2000 Explorer Overheating

My Explorer has been overheating for the last couple of days. It red-lines unless I turn on the heater, and then it still runs pretty hot. From all I can tell, there is plenty of coolant in it, and the fan is running.

The air conditioner went out about the same time (it goes in and out), but that may just need to be recharged. Can those two probs be related?

What should I know about this before I take it in to a dealer? Thanks for your help!

Greg Gilbert

Hi Greg,

I have a 2000 Explorer Eddie Bauer V6 and I seem to be having the same problem, however the heat (don't know about a/c) seems to be working fine. If I run the heat on high, the temperature comes down. Plus the transmission seems to be 'missing' between 1st and second gear if I step on the gas hard. I get a hard lurch and then she goes.

If anyone has any ideas, I'd certainly love to hear them, before I take it in and get charged an arm and a leg.

Thanks,

Cyndy

PS: Coolant is fine and the fan is running.

Give me a couple of days. Just took my 2000 Explorer in for this problem. I think it is probably the thermostat. I'll post when I get the results.

If anyone has any ideas, I'd certainly love to hear them, before I take it in and get charged an arm and a leg.

Running the heater literally pulls heat away from the engine, so you would expect it to run a little cooler.

I don't believe the shifting problem is related. My '96 has symptoms of both problems (Rough 1-2 shift especially under load and a temperature gauge that works more like a windshield wiper). A transmission flush did not cure, but greatly improved the shifting issue. I will be flushing the cooling system and replacing the thermostat and hoses in the next week or so. Hopefully, that will cure the temp problem.

My overheating problem was the thermostat. $100 at the Ford dealer and that included a complete cooling system flush.

Can't help with the shifting problem, sorry.

Took it in to Crappy Tire to find out what the problem was. $25.00 later and it's the Thermostat and would cost $205.00 to replace if they had done it. $25.00 to buy a Thermostat and do it yourself. TADA! Problem fixed with only an hour out of the day gone.

Shifting problem seemed to occur when the temp. got high, but for some strange reason now that it's not overheating, there doesn't seem to be a problem. We'll see how that works out in the future!!!

Thank you for all responses!!! It was appreciated.

GO LEAFS GO! lol

just overheat it so there are less of those crappers on the road!

its a typical exploder

watch out it's gonna roll!!

with those great firestones

at least it isn't a taurus!
whatch out the air filter just caught on fire!

I just had my 2001 Ford Explorer Sport in the shop thinking it was a tranny issue. They replaced the thermostat since it was redlining also, and said they haven't had any other issues. Still no mechanics can explain how the engine temp and transmission issues are related.

When an engine overheats, that heat (in the form of energy) is transferd through the rest of the engine block. Behind the engine is the torque converter for the tranny. When tranny fluid heats up it becomes less viscus and looses it's ability to provide torque to the tranny. Because the fluid is hot and looses it's ability to provide torque, the bands on the tranny drum will slip causing the problems in shifting.

When an engine overheats, that heat (in the form of energy) is transferd through the rest of the engine block. Behind the engine is the torque converter for the tranny. When tranny fluid heats up it becomes less viscus and looses it's ability to provide torque to the tranny. Because the fluid is hot and looses it's ability to provide torque, the bands on the tranny drum will slip causing the problems in shifting.

Thanks for the reply. Funny that the Transmission shop didn't have an explanation at all, and I USED to like the place. Anyway, your theory sounds about right. Now I know!

I have a Explorer 97 Eddie Bauer. The truck start overheating and the coolant come off from the coolant reservoir. The gage light come on and i don't know what is the problem.
I'm replace the termostat and also, yesterday replace the water pump too.. after replace the water pump the car run good until today.
I replace the radiator like 2 year ago.. but i don't know if the radiator i'm buy is good.
Can someone give me some idea if maybe is the radiator problem?
Thank you