Help, strange temperature problem.

I have a 2001 Lincoln LS V8 and haven't driven it in a couple days. I drove it today for about 10 minutes to a drive through and all of a sudden, it says "check engine temperature" in the display. I look at the temp gauge and it's 3 quarters of the way up. I'm stuck in the drive through for about another 3 minutes and it shoots up again very rapidly and I get another alert saying "engine power reduced". Now, I'm like "shit!", I need to get out of this drive through and a couple minutes later, I finally get my food and parked it immediately. I pop the hood and there's no smoke whatsoever, look underneath and nothing is leaking. I sit there for a half hour eating and waiting. I start it up and the temperature is normal but the check engine light is on. I cautiously drive it for the 10 minute ride home. The whole way home, the temperature never rose past the middle of hot and cold, it stayed in the middle the whole time and the car seemed to run fine (other than the check engine light). I haven't checked the coolant yet because the car is still hot and wouldn't the low coolant light come on if it was low?
What could this be? ...maybe a bad temp sensor?
what should I check first?

Thanks in advance

First off welcome. The ride home is probably not a good way to test; the reason is that you have air moving over the engine. Granted that will only get you so far before it couldn't take the heat pardon the pun.

Do you have an autozone near you home? If so they can read the code(s) from you car and that should help clear the way to what is wrong.

If you do not have an autozone call around to some other parts shops and ask them if they have an OBD II, as in 2, tool if they do ask them if there is a fee to have them read your computer. More than likely they will not becasue it generates sales for them.

In the meantime I will check a with a few sources that I have for some leads.

If you can get the codes and they match the the following P1285 and P1299 your hydraulic cooling fan is busted. I have never had nor have I know anyone to have this happen to them but it is listed as a TSB, Technical Service Bulliten.

The HCF Motor part number is XW4Z-8K621-AA and runs about 260 dollars from the dealer. You can check fordpartsnetwork.com if this turns out to be the case; they have it listed for 214 dollars.

Basically it is a bunch of disassembly and reassembly.

If you can get the codes and they match the the following P1285 and P1299 your hydraulic cooling fan is busted. I have never had nor have I know anyone to have this happen to them but it is listed as a TSB, Technical Service Bulliten.

The HCF Motor part number is XW4Z-8K621-AA and runs about 260 dollars from the dealer. You can check fordpartsnetwork.com if this turns out to be the case; they have it listed for 214 dollars.

Basically it is a bunch of disassembly and reassembly.

If you can get the codes and they match the the following P1285 and P1299 your hydraulic cooling fan is busted. I have never had nor have I know anyone to have this happen to them but it is listed as a TSB, Technical Service Bulliten.

The HCF Motor part number is XW4Z-8K621-AA and runs about 260 dollars from the dealer. You can check fordpartsnetwork.com if this turns out to be the case; they have it listed for 214 dollars.

Basically it is a bunch of disassembly and reassembly.

I just answered this on LvsC - I had a problem with my hydraulic fan - basically the engine torquing broke the stiff lines coming off the fan pump. Check the fan fliud resivor on the front passenger side of the engine bay. If it's empty - that the problem.

The LS has the neat fail-safe mode of driving on half it's cylinders to get you home under reduced power. It turns the other cylinders into heat pumps to cool the engine down.

I just answered this on LvsC - I had a problem with my hydraulic fan - basically the engine torquing broke the stiff lines coming off the fan pump. Check the fan fliud resivor on the front passenger side of the engine bay. If it's empty - that the problem.

The LS has the neat fail-safe mode of driving on half it's cylinders to get you home under reduced power. It turns the other cylinders into heat pumps to cool the engine down.


WOW! Great info. Isn't resivor shared with the power steering or somthing? Maybe it is just the V6. Maybe I am think of the brake fluid and the clutch for the v6 w/ manuals.

I forgot about the reduced power bit that threw me but your refresher on the fail safe mode was helpful.

hey what is lvsC?

hey what is lvsC?

Lincoln vs Cadillac - http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com
Lincoln LS Owners Club - http://www.llsoc.com
Lincolns On-Line - http://www.lincolnsonline.com
Ford vs Chevy - http://www.fordvschevy.com

Like this forum - All have their own unique styles.

kewl.... thanks for the links.

I have had the same problem with my '01 LS. Stop for 5 minutes and refire and it's fine. Hmmmmm I've had it into the shop and they could not find anything. I'll check the fan wires though.

The problem sounds like air in the system but I don't know how it would get there. Take off the plastic cover(under the hood) and there is a circular cap with a torx hole in it. You bleed the air out there. Open the cap and fill until full with the resuvoir cap off.

I, too am experiencing temperature problems. It's happened in the past, but a simple restart cured the problem. Now the thermostat is reading super hot and the car is forced to limp home. However, it's still not consistent. If I turn it off sometimes, and restart the temp is fine. I happen to have a temp sensor to put in, however I'm not sure where it goes. Also what color should the fluid in the reservoir with the fan blades on the passenger side be? Thanks guys.

Read the temp and engine warning problems and all the 'fixes.

I have a 2002 LS and had my engine light come on and the temp gauge spiked as well. Within moments all returned to normal. Based on the conditions I stopped into my friendly dealer as the vehicle is still under warranty and they could not find any codes in the computer. Lincoln does have a TSB out describing the problem and they ordered in a new hydraulic cooling fan. Problem solved, I hope

When the warning light(s) come on should the computer log it and if not why not. Too short a signal or other reason?

Thanks for the info which helped me understand the problem and the solution.