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Weird Overheat Warning Light

Pavesa

Member
Joined
May 10, 2020
Messages
17
Reaction score
4
City, State
Canning, NS
Year, Model & Trim Level
2007, XLT
I was recently very lucky to find an 2006 Eddie Bauer Explorer with tow package and just 90,000 miles on the clock. Drives like a dream..

Unfortunately, I'd just driven about a dozen miles on the highway when I noticed the red overheat warning come up on the screen. I was near an off ramp so took it and let things cool down. I decided to keep off the highway and had done maybe a mile before it came on again. I decided to park it overnight, my wife ran me home and next day I found a nice independent garage with good Google reviews about 2 minutes from where it was parked. They had a look and diagnosed a faulty cooling heat sensor and replaced it with a new part. I drove it home, about an hour and there were no issues and then I drove it for maybe 5 days as my daily drive. All good. But, yesterday, the overheat light came on again at the top of a mile long but not particularly steep climb and then I had a repetition of what happened before. I let it cool and drive on a bit and after a mile I would see the temp needle climbing towards max. It took me 5 cooling stops to get home!

I have been careful to stop when I've seen the temperature rising but I did look under the hood when I came off the highway and there was nothing that suggested the engine was overheating - no steam or unhappy symptoms.

I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this? I think it seems unlikely to be the new heat sensor. I don't know if Explorers use a thermostat that could have failed, I somehow think it unlikely..

In all other ways I'm thrilled with the car. The 82 year old guy who sold it to me had clearly babied it since new; body in great shape and everything really tight and smooth. I'll be a lucky guy so long as this can be fixed!

Thanks for any thoughts.
 



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Your thermostat is probably stuck closed, I would replace it as it's pretty cheap to get a Motorcraft one and not really difficult to do.
 






Also make sure there's sufficient coolant. If it runs low, the sensor will become overheated and the fans will operate continuously.

It's also possible that the replacement sensor was Chinese junk and its short life is done.
 






Your thermostat is probably stuck closed, I would replace it as it's pretty cheap to get a Motorcraft one and not really difficult to do.
Your thermostat is probably stuck closed, I would replace it as it's pretty cheap to get a Motorcraft one and not really difficult to do.
Hi

thanks for the advice. I ordered a replacement Motorcraft sensor as you suggested. I'll post back about the result.

Cheers
 






Hi

thanks for the advice. I ordered a replacement Motorcraft sensor as you suggested. I'll post back about the result.

Cheers
Hi

The car has been running for a few days with the replacement thermostat and all looks good! Thanks for the pointer..
 






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