2005 Lmtd. Over heating after driving on rough road

[CoastsideCyclist]

Greetings,

2005 Explorer Lmtd. v8. Right after driving on a rough dirt road the car rapidly overheated once I pulled onto the main road. Immediately went from dummy light to gauge pegged to auto system power reduction (like in 15 seconds total time).

Put in 1.5 gallons of coolant and was fine to get back to cabin ~ 2 miles.

Could the rough road just loosened the overflow cap? Any other ideas?

Don't think it is the water pump as we drove 4 hours the day before in 90+ with the AC on. Had no issues driving ~ 1 hr. with AC on.

Cheers,
Marc

 

[fritz24]

Could be radiator covered with dirt.

 

[Number4]

I'd be concerned with the fact you were able to put in 1.5 gallons. Your losing fluid somehow.

 

[CoastsideCyclist]

Fluid came out through the overflow cap. I thought it was designed to do that? There was clear evidence of liquid around the overflow reservoir and below. Did not see any fluid anywhere else. Passenger front wheel well had liquid as did rear tire when I pulled over which was like 15 seconds after it over heated.

It normally is our winter ski car so rarely gets driven in the summer. Maybe there was low fluid to begin with but I had just had it serviced in the March and driven it very little since then.

 

[Number4]

As mentioned, either the radiator is full of debri, or perhaps the fan clutch is bad. Unless the thermostat closed on you.

You shouldn't of had fluid coming out of the reservoir.

 

[CoastsideCyclist]

Well had it checked out a dealership since I am 4 hours away from home.

Verdict is fan clutch, radiator cap and they suggest replacing the thermostat at the same time. $700 total- sound reasonable for a dealership?

Cheers,
Marc

 

[Number4]

Whoa!!!!! Are they gonna pull your hair while they stick that to you?

 

[CoastsideCyclist]

I guess that answers my question. What can I do, not many options where I am.

 

[Number4]

Fan clutch is half hour job, hour max. Start there, do thermostat (drain and fill) if needed. Won't cost you any more to do it later. But may save you some cash.


No one ever has an issue spending another persons money do they?

Buy the over flow cap at the parts counter and put it on yourself.

 

[xlt03]

Sounds like you are on the road and not home in HMB. Do you have access to tools and Autozone, O'Reily's. If you do you can do it yourself. I believe the correct antifreeze is the Gold from Ford. If you're home it'll have to be James Ford for parts unless you come up the hill to San Mateo. Otherwise, Rockauto for mail order. You can "rent" the fan clutch tool from either of the two parts store for zero dollars.

Yes, labor in our neck of the woods is $104.00 per hour and rent is $3, 500.00 per month for a 2 bedroom house.

 

[tonytheexplorer]

I also think it's because of the Radiator, which got filled with dirt.

 

[CoastsideCyclist]

So got it fixed. Sonora Ford Dealership charged me 3.5 hrs. labor for the fan clutch replacement, thermostat replacement and multipoint vehicle inspection. $423 in labor! Parts was $233 for the fan clutch, thermostat, gasket, radiator cap, fluids.


At least I made it back home without any issue!!

Thanks for everyone's help.

Cheers,
Marc