YACT: Help me Diagnose this problem

[elektrolokomotive]

Have a 95 Mustang V6. In the last few days, I've noticed the temperature gauge starting to head to the right off its usual rock solid just left of center position. Seems to move even quicker when I'm at idle. I assume it would eventually overheat, but I don't drive it very far on a daily basis, and don't really want to find out.

In the last year, I've had the radiator replaced (cracked reservior), the fan replaced (seized up), and water pump replaced (leaking seal). I'm not a big gearhead, But I'm guessing and hoping that this just might be the thermostat. Can anyone concur? If this is the case, how much should I have to pay for this service, and how long do you figure it would take?

 

[KLin]

maybe a blown headgasket?

 

[Eli]

If it is the thermostat, the part is like 10$ and if you have someone else do it they'll charge you ~65$ for labor on a 5 minute job.

lol

Originally posted by: KLin
maybe a blown headgasket?

Blown headgaskets don't cause overheating.

 

[elektrolokomotive]

Originally posted by: KLin
maybe a blown headgasket?

That's not what I want to hear. Is there any way to tell without dragging it to the garage?

 

[Kelvrick]

I think your radiator fans aren't kicking in because maybe the thermostat malfunctioned. Try turning on your AC while you're at idle and see if it still creeps up. The AC should make the fans turn on no matter how hot the car is. If the fans still don't go on... Fans are expensive unless you hit up a junk yard.

 

[Chunkee]

replace your thermostat

probably the culprit

they do go bad, or maybe you got a bad lemon

jC

 

[fredtam]

Originally posted by: elektrolokomotive

Originally posted by: KLin
maybe a blown headgasket?

That's not what I want to hear. Is there any way to tell without dragging it to the garage?

Usually if the head gasket is blown there will be buubles coming to the surface in the radiator. Sometimes oil in there too.

 

[Chunkee]

replace it yourself, its usually pretty easy and cheap,

half hour job for you...just get new gasket and thermostat from advance auto or similar

jC

 

[DurocShark]

Are you sure the new radiator had the same number of rows? The replacement may have reduced cooling capacity.

Another thing is the clutch on your fan may be shot... Not turning at full RPMs at idle.

Check timing. Over-advanced timing will raise temps.

Lastly, flush and replace the coolant with the proper 50/50 mixture.

EDIT: I just re-read your post. The fan probably isn't the culprit then. But a cheap water pump can cause this same problem. The Fiero had a fuel pump that didn't weep or show signs of bad bearings or anything, so we were stumped as to the cause of the overheating it was experiencing. Replaced it and everything was fine after.

 

[elektrolokomotive]

Originally posted by: Chunkee
replace your thermostat

probably the culprit

they do go bad, or maybe you got a bad lemon

jC

That's encouraging. The car has around 136k miles on it. To my knowledge, the thermostat's never been replaced.

 

[Klixxer]

Well, when it comes to these types of problems i usually just replace the thermostat if i can't diagnose the problem in five minutes, i assume you have checked the amount of coolant before even asking.

It is a piece of cake to replace the thermostat, three screws, lift the old thermostat out, remove gasket, put the new thermostat in, new gasket on and, put the head back on, make sure the screws are tight, add coolant to proper level and see if it made any difference.

Is the fan running when it becomes hot enough?

 

Is the coolant reservoir filling up more or less than usual?

 

[blahblah99]

Check your radiator fluid to see if it's milky in color, or if there's oil spots on the surface of the water. That's usually an indication that the headgasket is on its way.

Or get a compression test done. That'll tell you a lot. Most likely it's just a bad thermostat and/or water pump.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: KLin
maybe a blown headgasket?

Blown headgaskets don't cause overheating.

Uhh... yes, they can and usually do cause overheating, Eli. Generally from coolant loss into the combustion chambers and/or oil passages.

OP, if you're worried about a blown headgasket, check for white exhaust smoke that smells of coolant, milkshake-like oil, or bubbles in the radiator (prior to starting the engine).
It sounds like you've had a lot of cooling related problems. If you've ever had a major overheat, you may want to have the headgaskets checked.

 

[Klixxer]

Originally posted by: blahblah99
Check your radiator fluid to see if it's milky in color, or if there's oil spots on the surface of the water. That's usually an indication that the headgasket is on its way.

Or get a compression test done. That'll tell you a lot. Most likely it's just a bad thermostat.

actually compression meters (or whatever the name for them is in english) are cheap, every car owner should have one.

 

[elektrolokomotive]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: KLin
maybe a blown headgasket?

Blown headgaskets don't cause overheating.

Uhh... yes, they can and usually do cause overheating, Eli. Generally from coolant loss into the combustion chambers and/or oil passages.

OP, if you're worried about a blown headgasket, check for white exhaust smoke that smells of coolant, milkshake-like oil, or bubbles in the radiator (prior to starting the engine).
It sounds like you've had a lot of cooling related problems. If you've ever had a major overheat, you may want to have the headgaskets checked.

I had the oil changed yesterday, looked pretty normal to me. Coolant levels were good. No color to the exhaust, and no smell of burning coolant. I don't think I've ever had a major overheat. It got kind of high once in the early summer, when the fan seized up, but I shut it down well before the gauge would have tracked into the red.

 

[blahblah99]

Originally posted by: Klixxer

Originally posted by: blahblah99
Check your radiator fluid to see if it's milky in color, or if there's oil spots on the surface of the water. That's usually an indication that the headgasket is on its way.

Or get a compression test done. That'll tell you a lot. Most likely it's just a bad thermostat.

actually compression meters (or whatever the name for them is in english) are cheap, every car owner should have one.

Yes, but not every car owner knows how to use it properly.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: elektrolokomotive
I had the oil changed yesterday, looked pretty normal to me. Coolant levels were good. No color to the exhaust, and no smell of burning coolant. I don't think I've ever had a major overheat. It got kind of high once in the early summer, when the fan seized up, but I shut it down well before the gauge would have tracked into the red.

Sounds like you're okay then. I'd replace the thermostat then. It's one of the easiest and cheapest repairs you can do.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: KLin
maybe a blown headgasket?

Blown headgaskets don't cause overheating.

Uhh... yes, they can and usually do cause overheating, Eli. Generally from coolant loss into the combustion chambers and/or oil passages.

OP, if you're worried about a blown headgasket, check for white exhaust smoke that smells of coolant, milkshake-like oil, or bubbles in the radiator (prior to starting the engine).
It sounds like you've had a lot of cooling related problems. If you've ever had a major overheat, you may want to have the headgaskets checked.

I guess I wasn't thinking along the right lines. I assumed that he was smart enough to check his coolant level before posting and that both the level and the condition of the coolant checked out OK.

I guess I shouldn't have been so assertive with such a small(but encompasing) statement.

 

[Klixxer]

Originally posted by: blahblah99

Originally posted by: Klixxer

Originally posted by: blahblah99
Check your radiator fluid to see if it's milky in color, or if there's oil spots on the surface of the water. That's usually an indication that the headgasket is on its way.

Or get a compression test done. That'll tell you a lot. Most likely it's just a bad thermostat.

actually compression meters (or whatever the name for them is in english) are cheap, every car owner should have one.

Yes, but not every car owner knows how to use it properly.

Unscrew spark plug, screw the compression meter plug in it's place, a few turns with the starter. How hard IS it?

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Klixxer

Originally posted by: blahblah99

Originally posted by: Klixxer

Originally posted by: blahblah99
Check your radiator fluid to see if it's milky in color, or if there's oil spots on the surface of the water. That's usually an indication that the headgasket is on its way.

Or get a compression test done. That'll tell you a lot. Most likely it's just a bad thermostat.

actually compression meters (or whatever the name for them is in english) are cheap, every car owner should have one.

Yes, but not every car owner knows how to use it properly.

Unscrew spark plug, screw the compression meter plug in it's place, a few turns with the starter. How hard IS it?

Don't forget to disable the ignition..........

Most any engine will run minus 1 cylinder.

 

Originally posted by: Klixxer

Originally posted by: blahblah99

Originally posted by: Klixxer

Originally posted by: blahblah99
Check your radiator fluid to see if it's milky in color, or if there's oil spots on the surface of the water. That's usually an indication that the headgasket is on its way.

Or get a compression test done. That'll tell you a lot. Most likely it's just a bad thermostat.

actually compression meters (or whatever the name for them is in english) are cheap, every car owner should have one.

Yes, but not every car owner knows how to use it properly.

Unscrew spark plug, screw the compression meter plug in it's place, a few turns with the starter. How hard IS it?

Getting to the spark plugs on my boxer engine isn't easy by any means.

 

[Klixxer]

Originally posted by: elektrolokomotive

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: KLin
maybe a blown headgasket?

Blown headgaskets don't cause overheating.

Uhh... yes, they can and usually do cause overheating, Eli. Generally from coolant loss into the combustion chambers and/or oil passages.

OP, if you're worried about a blown headgasket, check for white exhaust smoke that smells of coolant, milkshake-like oil, or bubbles in the radiator (prior to starting the engine).
It sounds like you've had a lot of cooling related problems. If you've ever had a major overheat, you may want to have the headgaskets checked.

I had the oil changed yesterday, looked pretty normal to me. Coolant levels were good. No color to the exhaust, and no smell of burning coolant. I don't think I've ever had a major overheat. It got kind of high once in the early summer, when the fan seized up, but I shut it down well before the gauge would have tracked into the red.

If the fan spins up, NEVER stop the engine, let it run until the fan stops, the coolant won't be doing anything if you don't, keep the waterpump running, if the meter keeps climbing, stop the car, open the coolant container but be careful when you do it, cover it with a thick folded cloth so you don't burn yourself and unscrew slowly. (that is for those cars that have a closed system, in an open system this won't do anything.

 

[Klixxer]

Originally posted by: SampSon

Originally posted by: Klixxer

Originally posted by: blahblah99

Originally posted by: Klixxer

Originally posted by: blahblah99
Check your radiator fluid to see if it's milky in color, or if there's oil spots on the surface of the water. That's usually an indication that the headgasket is on its way.

Or get a compression test done. That'll tell you a lot. Most likely it's just a bad thermostat.

actually compression meters (or whatever the name for them is in english) are cheap, every car owner should have one.

Yes, but not every car owner knows how to use it properly.

Unscrew spark plug, screw the compression meter plug in it's place, a few turns with the starter. How hard IS it?

Getting to the spark plugs on my boxer engine isn't easy by any means.

No, but boxer engines are not that common, now are they? And i am sure you know how to do it anywayz.

So, what kind of car, older 911? I am looking for one.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: SampSon
Getting to the spark plugs on my boxer engine isn't easy by any means.

Actually, I replaced the plugs in my SO's MY01 2.5RS just a couple of weeks ago. Took less than half an hour to do all 4. Your wagon has the same SOHC EJ25 engine. It did help that the bulky stock intake had been replaced with a CAI, making it easier to access the right bank, and then you just have to temporarily remove the windshield washer flud reservoir to access the left bank. Also helps to have a long "wibble-wobble" type extension for your socket wrench because of how deep down the plugs are.


Eli, no big deal

edit: Klixxer, '04 Subaru Impreza TS wagon. EJ25 Phase II NA engine, 2.5L SOHC 16V boxer 4, 165 bhp.