Cooling problem

[MAFreeze]

I have a 95 Mustang that's been having a cooling problem as of late. Cold starts especially, periodically my heater starts blowing cold air and at the same time my temperature gauge rises to the red. I took it to a dealership and they said it was my radiator. So they replaced it. One day later, same problem only this time I had coolant leakage everywhere. I took it back, and they said it was a bad radiator cap. So they replaced it. One day later, same problem. I took it back and after 100 miles of test driving they couldn't find anything wrong with it. After five miles of driving, I'm getting the same problem...no heat, high temperature. Some times something seems to click and I get hot air and the temp gauge shoots down to normal, but only to have the same problem occur a short time later.

Could this be a water pump problem? Anybody have any suggestions? Obviously, I'm irritated to say the least.

[BigDanTheMan]

my pony used to overheat all the time - then i got a three core radiator and the gauge never goes up more thena quarter of the way.

[DiggerStang]

This might seem like a stupid question, but does the car actually run long enough to overheat, or is the temp gauge registering false readings? If the heater starts blowing cold air, there's no hot coolant flowing through it. Maybe you have a blockage somewhere. Maybe your pump seizes. You'd think the dealer could figure it out... Cooling circuits are not that complicated.

[HiFlow5 0]

Sounds like the t-stat, either getting stuck while closed, or having a hard time opening at the correct temp.

[quiktsi]

I agree with HighFlow check the Thermostat. Question have you ever used radiator flush or stop leak prior to having this problem . If so check your hoses and your heater core they could be blocked.

[MAFreeze]

I've never used radiator flush or stop leak, but most of the service to my radiator has been done by others. I don't know if that's something regular maintence (by them) would include? Anyway, the dealership ran tests on the t-stat and it was opening up at the correct temp for them. I think they did it twice.

I'm at a disadvantage since I only know the basics when it comes to what goes on under the hood...but aren't most of these things you've all suggested rather normal procedures that a Ford dealership would execute upon hearing about the car's problems?

[gargoyle]

It sounds like it could be a cracked head. My wife's tempo did that. Also have the heater-core looked at. If the click sound is inside the car it could be your heater-core which should be located under the passenger's side of the dash behind the glove compartment. If your thermo-stat is working corretly then I would presume that you don't have a blockage. If it's opening and flushing coolent out, then coolent has to be coming back into the block again. If not the dealer would have caught that.

[gargoyle]

OK after rereading what you said I'm leaning on a bad heater-core. I don't think it's the water pump. They uselly just scrap out in a bang. But I'm not say'in that is not the problem though.

[quiktsi]

Here is a suggestion to check to see if it is the heater core you have 2 funny looking tough rubber hoses going into the fire wall on the passenger side. Take a small piece of pipe, disconnect the the 2 hoses from the from the fire wall and put the piece of pipe between the two drive the car and see if it still overheats. If it does not then it is your heater core. Note pls make sure when you do this the clamps are tight. Another question is the passenger side carpet damp at all, do you steam coming out out the dash when you use the defroster. let us know.