efBrianM
Elite Explorer
- Joined
- September 2, 2020
- Messages
- 66
- Reaction score
- 40
- City, State
- Spring Hill, Ks
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 95 Ex Exp, 01 Ex Sport
We have a 2001 EX with 4.0L SOHC engine, auto, 4X4, with 188,000 miles on it. This summer it started overheating when idling or in stop and go traffic, even without the A/C on. This has never been a problem before. The temperature is just fine going down the highway.
I thought this was a classic situation of a fan clutch not working, and it still had the original clutch in it, so I replaced it. I put in a Severe Duty. No change in symptoms.
I have not replaced the radiator as it was replaced in Jan. of 2018. I do most of my own repairs, unless the weather is bad, or other things demand my attention, so I had the radiator replaced. I have no idea whether the original rad was a single or a 2 row core. The one the shop put in is a single row. Some here are of the opinion that a single row was what Ford installed in a 2001 most of the time.
Last February, in north east Kansas, we had a really cold week and wouldn't you know it, the plastic thermostat housing (2nd one) started leaking. So I had the same shop replace it with a metal one. I believe they changed the thermostat. I replaced that one. No change in symptoms! By the way, the thermostat has a spring loaded plate on the bottom of it. What does this do? Looks like a check valve.
The engine still had the original water pump. I have a hard time believing metal impellers go bad, but seals and bearings do, and I did have a slow coolant leak. So I replaced the pump. The rotation was listed as REV, I assume that means CCW. Still overheats when idling!
During all this time, I had the radiator out twice. The first time I took an air hose to the fins. The second time out I took the garden hose to it. Laid it down flat where I could see underneath it, applied the water to the top side (not much pressure). Water runs easily thru it. Still overheating!
I checked the radiator cap and found the seal torn, replaced it. No change in symptoms!
I know the condenser is not clogged up with bugs, leaves, etc as I also did some A/C work and the condenser was replaced.
The fan shroud is on and in good shape. The baffle that goes underneath and bolts to the frame is in place. There's rubber baffles between the radiator and the condenser, and even some out in front of the condenser.
I thought I could for sure fix on overheating problem, but I'm out of ideas!
I was going to post this yesterday, but thought I should have it scanned. We've been running with a CEL for some time now, a code associated with the evaporative emissions (purge/vent). Well, no code for that, but it did have a P0171 and a P0174, system too lean, bank 1 and 2 I believe. Could this be related? Do engines that are running lean, run hotter? It does have a bit of a rough idle.
Brian
I thought this was a classic situation of a fan clutch not working, and it still had the original clutch in it, so I replaced it. I put in a Severe Duty. No change in symptoms.
I have not replaced the radiator as it was replaced in Jan. of 2018. I do most of my own repairs, unless the weather is bad, or other things demand my attention, so I had the radiator replaced. I have no idea whether the original rad was a single or a 2 row core. The one the shop put in is a single row. Some here are of the opinion that a single row was what Ford installed in a 2001 most of the time.
Last February, in north east Kansas, we had a really cold week and wouldn't you know it, the plastic thermostat housing (2nd one) started leaking. So I had the same shop replace it with a metal one. I believe they changed the thermostat. I replaced that one. No change in symptoms! By the way, the thermostat has a spring loaded plate on the bottom of it. What does this do? Looks like a check valve.
The engine still had the original water pump. I have a hard time believing metal impellers go bad, but seals and bearings do, and I did have a slow coolant leak. So I replaced the pump. The rotation was listed as REV, I assume that means CCW. Still overheats when idling!
During all this time, I had the radiator out twice. The first time I took an air hose to the fins. The second time out I took the garden hose to it. Laid it down flat where I could see underneath it, applied the water to the top side (not much pressure). Water runs easily thru it. Still overheating!
I checked the radiator cap and found the seal torn, replaced it. No change in symptoms!
I know the condenser is not clogged up with bugs, leaves, etc as I also did some A/C work and the condenser was replaced.
The fan shroud is on and in good shape. The baffle that goes underneath and bolts to the frame is in place. There's rubber baffles between the radiator and the condenser, and even some out in front of the condenser.
I thought I could for sure fix on overheating problem, but I'm out of ideas!
I was going to post this yesterday, but thought I should have it scanned. We've been running with a CEL for some time now, a code associated with the evaporative emissions (purge/vent). Well, no code for that, but it did have a P0171 and a P0174, system too lean, bank 1 and 2 I believe. Could this be related? Do engines that are running lean, run hotter? It does have a bit of a rough idle.
Brian