trouble starting

[grimmy]

The past couple of days my 65 has been having trouble starting up again. It starts just fine when I leave work but yesterday and the day before I dropped by the bank, when I came back out It didn't want to start. It cranks, but it doesn't want to turn over. I ended up just turning the key and holding it there. It started after about five or six seconds. This is not something I like to do.

I noticed that the temp guage is a lot closer to hot than I'd like it to be so I drained the radiator and refilled. I didn't have time to do a full flush, but I also don't see how this could effect the cars' ability to start. Any ideas?

[KimMG]

Time for a tune-up?
Is it running hot? Car engines will heat up for a short period of time after you turn them off because the coolant is not circulating. Did the engine temp drop after the car started running?

[grimmy]

Very slowly and very little.

Yesterday I went through the drive through and as I was waiting, the temperature slowly started climbing. It got right next to the line. When it got hot there was a definite change in the way the car was idling. This is after only driving five or six miles from work to my appartment, then one more mile to the bank. this is riddiculous. So I figure I need to go through what I can to see whats wrong.

replace the thermostat
flush the entire cooling system
check the water pump
if need be get a new radiator

If there is anything I'm missing here please let me know.

[KimMG]

Belts and hoses. Old hoses can collapse causing an obstruction.
Radiator cap.
Fan and fan belt.
Radiator, make sure the fins are clean and free from obstructions (bugs, leaves).

May want to do a compression test to see if the head gasket is failing.
There is also another test that can be done on the cooling system to see if combustion gases are getting into the cooling system.
Pressure test the cooling system to see if there is a leak.

Oil level, if low the car will run hotter. Check to see if there is coolant in the oil.

Look at the spark plugs and see if the air/fuel ratio is good and to see that they are not being fouled. Check timing. Too far advance will cause a motor to run hotter.

[grimmy]

Alright, I flushed the cooling system and replaced the thermostat and seal. The car runs much cooler. When I'm in motion the temp guage stays half way between hot and cold. However, just sitting in park or waiting in the drive through is bad. The temperature just keeps going up, which inevitably leads to the engine making noises that sound like it is about to die. I think I will look around for a fan clutch or maybe an electric fan.

I have posted a few times on here with different problems and I'm sure this wont be the last. As frustrating as it is, I see this more as a right of passage. I have owned this vehicle for four years now and I am just starting to learn what is going on under the hood. I bought this car not knowing anything about cars and am learning a lot. Thanks to my coworkers and the fine people here at A.F., most recently KimMG. Now when something goes wrong with the car I'm very enthusiastic about getting the chance to roll up my sleeves and get in there. So after four years this mustang finaly feels like it is truly mine.

Thank you all.

[lottathought]

I used to have one of these.
A fan will probably help but I would be more concerned that this is something that was not going on before.

My first thought is that you have a clogged radiator.
Unfortunately flushing usually does not fix this.

Also..while the electric fan will help some...if the radiator is clogged, all that cooled fluid is being choked off from getting back into the engine. And it will probably only get more clogged as time goes on.

[KimMG]

Did you test for a blown headgasket? If the timing is too far advanced the motor will run hotter. Have you looked at the sparkplugs? Did you replace the radiator? Start car in the morning, let it idle to operating temperature, just to the point where the thermostat opens, turn off motor, feel radiator, if you have cold spots, then the radiator is clogged.

[grimmy]

it is about 12 degrees advanced, the spark plugs look fine and I haven't replaced the radiator. do I have to take the car to a shop to have the headgasket tested?

My brain usually doesn't work in the mornings but I'll try to remember to check the radiator tomorrow.

[KimMG]

Put a post-it on the steering wheel to remind you about the radiator. Check with your local chain auto parts stores to see if they rent tools. The store may have a compression tester for the cylinders and a pressure tester for the cooling system. Ask at the counter to see if they a kit to test for exhaust gasses in the cooling system.