Ok I have already read many post regarding overheating problems but have not found one that fits my problem. I just bought an 88 TC and drove it home over 20 miles with no problem. The next day I drove the car to get my emissions test done, the station is 5 miles from my house, and while waiting in line 15 minutes the car overheated and spilled antifreeze out of the overflow bottle. I let the car cool down and drove it back home the next day and the temp was fine. I replaced the thermostat with a OEM motorcraft, the bypass hose, the radiator cap OEM 16 PSI from Ford and also the overflow bottle because I notice a crack in it. The car burped I had heat and everything seemed fine, I let the car cool down test drove it for about 5 miles, let it cool down and then topped off the antifreeze. Afterwards I let the car idle for 20 minutes and it never overheated. The next day I drove back to the emissions station and sure enough sitting in line waiting 10 minutes the temp gauge went up to hot and antifreeze started pouring out of the overflow bottle ????? Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank-you
My car used to have a problem with overheating at idle. I guess the airflow across the radiator at idle was too low to keep things cool. Replacing the two-row core with a three row core helped a lot. I also replaced the stock fan with a larger electric fan and this also helped, but replacing the radiator helped more than replacing the fan.
This maybe a stupid question, but are your fans working? If it only overheats while idling I would make sure the fans are working. Also you might check to see if there is crap between the radiator & the condenser.
I just bought the car so i am not familiar with how the fans should operate. When I turn the a/c on the big fan on the pass side turns on all the time, and then the small fan on the driver side kicks on and off. When the car started getting hot and pumping out coolant i shut it off so i did not notice if it was on or not.
DO a search on fan operation and testing... it has been discussed a million times.
Start the car & let it idle with the air off and see if the fans come on. When the air is on one fan will operate continously due to the extra load from the a/c. With a/c off the big fan should come on between 220-230 and turn off at around 210.
Ok I need to clear one thing up, i need to know if the big fan on the pass side is the main one that operates without the a/c or if it is the little one on the driver side that is the main one. I know that before i got the car the fans were replaced, is there a chance they hooked them up backwards ?
Quote:i need to know if the big fan on the pass side is the main one.....
Read the first thread I linked above.
Quote:is there a chance they hooked them up backwards ?
Usually the stock harness for the primary is not long enough to reach the secondary fan. If the harness' were lengthened, then .....?
Does the primary fan come on for a few seconds each time the engine starts. If so , then the wiring is not reversed.
I do not think either of the fans come on during start-up ?