2003 explorer overheats...

[john1988]

I've had this problem for months, I dont know how long. I've brought it to Ford in the last few months about twice, and they cant figure out why its overheating...pretty much the problem is that whenever I'm idling or even just driving 40 mph, etc..it's just random at times when it overheats but I notice it alot at idle in a drive thru, etc...it goes up to H then a little under C, then up...sometimes it goes all the way up and beeps and I have to pull over..turn it off and it goes back to normal in about 2 mins..but if it actually overheated, wouldnt it take longer to cool off? Anyway, lately I've noticed a whistling sound when it starts to "overheat" and I can't figure out exactly where it's coming from. It's quite annoying. It's gotten cold here lately, and I don't think I have heat coming through my car, so maybe that's part of the problem to. I bought a thermostat and I'm gonna have a friend install/replace that, because I've heard that may be the problem. Does anyone else know what it could be if that doesn't work? Thanks for your help!


John

 

[matt0248]

Which engine? v6 or v8? Have you checked the coolant level in the overflow tank? it could just be low on coolant.

 

[john1988]

It was low..It's a v6...I put about 2 gallons of prestone extended life predilluted coolant in the reservoir..it ran a bit and I let it sit for few hours to cool off..it seems like it was lower than before..though it didn't look like anything leaked on the ground. It did this overheat thing again on the interstate where it went all the way up to H then back to the middle as normal while I was driving.

 

[JayT]

I had the same problem with my 2003 Ranger(2.3L) last weekend. My "check engine" light has been coming on and off over the last few months. I finally checked the code and it was P0597. That's P zero597, not PO. It means "thermostat/heater control circuit/open.
I'm no expert with that, but a good guy answered my post with steps to check out what is wrong, and what to fix. The post is on this same thread. It's recent and titled "Weird Overheat/False Overheat".

I have not taken the steps yet to test it because I have been driving in town this week and the problem of the temp gauge spiking only happened on that long highway trip.

 

[john1988]

well, 6,000 dollars later its fixed. unfortunately, it was a blown head gasket, and since it overheated so much, got a new engine to. itll run another 100k miles. but it sucks, because I tried so hard to prevent this. it got worse this month and I brought it to the shop and thats what they said it was. I brought it like 3 times to ford months ago, and they couldnt figure out what the problem was. I dont know who to blame. Fixed now though

 

[JayT]

John; As mentioned above my Ranger was doing the same thing, but the temp gauge spike was only like 2 seconds, and cool down to normal was in 2 seconds after taking my foot off the gas for 10 seconds. My mechanic thought it was a sensor or gauge problem. I finally decided that the thermostat must be sticking. This Ranger has a $150-200 thermostat. When the old thermostat came out it was clogged with rust and gunk. I got the system flushed and a new thermostat and the problems vanished.