Emergency... Please help!

[ShiftTheDrift]

UPDATE: Emergency... We fixed it!

I have a 1994 Mustang Cobra and it has this desire to overheat without notice. I have recently flushed the cooling system and refilled with fresh coolant and for some reason, it becomes empty after a period of a week or so.

More importantly, I was driving the other day and it overheated. I pulled over immediately and let the engine cool down. It couldn't have been pegged hot on the temperature gauge for more than 30 seconds.

It would seem now, that I hear many popping sounds coming from the exhaust while cruising or accelerating in low gear?!?!

Is there something to be worried about? Where should I look and for the life of me, and what do I do now?

I use this car as my daily driver to commute back and forth to work.

It really becomes odd that when I do notice the temperature gauge is climbing, I can switch on the A/C for a very "short" period of time, turn it off and it starts to cool down for a couple of minutes.

This problem is way beyond me at this point, but yet I'm faced with getting it fixed by myself.

Can anybody help?

Thanks!

 

[baglock1]

Oh boy. What's the oil look like? Any white, milky stuff in it?

 

[ShiftTheDrift]

Well, the "oh boy" scares me... I've looked at the level of oil on the dip stick and I don't see any white material or metal shavings.

This particular overheating occurrence just happened day before yesterday and since then, the Cobra has been parked.

Thanks for the quick reply... seriously!

 

[AZ95GT]

Could it be the water pump??

 

[VIPERn94Five-0]

id drain the oil and get back to us....the first place id look is maybe the thermostat is shot...if you run the car and it starts to warm up does the fan kick on??.....get in the car and blast the heat...does the fan kick on??....


Anthony

 

[94CobraPace]

Turning on the AC turns on the high speed fan.
Does it overheat when sitting in traffic? Or while driving?
Could be the thermostat sticking or stuck. Could have a leak in the radiator and the water evaporats before dripping on the ground.

 

[wytstang]

Drain the oil a little to see if any coolant comes out mix with the oil.

 

[DavidF]

Well one thing, I know when you turn on the A/C the electric fan comes on automatically. That might help in cooling the car down. Does it stay cool while the A/C is on?

 

[ShiftTheDrift]

First of all, you guys are great. I appreciate all the posts so quickly!

She does overheat just sitting in traffic and the fan does come on when either the A/C or the defroster is operating. However, at idle, I cannot see any leak(s) from the radiator or coolant hoses.

Any ideas as to why I might be experiencing these more so unusual popping coming from the exhaust?

Again, thanks a lot guys!

 

[ShiftTheDrift]

No, once the A/C comes on, it acts like a trigger for a brief moment in cooling the car down. You cannot leave the A/C on for any length of time before the needle pegs "hot" on the temperature gauge.

 

[wytstang]

If there is no oil mixed with the coolant than turn the car on ( with the hood up ) and let the car run. when the temp start to climb check to see if the fan turns on. Also the the upper and lower radiator hoses to see if both hoses are hot or is one hot and the other cold. if one is cold and the other hot there is no circulation which means you termostat is stuck and needs to be changes. good luck

 

[DavidF]

Lets see....over heating, and popping from exhaust. Maybe timing?

 

[VIPERn94Five-0]

Turning on the AC turns on the high speed fan.
Does it overheat when sitting in traffic? Or while driving?
Could be the thermostat sticking or stuck. Could have a leak in the radiator and the water evaporats before dripping on the ground.

i am corrected...your right! my bad



Anthony

 

[ShiftTheDrift]

Something else, I just had a new 75mm Pro-M mass air meter installed.

Here is a brief description of engine mods that might help as well:

Trick Flow Heads
Roller Rockers
FMS E303 CAM
Re-enforced pushrods
BBK 70 MM TB
BBK Adjustable Fuel Regulator
Pro-M 75 Mass Air Meter
Shorty headers
1 Chamber Flowmaster Catback
H-Pipe w/ 2 Cats

 

[ShiftTheDrift]

If there is no oil mixed with the coolant than turn the car on ( with the hood up ) and let the car run. when the temp start to climb check to see if the fan turns on. Also the the upper and lower radiator hoses to see if both hoses are hot or is one hot and the other cold. if one is cold and the other hot there is no circulation which means you termostat is stuck and needs to be changes. good luck

If in fact the thermostat is bad, would this cause drainage of the coolant reservoir to simply overflow or evaporate?

Can you think of any damage that a overheating problem might have caused the popping sound from the exhaust?

 

[jmuva44]

I would put my savings on it being the ECT sensor. Replace that pronto and see if that helps!!!!!!

Do a search and you'll see that people have had this problem before....including myself. I once had the same problems and replaced thermostats, water pumps, added water wetter, changed coolant ratios, blah blah blah. Nothing worked. I was so upset and scared I was going to ruin my car!!!!!

The only way I could cool it was to briefly turn on the A/C or keep the car moving to get air across the radiator.

The ECT is the coolant temperature sensor just above and to the left of the thermostat housing. It is a 2 minute swap and you dont have to worry about your coolant spewing or leakin (only a very small amount will leak). You can even swap them out with the coolant at full pressure (at least I have and had no problems). You can buy these ECT sensors at any auto parts stores for $15!! If it doesnt work, clean it up real good and take it back.

Basically, it takes the temperature of the coolant in the engine and tells the computer when to turn the fan on and off and it also adjusts the air/fuel ratio based on this (maybe causing your popping). Mine was so screwed up that the computer was almost NEVER turning on the fan. Installed the new ECT sensor and the fan came on strong. Never had a problem afterwards.

I'm 90% sure this is your problem......good luck and be careful with your car overheating!!!!!

Chris

 

[Rootus]

Another way to check head gasket -- when it's cold, pop the radiator cap & start it. See if you get bubbles in the coolant. Also see if there is any trace of oil (rainbow) in the coolant.

Dave

 

[wytstang]

If in fact the thermostat is bad, would this cause drainage of the coolant reservoir to simply overflow or evaporate?

Can you think of any damage that a overheating problem might have caused the popping sound from the exhaust?

I think the coolant reservoir work off of vacume pressure created by the coolant system ( I might be wrong so don't qoute me on that ) so it would overflow or evaporate. If in fact you did over heat there is a chance you blew the head gasket. that would cause a leak in a cylinder that might be the cause of the popping sound in the exhause you hear ( water evaporating )

 

[wytstang]

Check the spark plugs as well look at the electrodes to see if you can see green on them ( coolant specs ). might have to use magnaphing glass to really see them well just a thought good luck

 

[ShiftTheDrift]

UPDATE:

It's been awhile, but I just wanted to let everybody know what exactly happened. Many of you wished me luck and helped guessing on just what the hell was going on, therefore I think I owe you an explanation.

Here we go,

A new AFPR was installed and without a gauge to properly adjust the fuel pressure, we later found it to be at 20psi. However, we never saw the signs of it running lean on the temp gauge until the coolant was gone.



This caused overheating and ultimately the destruction of the head gasket between cylinders 3 & 4.

We solved where the coolant was in such a hurry to run off to.

Essentially, the Cobra was only running on 6 cylinders and was doing nothing but exchanging compression back and forth in 3 & 4.

Later, water became a problem and a hydraulic lock ended up slapping us in the face. We kinda pieced it together after that point.

Thereafter, we started taking everything apart, inspecting for damage to valves, pushrods, heads, pistons and BOY did we get LUCKY.

I've never seen a sparkplug and a cylinder so clean in my life, other than new of course.

In conclusion, we've replaced head bolts, gaskets, sparkplugs, wires, fuel filter, thermostat, and had the heads resurfaced with a valve job!

At this point, we've got the heads back on and looking great with new valve covers and by Thursday should be turnover time. So, again, wish me luck guys!!