• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

Overheating WTF

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ray@VSK
  • Start date Start date Oct 8, 2004
R

Ray@VSK

New Member
Aug 27, 2004
355
0
0
Oct 8, 2004
#1
  • Oct 8, 2004
  • #1
I replaced the thermistat & waterpump, this thing is still overheating
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
33
129
Oct 8, 2004
#2
  • Oct 8, 2004
  • #2
did you burp the system? what tells you it is overheating? stock gauge?
please give more info.
 
R

Ray@VSK

New Member
Aug 27, 2004
355
0
0
Oct 8, 2004
#3
  • Oct 8, 2004
  • #3
Well I replaced the thermostat first as the water pump appeared to be fine & was not leaking, I fire it up & it starts overheating, I am looking @ the stock guage & listening & watching the motor start to crawl the hotter & hotter it gets, so I replace water pump & same thing..
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
33
129
Oct 8, 2004
#4
  • Oct 8, 2004
  • #4
you really need to use an aftermarket gauge to know what is going on, IMHO.

if you have air trapped in there, it can run pretty hot. steam does not cool very well.

good luck.
 
R

Ray@VSK

New Member
Aug 27, 2004
355
0
0
Oct 8, 2004
#5
  • Oct 8, 2004
  • #5
Well there is no question, it is overheating.

I've already flushed system about 5 months ago & burped & retopped off & all the way up to now it has been fine, not a drop off lost antifreeze in the rad & even after replacing the thermastat (twice) & waterpump both @ different times surely any bubbles in the system are gone.

What about the Heater Core, will it cause this if maybe it's clogged, anyother suggestions ?
 
T

TheUser

Active Member
Jul 25, 2003
1,859
1
36
Springfield, MO
Oct 8, 2004
#6
  • Oct 8, 2004
  • #6
it's really not that hard to burp the system and it could solve your problem. I burped and retopped off 3 or 4 times a week for several weeks straight, so it's not that big of a deal. Leave your rad. cap off and start it up, any bubbles escape...squeeze the upper hose, you know the drill...some even jack up the pass side I think.

My problem ended up being due to a bad radiator cap and my rad. neck wasn't flat. A rad shop checked it out for me and he flattened the top, I bought a new cap and it's fine.
 
R

Ray@VSK

New Member
Aug 27, 2004
355
0
0
Oct 8, 2004
#7
  • Oct 8, 2004
  • #7
If you insist
 
A

autoXr1

Founding Member
May 3, 2001
1,838
0
0
Michigan
Oct 8, 2004
#8
  • Oct 8, 2004
  • #8
In addition to the more common trapped air theory and sticky thermostat....

1. Radiator cap not holding pressure
2. Radiator in poor condition
3. Coolant pump rotating too slowly (underdrives)
4. Coolant pump in poor condtion
5. Air/fuel ratio too lean
6. Radiator not recieving enough fresh, cool air through the fins
 

Michael Yount

Mustang Master
Apr 10, 2002
9,039
6
79
Charlotte, NC
Oct 8, 2004
#9
  • Oct 8, 2004
  • #9
Not sure how to break the news but - new t'stats and water pumps rarely solve overheating problems - unless the t'stat was stuck closed.

Water pump failure is almost always related to seals leaking. Even stock pumps have enough excess capacity that as the impeller becomes coated with deposits, they still usually pump just fine. And lowering operating temps with a new t'stat simply buys you a little time -- it usually takes a little longer for the system to heat back into the overheating range, that's all.

Dumb questions first - you sure you put the t'stat in facing the right way? Spring towards the engine?

If you're overheating, it's likely because either the radiator is no longer capable of rejecting enough heat, or the fans aren't moving enough air across the radiator at low speed. Underdrives can contribute as both the water pump and the mechanical fan are turning at lower speed which sometimes combines to cause problems -- not moving enough coolant quickly enough, and not moving enough air across with the slower turning fan.

So, tell us all about your radiator and your fan set up.
 
R

Ray@VSK

New Member
Aug 27, 2004
355
0
0
Oct 8, 2004
#10
  • Oct 8, 2004
  • #10
I will look allittle closer into this, I was going to unhook the heatercore but oddly the thing has ran perfect for 6 months & I have never once ever had a problem like this, I have had about 4 or 5 pums & regs go out on me over the years but never nothing ,like this, just so you understand this is not a slight overheating this is from the time I start it @ wich time being cold it only takes about 2 minutes to reach the H & the heater remind ya never works just blows out air "not hot".
 

Michael Yount

Mustang Master
Apr 10, 2002
9,039
6
79
Charlotte, NC
Oct 8, 2004
#11
  • Oct 8, 2004
  • #11
Ray - it's almost physically impossible for one to actually overheat in 2 minutes from a cold start up assuming it's full of coolant. Given that, it's likely a gauge or sender unit issue. The stock gauge/sender are notoriously inaccurate anyway - you should have a quality aftermarket temp gauge to protect your parts investment.

But you didn't answer the questions - did you put the t'stat in the right way? What's your radiator/fan set up?

If the rad is stock, they will build up mineral deposits over time and gradually become less effective. We don't notice anything until one day they just start overheating.
 
R

Ray@VSK

New Member
Aug 27, 2004
355
0
0
Oct 8, 2004
#12
  • Oct 8, 2004
  • #12
Welp sure enough, I squeezed some hoses, loosened cap, reved & repeated procedure & walla just when it was almost overheated again the guage shot to cold & has stayed there ever since, never seen air bubbles do anything like that before but man am I a beleiver now, thanks alot guys
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Engine 1986 GT Overheating issues
  • 86 5O GT
  • Jan 25, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
18
Views
445
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jan 29, 2026
86 5O GT
M
1997 Mustang GT Overheating Issue
  • Mustang1988!!
  • Sep 3, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
5
Views
205
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Sep 24, 2025
squeak93
B
2001 SVT Cobra Overheating Issue
  • bradencaron0
  • May 8, 2025
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
1
Views
181
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- May 8, 2025
Noobz347
Engine Suggestions on an engine rebuild. Stock cam/GT40Ps or aftermarket on both for a fun weekend driver?
  • MadSquirrelTech
  • Apr 28, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2
Replies
23
Views
591
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 7, 2026
MadSquirrelTech
O
2001 mustang gt overheating
  • orinsmiley11
  • Jul 17, 2025
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
1
Views
269
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Jul 17, 2025
Noobz347
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?