Heating Problems

a similar thread to this was started, but am looking for different info...

I have a 94 4.6, and for some time now (since last summer) my car has been running much hotter than normal (sometimes radically overheating, but mostly lingers on "M" instead of "N" on "NORM" scale in dash). I have changed the thermostat and flushed radiator with no change. Car has over 155k/mi. with K&N/Densecharger CAI, OBX shorty headers (chrome-no wrap), and re-flashed CPU by Ford (and on its second tranny).

Are there any idea's as to what is causing the overheating? I've had the system checked out, and was told several times that the battery was low, but alternator is fine; so I will be replacing that ASAP or money allows (car still starts/runs fine). Would that cause the heat issue? The headers maybe? My next guess is the water pump and will be this weekends project.

Any other possible avenues of investigation, suggestion, ideas or knowledge of quirks would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Ya'll - RPT

A good radiator shop can do a flow test of your radiator witch will tell if it is blocked somewhere. I'd have that checked before replacing the water pump. The car has quite a few miles on it and if the coolant wasn't changed regularly it's easy to plug up the radiator. Does the fan come on when the temp goes up? When you take the radiator out check the hoses to make sure they haven't collapsed. If they have never been replaced now is the time to do it. Usually the only thing that goes wrong with a water pump is the bearing seal. You would see water leaking out of the hole towards the front of the pump. Have you had to add water to it? If you added water to it last summer before it started to overheat you may also have air trapped in the system. Just a few things for you to check out before replacing the water pump! Good luck

May be time for a t-stat. Is the A/C running when the car gets hot? It's possible that your condensor is getting too hot and the cooling system can't handle it.

thanks for the reply guys. i've already changed the t-stat, and can't remember how long it was prior to the last time i flushed the system about a month ago. The hoses are still original to my knowledge, but show no cracks or collapse at first glance (i'll be checking those next just in case), so maybe the hoses are an issue.

As for the fan when the temp goes up, the rad fan does work when it gets hot, but the blower fan in the dash that operates the A/C and defrost functions hasn't worked in over six months, lol (no air circulating). I thought it could be the issue, but doesn't make sense for it to be so. BTW: anyone know how to remove the temp control cluster? I know you need those clamps that audio guys use to pull out stereos, but have no idea what its called or where to get one because i'll need it to pull out the temp cluster so I can fix the blower fan. It's funny because if i hit a bump hard enough, then the blower fan works again until the next bump shuts it off, so i figure its an electrical thing causing it (but any ideas or suggestions are more than welcome).

thanks again guys.

I missed the part in your first thread about the t-stat, sorry. Also, you can get a "radio removal tool" from about any parts store. I think I got mine from Advanced for less that $5.

alrighty then fella's, i finally got around to taking care of this little pain in the ass. bought the 'radio removal tool' from Autozone and pulled out the cluster, and sure enough there was a loose ground connection and an exposed wire. the blower motor was still good luckily, cause someone quoted me $120 for a new one (i said 'fuck that'). took car to a friends local electrical shop for a full inspection to make sure there are no other issues, and sure enough, the car stopped over heating. runs with AC on blast like its nothing. total cost of fix = $60.

so there you have it, if something similar happens to you, here's the solution or at least a point in the right direction. thanks to all of you who shared your knowledge and $.o2