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  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

Radiator/Fan Light?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Blev
  • Start date Start date Feb 9, 2004

Blev

New Member
Aug 17, 2003
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So. Cal. V-Town
Feb 9, 2004
#1
  • Feb 9, 2004
  • #1
Here's the deal. Thursday my Radiator/Fan light went on then went off when I started driving. It did it again Friday and again on Saturday. I flushed my radiator on Sunday and added new fluids. So driving to work today (monday) it stayed on when I started my car, then went out when I started driving. After a few minutes it went on and STAYED on the entire 33 mile trip. Is my fan out or maybe my thermostat? The car didn't overhear or even get hot, than again it was cold out this morning. Any advice would be great.

Thanks,
 

Dallasgt01

New Member
Dec 31, 2003
204
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Dallas, Texas
Feb 9, 2004
#2
  • Feb 9, 2004
  • #2
Check your intake for a crack a friend of mine has a 98 with some mods and his intake was cracked when that light was coming on...
 

Blev

New Member
Aug 17, 2003
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So. Cal. V-Town
Feb 9, 2004
#3
  • Feb 9, 2004
  • #3
Dallasgt01 said:
Check your intake for a crack a friend of mine has a 98 with some mods and his intake was cracked when that light was coming on...
Click to expand...
Wouldn't I be leaking fluids if that was the case? I'm not a mechanic so I really don't know. I'll check for cracks tonight.
 

Dallasgt01

New Member
Dec 31, 2003
204
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Dallas, Texas
Feb 9, 2004
#4
  • Feb 9, 2004
  • #4
i think you would be but on my friends 98 it did not do that i was just cracked and made that (Radiator with the fan on it) light come on.... It was in the back where it was cracked they have a updated version of that because of the issues they have with them cracking i have been through 2 pf them on my 01 gt
 

Blev

New Member
Aug 17, 2003
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So. Cal. V-Town
Feb 9, 2004
#5
  • Feb 9, 2004
  • #5
Dallasgt01 said:
i think you would be but on my friends 98 it did not do that i was just cracked and made that (Radiator with the fan on it) light come on.... It was in the back where it was cracked they have a updated version of that because of the issues they have with them cracking i have been through 2 pf them on my 01 gt
Click to expand...

Is their a silent recall on them? Can I get Ford to foot the bill?
 
T

turbokid

New Member
Feb 7, 2004
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0
Feb 9, 2004
#6
  • Feb 9, 2004
  • #6
yeah my 02 mustant does dat too but my radiator fluid is more den half full....
 
T

turbokid

New Member
Feb 7, 2004
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Feb 9, 2004
#7
  • Feb 9, 2004
  • #7
yeah my 00 mustant does dat too but my radiator fluid is more den half full....
 

Sam98

Founding Member
Mar 15, 2002
1,625
1
0
Albuquerque, NM
Feb 10, 2004
#8
  • Feb 10, 2004
  • #8
Blev said:
Here's the deal. Thursday my Radiator/Fan light went on then went off when I started driving. It did it again Friday and again on Saturday. I flushed my radiator on Sunday and added new fluids. So driving to work today (monday) it stayed on when I started my car, then went out when I started driving. After a few minutes it went on and STAYED on the entire 33 mile trip. Is my fan out or maybe my thermostat? The car didn't overhear or even get hot, than again it was cold out this morning. Any advice would be great.

Thanks,
Click to expand...

It probably isn't the radiator or thermostat if the engine isn't overheating, but you may have a leak. Start it up and let it warm up then remove the cap on the coolant bottle. There should be pressure and if there isn't either the cap is bad or you have a leak somewhere. BTW, how do you like that hood?
 

Blev

New Member
Aug 17, 2003
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Feb 10, 2004
#9
  • Feb 10, 2004
  • #9
Sam98 said:
It probably isn't the radiator or thermostat if the engine isn't overheating, but you may have a leak. Start it up and let it warm up then remove the cap on the coolant bottle. There should be pressure and if there isn't either the cap is bad or you have a leak somewhere. BTW, how do you like that hood?
Click to expand...

I changed out the ECT last night HOPING that was the issue, but it wasn't I'll be further examining things tonight in hopes of figuring out what the deal is. I'll try what you said about removing the cap. The hood rocks, everyone with a 95-98 stang asks about it. I paid out of the nose for it in 02' though. PM me if you want a good pic of the hood, I can take one. Just have a rear angle view available.
 

jeff1414

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Jun 19, 2003
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Sacramento
Feb 10, 2004
#10
  • Feb 10, 2004
  • #10
Mine did the same thing. it was the float sensor inside the radiator. mine did not float no more so it would stay at the bottom of the tank causing the light to come on. I just took that sensor out and never seen it again. You just got to watch the fluids. Maybe this is the problem ?????????
 

Blev

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Aug 17, 2003
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So. Cal. V-Town
Feb 10, 2004
#11
  • Feb 10, 2004
  • #11
jeff1414 said:
Mine did the same thing. it was the float sensor inside the radiator. mine did not float no more so it would stay at the bottom of the tank causing the light to come on. I just took that sensor out and never seen it again. You just got to watch the fluids. Maybe this is the problem ?????????
Click to expand...
HEY....we might be on to something!! My question is does the 98' have the same thing as your 99? Where is the "float sensor" located? How hard is it to remove and does it throw another MIL?
 

jeff1414

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Jun 19, 2003
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Sacramento
Feb 10, 2004
#12
  • Feb 10, 2004
  • #12
It is in the tank where you pour the fluid in the top right hand corner. It's not in the actual radiator. First get a srew driver and stick it in there towards the top right corner you should be able to fell it because you can move it up and down. try moving it up and down a little then go drive around and see if it comes back on. If it does you need to take off the tank and take that sensor out with some needle nose. Well that is what i did but you can go get a new tank and all that but i did not want to spend the money so i just took it out. the sensor is on a plastic thing and it just moves up and down move that plastic thing over and let the sensor fall out. let me know if you have anymore ?'s Jeff.
 

Blev

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Aug 17, 2003
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Feb 10, 2004
#13
  • Feb 10, 2004
  • #13
jeff1414 said:
It is in the tank where you pour the fluid in the top right hand corner. It's not in the actual radiator. First get a srew driver and stick it in there towards the top right corner you should be able to fell it because you can move it up and down. try moving it up and down a little then go drive around and see if it comes back on. If it does you need to take off the tank and take that sensor out with some needle nose. Well that is what i did but you can go get a new tank and all that but i did not want to spend the money so i just took it out. the sensor is on a plastic thing and it just moves up and down move that plastic thing over and let the sensor fall out. let me know if you have anymore ?'s Jeff.
Click to expand...

Will I throw another MIL if I just unplug it? I saw the part you were talking about, I wiggled it up and down but it doesn't look like anything is attached to it. However, there is a sensor plug directly beneath it.
 

jeff1414

New Member
Jun 19, 2003
447
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Sacramento
Feb 10, 2004
#14
  • Feb 10, 2004
  • #14
yeh i would not mess with the plug outside of the tank then it might throw something else at you. Nothing should be attached to the sensor inside of the tank. Empty the fluid then pull out the sensor inside of the tank. Don't unplug the hole thing from the outside. If you just take off the floaty thing that is inside you should be alright. I had to take off my hole off tank to do itor you and empty a little fluid just enough so you can see the float. When i got the float sensor out i put in a bucket of water and that thing did not even float no more. If you do that it will not throw another mil. Mine didn't. Jeff
 

Blev

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Aug 17, 2003
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Feb 10, 2004
#15
  • Feb 10, 2004
  • #15
jeff1414 said:
yeh i would not mess with the plug outside of the tank then it might throw something else at you. Nothing should be attached to the sensor inside of the tank. Empty the fluid then pull out the sensor inside of the tank. Don't unplug the hole thing from the outside. If you just take off the floaty thing that is inside you should be alright. I had to take off my hole off tank to do itor you and empty a little fluid just enough so you can see the float. When i got the float sensor out i put in a bucket of water and that thing did not even float no more. If you do that it will not throw another mil. Mine didn't. Jeff
Click to expand...

I tried a little wiggle and jiggle and the light still comes on. I'll try removing the sensor when I get home tonight. Did you have to reset the ECU so the MIL light goes off?
 

jeff1414

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Feb 10, 2004
#16
  • Feb 10, 2004
  • #16
Well I just reset the computer when i took out the sensor i did not try to start it. Yeh reset the computer when your done just to make sure! The thing that the float sensor is around is 2 different pieces connected the bottom is white the top half is black. move the black one over and the sensor will come right out!
 

Blev

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Aug 17, 2003
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Feb 11, 2004
#17
  • Feb 11, 2004
  • #17
jeff1414 said:
Well I just reset the computer when i took out the sensor i did not try to start it. Yeh reset the computer when your done just to make sure! The thing that the float sensor is around is 2 different pieces connected the bottom is white the top half is black. move the black one over and the sensor will come right out!
Click to expand...

Problem solved. I dosconected that stupid sensor and guess what.....the MIL went out!! Big THANKS Jeff I'm ordering the new float sensor today so I can plug it back in. The best part about this is when I unplugged it, it didn't throw the check engine light.
 

jeff1414

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Jun 19, 2003
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Sacramento
Feb 11, 2004
#18
  • Feb 11, 2004
  • #18
Ha so that was the problem. I knew that it was going to be. Hey where are you getting the new float sensor from????
 

Blev

New Member
Aug 17, 2003
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So. Cal. V-Town
Feb 11, 2004
#19
  • Feb 11, 2004
  • #19
jeff1414 said:
Ha so that was the problem. I knew that it was going to be. Hey where are you getting the new float sensor from????
Click to expand...

I found out you can't get just the sensor You have to order the entire reservoir tank. It’s like 79 bucks from Ford. I tried calling the usual shops like Kragen and Auto Zone, but no dice.
 
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