1998 Explorer - High idle, rough automatic shifting, running hot - Water pump??

[Groovecake]

That's pretty much the deal. Today it started shifting rough and kind of erratic. Tonight driving home the "Check Gage" light came on (love the typo on the dash). It was getting close to overheating.

I have had other cars do similar things and it was the water pump.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

Mitch

[Groovecake]

Twas the thermostat.

Mitch

[Bryan1436]

Originally Posted by Groovecake

Twas the thermostat.

Mitch

My thermostat went bad two years ago - except just opposite. Even after driving to work (which was 20some miles at that point) the dash would still show that the engine was cold.. Talk about some poor gas milege also!

[4caster]

I had the exact same symptoms lof running hot last summer and it was the thermostat. (They can fail in both the open or closed position...thus the hot and cold running symptoms.) The transmission shifts harshly because the fluid gets heated in the radiator. If your water pump failed, it would probably leak coolent and make an unusual noise.

Good luck! Please let us know what you find out.