Overheating issues...

[slravene]

95 XLT 4wd Overheating Issues

My Truck has been running hot lately. Its a 4dr 1995 XLT 4wd. When i turn on the AC the temp climbs pretty steady. If i dont run AC (or if i just run the vent) the temp will climb steadily to a little above 3/4 way then stay there. Stop and go traffic it heats up pretty quick obviously. Replaced the fan clutch, flushed the radiator, and will be replacing the thermostat tmw...I just wanted to post up to see if anyone had any other ideas of what might be the demon in my cooling system. I just cant seem to keep the temperature down without dying in the heat from running no AC... Please help if you can

 

[dogfriend]

I would replace the thermostat. Sounds like it may be sticking partially closed.

 

[1IronMike]

I agree with changing the thermostat. I am chasing just about the same thing except I am heating a bit going up hill. It is not overheating, just creaping up to the A. I have done everything except the water pump which I will do this winter along with the head gaskets and checking the heads for cracks which is what I expect after researching this problem on this site.

 

[slravene]

i replaced the thermostat today....didnt really help. It still runs hot with the AC on. AC off or vents only on and it runs at the halfway mark (so i think the thermostat helped a little, but maybe not?? )....Im lost as to what else it could be.

 

[slravene]

I posted this in the 911 section, but figured it would get more views here since not alot of people view the 911...Sorry for the mirror post, but im dying here in the heat and need to figure this bug out.

(If mods need to delete this, let me know, ill get rid of it)

Thanks for the help.


My Truck has been running hot lately. Its a 4dr 1995 Explorer XLT 4wd. When i turn on the AC the temp climbs pretty steady (after about 10-20 min of stop and go city traffic in 85+ degree weather, it will be approaching the redline = uh oh) . If i dont run AC (or if i just run the vent) the temp will climb steadily to a little above 1/2 - 3/4 (depending on outside temp or stop and go amounts) way then stay there. Stop and go traffic it heats up pretty quick obviously. Replaced the fan clutch, flushed the radiator, and the thermostat ...I just wanted to post up to see if anyone had any other ideas of what might be the demon in my cooling system. I just cant seem to keep the temperature down without dying in the heat from running no AC... Please help if you can

What else could it be?

 

[budwich]

May be you and Stillkicken (a couple post down) should get together and see if you have enough parts for one working truck... As I suggested to stillkicken, try running without a thermostat and monitor your temp. If it still goes up, then you are after a circulation problem... water pump maybe deteriorated pump blades resulting in poor circulation.

 

[aldive]

Are you basing the overheating on the dash gauge? Any other signs of overheating?

 

[slravene]

I will be pulling the tstat tmw and running it sans-tsat to see if that does anything.

Aldive- For now I am basing it on the guage. About 2-3 weeks ago (when the problem first arose) it ran until it was in the red and it started to run crappy until I pulled over and let it cool off. I just wasnt paying attention to the guage and it got hot, but i pulled over immediatly, so i dont think any real damage was done. After that incident, I have watched the guage and if it gets past 5/8 or so on the guage I will blast the heat for a few minutes to cool it down.

Im just lost as to what it could be...im about out of cheap parts to replace too

 

[slravene]

pulled the tstat....no help. Figures....this POS truck.

Any other ideas of what to?

 

[slravene]

bump... help

 

[budwich]

Actually, the fact that you pulled the thermostat and it didn't help... does help as now you are potentially looking at more "important" areas that a stuck thermostat. Since you have done most of the other stuff (fan clutch, rad flush), probably looking at the pump as a good candidate.... especially since most vehicles without a thermostat run basically cold which is also bad. How old is your pump. Lots of time that I have seen problems here (where there wasn't obvious noise or leaks) is that the impeller blades have worn or disintegrated or are spinning free of the drive shaft.

Of course, also how old is your rad. Flushing a rad isn't necessarily a "cure all" for a stuffed rad.

 

[slravene]

OK. You are like the 4th or 5th person to mention bad impellar blades..so i went out and bought a new water pump. We will see if that works....hopefully it does.

 

[Blee1099]

Do you by chance have mud between the radiator the AC condensor? Mine had similar issues and there was a ton of mud stuck between the AC condensor & the radiator.. I had to remove the radiator & the condensor from the truck and power wash them clean. Definately check the waterpump that can also be a culprit. Have you checked to see if you have low coolant levels or maybe a improper glycol percentage or even air bubbles in the radiator system.

 

[slravene]

The radiator and area are clear of mud/debirs. I have plenty of coolant and dont loose any. How would i check for air bubbles. I squeezed the top line out of the radiator a few times after it was filled...but not alot. Is that the only way?

 

[aldive]

Have you determined the actual temperature?

 

[slravene]

no, i havent been able to find a thermometer...looked at 2 auto parts stores and couldnt find any. Does it need to be auto specific? Would a Lowe's or other hardware store be able to offer one that might work?

 

[Blee1099]

Essential you need to burp the system to get air bubbles out.. The tried & true method I was taught was to start the truck without the radiator cap on and fill it as needed until it reaches operating temperature and starts to overflow.. once it overflows, put the cap on it.

 

[slravene]

i started it and ran it a bit last night with no cap on (right after i filled it.) Then i put my hand over the hole so it would suck some coolant into the block (i had just taken out the thermostat). Then i refilled to the top and closed it. Should i try again?

 

[shamaal]

Should you change the waterpump, let us know how it turns out. If the impellers are shot please post pictures.

This has been a particularly vexing problem this season.

 

[Dopler174]

What about when you sit still? Does it run hot in your driveway with the AC on? Have you checked your fluids so see it any of them are running low? (Oil, Water) You should check to see if your radiator is blowing compression. If so, you got a blown head gasket. If not...then I don't know what to tell you. I guess go get you a small Electric fan off a Honda or a Toyota and see if that does the trick. That's what I did for my friends big block bronco. I've got one or two you can have I think. I live in Greensboro. PM if you want 'em.