doing so noticed there was a very odd gulping kind of noise when accelerating only, I probably should have stopped but was only a mile from a shop so tried to keep going and get it off the highway. About 3-5 mins in I heard a loud bang and the hood flooded with white smoke that even started coming through the firewall into the car. I pulled off as quickly as I could but the power died completely while doing so and I coasted to a stop. The car would also not start after this. I waited 5-10 minutes before popping the hood to see what happened but I did not notice anything out of order. Rather than try anything else I just had the car towed at this point. It is worth noting the tow driver started the car up just fine and turned it around to get it hooked up to his truck as well as dropping it in the road and driving it into my driveway just fine. After getting it home I did a little diagnostics on it and OBD device shows coolant temps starting at 56ish and I let it run up to a 102F before I turned the car off after noticing a burning smell. I don't see any further coolant leaks but the heater never blows hot air and when gripping the upper coolant hose I never feel it get hot or coolant flowing into it. After shutting the car off at 102F coolant temp on the OBD the car will not start again, it hesitates like its low on battery and just stops. If I wait 30mins to an hour it will start up fine.
At this point I am thinking it may be some sort of blockage in the coolant system or the temp sensor housing is stuck closed(replaced this in the past 3 years though). The few shops I have called recommend a coolant flush but don't have the machinery to do so and recommended the ford dealer. Since I don't want to pay an arm and a leg to the dealer looking for opinions here before I just replace the coolant temp sensor again.
Sorry for the book!