I need over heating help!

lizwithfries · Nov 15, 2011

My car has an over heating issue. We've changed the thermostat to a 180 degree, the fan works fine and both speeds work, the radiator is fine, no coolant leaks. The car has over heated to the point where it cuts off, yet I've never been low on coolant. I need ideas for things to check! The car over heats at idle and in stop and go traffic. Obvious thing to check is the fan, yet I had one of my classmates check the wiring and everything works fine. So what are some other possible causes for over heating at idle and stop and go traffic?

I don't know if this is where this belongs, sorry.

miss2slocoupe · Nov 15, 2011

well this sounds like a water pump issue... but im not for sure, i had the same problem with my truck and that was it.... or the worst, blown head gasket...

Anchor-Room · Nov 15, 2011

Often overlooked is trapped air. There is a way to evacuate the cooling system by pulling a vacuum and then reversing the process by letting the vacuum pull coolant back in.....The terminators have an issue and have to be filled from the stove pipe and even then some time have a trapped air issue..

I would strongly suggest switching to an electric pump like the Meziere if you can afford to do so when you replace.

miss2slocoupe · Nov 15, 2011

do you guys sell those BTW?? i need one bad for my 03 cobra

Anchor-Room · Nov 15, 2011

No, we do not but we did just ad one to our cobra......

vermilion · Nov 15, 2011

i use to have this issue from faulty t-stats. then afterwards id "burp" the system. fill the engine through the tstat housingthen the remainder through the overflow tank. start the car then squeeze top and bottom hoses with overflow cap off.

miss2slocoupe · Nov 15, 2011

Anchor-Room said:
No, we do not but we did just ad one to our cobra......

if you get one and sell it for a good deal please contact me ASAP

lizwithfries · Nov 15, 2011

How do I check if I need a new water pump?

duff daddy · Nov 15, 2011

Remember in a cooling system there are a few things. you have 2 different types of "heat extraction". 1 being heat from the engine to the coolant and the esecond from the coolant to the radiator. Also you have 2 main parts of the second heat extraction. You have a heater core and also a radiator. If coolant flow is slowed through either of the passages then you can have excessive heat build up causing the coolant in the block become too hot and thust causing a car to over heat no matter how low the t-stat or the water pump works. Check coolant flow rates and see how that is.

vermilion · Nov 16, 2011

overflow cap (vents excessive pressure)
waterpump
t-stats.

alex302 · Nov 16, 2011

Make sure the radiator is not clogged. A good way to check the pump and that the radiator is not clogged drain some coolant out so you can see the the tube inside the rad threw cap start the car and look inside the rad and see how much the pump is flowing or if the rad is clogged. Also to avoid air in the system drill a hole threw the thermostat so when it's closed a small amount of water gets by and fills the block.

massacre · Nov 17, 2011

Do '96 GTs have a radiator cap?
If this car is a daily driver, I would not use an electric water pump.
I thought the '96 Cobras had an overheating issue where the A/C condenser needed to be replaced, Ford had a recall for it. Don't forget the A/C condenser is in front of the radiator and if it is blocked/dirty it will impede airflow to the radiator.
For how cheap water pumps are and how easy they are to replace, you might just want to replace it for good measure.
When was the last time the cooling system was flushed?

Anchor-Room · Nov 17, 2011

massacre said:
If this car is a daily driver, I would not use an electric water pump.

Why not?

97LSxGT · Nov 17, 2011

Id probably flush the coolant and replace the water pump..and I agree with Anchor Room on an electric water pump..if you got the funds that is..I daily drove a ls1 with a electric water pump..had no problems

massacre · Nov 17, 2011

The life of an electric water pump is measured in hours, not miles. When it's done working, that's it. No warning and if you're out on the highway, good luck to you. Yes I know, people have done a lot of things but for reliability there's nothing wrong with a mechanical pump.
On a race car, I could see the use for it, you can run the pump between runs to keep the motor cool with a fan blowing on the radiator.

JerZeyStangz · Nov 17, 2011

get a stewarts racing water pump, I believe its one of the best most efficient water pumps out there for the 4.6/5.4 without robbing power. It was mentioned in my modular build book, but it is a tad expensive.

MadStang · Nov 17, 2011

or just get a factory replacement pump because her car has 350,000 miles on the clock.....

regardless it's not even a certainty the water pump is an issue so she'd be spending money where she doesn't need to. She needs diagnostic help not someone telling her to throw parts at her car when it's not for certain it's the true cause of her overheating....

MadStang · Nov 17, 2011

fry, can you give more details on what your experiencing? Is the A/C on or off? notice any smoke coming from under the hood? and can you see any white smoke from the tailpipes?