Am I running hot?

[bgrd351]

I just got my now current Mach 1 and everything was fine. I have run the a/c and the heat without a single issue until today. I was driving home in the rain and came up on the usual traffic jam when it rains here and looked down at the temp gauge when the car seemed strange. Guess what I saw.....temp gauge going up past the A in Normal!!!! I didnt have the heat or a/c on this time. The fan was running non-stop and the temp kept going up but never made it to the L because the traffic in front of moved the the temped dropped quickly.

I watched the gauge the rest of the way home and it was the samething over and over for 30 min. of traffic. When I got home I jumped out and grabbed my laser temp gun and the hoses read cool (150) after the car was off. So I started the car and let it idle and kept checking different areas and the gauge. It all stabilized at 205-210 on the radiator and M on the gauge and the fan running non-stop.

So is this normal for the Mach 1's or is there something wrong? I hate to think that with only 24k miles that there is something wrong already. I have checked the coolant with a tester and it reads fine even with the stock clearish coolant.

Any other ideas? Sorry about the long post but details help.

 

[fast97gt]

i dont no but i hope some one can shed some light on the subject cause my 97 gt does the same thing from time to time

 

[COramprat]

It will run seemingly high in the situation you described. Try a flush and new coolent with some Water Wetter or similar especially on your 97 fast. Should bring the temps down more to your liking.

 

[bgrd351]

It will run seemingly high in the situation you described. Try a flush and new coolent with some Water Wetter or similar especially on your 97 fast. Should bring the temps down more to your liking.

So your saying this isnt running hot? My GT never did this but I dont know everything the previous owner did to the Gt. It just scared the crap out of me when I saw the gauge going up and there was nothing I could do about it. I feel a different t-stat and coolant flush w/water wetter going in tomorrow. Anybody have part numbers for the lower t-stats for our cars?

 

[04GTMustang]

your GT is getting revenge and sending out a signal to your mach and is screwin with your thermostat.
210 isnt too bad yes it is a little hot but i would be more worried in the 220s.

 

[bgrd351]

your GT is getting revenge and sending out a signal to your mach and is screwin with your thermostat.QUOTE]


It's funny you say that. The morning I was to drive 3.5 hours to trade her in I got up at 330am to prep for the trip and found the battery dead in my GT. It had sat for 2 weeks and the Optima battery had drained. Yep, she was pissed at me!!

Back to the Mach...it was sitting idling at 210 w/o anything on. Funny thing is that this is where it was sitting on the gauge everyday I have had it except in this rain storm/traffic.

Well, I am going shopping for things to do the car tonight and really need the part number for the t-stat for our cars. I'm changing that, coolant, and oil (RP/K&N ) this weekend. Next weekend I am going to order a T/A diff plate and RP for the diff and RP for the trans.

 

[jeffnoel]

You need to install an aftermarket temp gauge so you can see what's really going on. Don't count on the factory cluster saving your motor.

 

[bgrd351]

ok..right now an aftermarket gauge is not an option. But I can check the temp idling with the laser temp gun and it tells me what temp the water is.

On another note... I went to Pep Boys last night to buy the 180 t-stat and they dont even list one for my car at all. Do the 4v and 2v use the same t-stat? Or does anyone with a 4v have the part number for the 180 t-stat for our cars and where you got it?

 

[Will Smith]

the t-stat i believe is a 192deg from factory correct me if i am wrong. But if its time for a coolantchange. flush it out and change your t-stat. if the problems persist then ask more ?'s lol.

 

[jeffnoel]

Yes it's the same thermostat as 2v I ordered a Jet unit from Kragen when I changed mine PN JET-10172.

 

[fast97gt]

jeff noel if you put in an aftermarket temp guage and disconnect the factory one the comp. relies on the air and coolent temp. to determain how the engine is suppost to opperate? just a question let me know...

 

[281CI96Coupe]

Sounds like your car just needs a genuine coolant flush like everyone says, coolant flushes should be bone every 2 years, but like to it twice a year to keep things fresh!

 

[bgrd351]

Great News!!!

well, you will never guess what the outcome of this issue was....(drum roll)...solution was a $5 Stant radiator cap!!

I figured it out when 2 things happened: 1) I could hear the cap whistling after shutting the car off 2) After filling/topping off the tank and driving for 30 min on the highway I could smell coolant and when I popped the hood I found coolant around the stock cap!!

A quick stop off at Advanced Auto and $5 dollars for a Stant cap and 3 bottles of water (16 oz drinking) later the problem is and I checked at every stop yesterday over the course of 200 miles and no lost fluid. Even when I check it this morning everything was just right. The gauge even shows a little lower and the fan turns off.

So I will be ordering a 180 t-stat for the car and doing a coolant swap as soon as it comes in so that I have the proper coolant mix in the system. Thanks for all the help on this one. :SNSign:

 

[04GTMustang]

its always the little stuff isnt it. It sucks how that happens.

Oh and when i talk bad about my GT she gets pissed at me also. during a rain storm and i need the traction control i could be going sideways and it would not kick on for me. The once i let off the pedal it would turn on lol. or when i pull out of a turn and need the power cause a car is coming up fast about to smash into me the traction control turns on and kills all my power. I shut that traction control off for good nnow with the diablo tuner. Dang thing trys to kill me.

 

[bgrd351]

ok :SNSign: .....I need help on this issue again. Everything has been going fine until last night. I went to take the trash out the garage and found a nice little puddle coming from under the car and going out of the garage. There was no sign of overheat or anything like that when I was driving home last night.

So I raise the hood to find that the coolant was coming from under the new cap I put on it and the overflow was full to the rim After much searching on another forum I can not find a single stead fast cure for this issue which seems to be common.

I have not ordered a t-stat yet because even Ford seems to say that the 2v and 4v have different ones and no 180 listed. So anyone have the part number for a 180 t-stat or any other ideas for this issue?

 

[jeffnoel]

jeff noel if you put in an aftermarket temp guage and disconnect the factory one the comp. relies on the air and coolent temp. to determain how the engine is suppost to opperate? just a question let me know...

I didn't say disconnect the factory one the aftermarket gauge is in addition to the factory gauge. The computer needs to see the factory sensor for everything to work properly. But the aftermarket gauge will give you the driver accurate info.

 

[jeffnoel]

Yes it's the same thermostat as 2v I ordered a Jet unit from Kragen when I changed mine PN JET-10172.

And I repeat.

 

[RoadconeTuning]

its always the little stuff isnt it. It sucks how that happens.

Oh and when i talk bad about my GT she gets pissed at me also. during a rain storm and i need the traction control i could be going sideways and it would not kick on for me. The once i let off the pedal it would turn on lol. or when i pull out of a turn and need the power cause a car is coming up fast about to smash into me the traction control turns on and kills all my power. I shut that traction control off for good nnow with the diablo tuner. Dang thing trys to kill me.

i turned off my TC as well.. i really do think it tries to kill you...

 

[04GTMustang]

hahahaha yea it kicks on at the worst times ever. there could be a train coming about to smash into me and the dang thing will turn on when its not needed.

 

[bgrd351]

update:

I just contacted Steve @ Tousley Ford and found out that the 03-04 Cobra's and Mach 1's use the same 180 t-stat STOCK!! He didn't believe it either so he went back and pulled one and it is stamped 180. Woohoo!!

So I have ordered a new t-stat, o-ring, and radiator cap w/ overnight shipping so I can have this in the car asap. I have already bought the distilled water, antifreeze and water-wetter.

For those of you that have done this already to a 4v...

1. how are you flushing the system to get rid of the stock coolant...hose or jugs of distilled?

2. how are you burping the system...jacked up front and fill at the port and then fill the over flow?

3. any other advice on this before I start it tomorrow night?