2000 Cobra R Overheating

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esmith700

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Dec 24, 2013
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I have a 2000 Cobra and it keeps overheating. I have tought that it was the head gasket but if it were the gasket wouldnt it be putting out white smoke? I am not real familiar with the 4.6 or 5.4 engines but would love to get this thing so it is drivable soon. Any thoughts? Thanks.
 
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I have a 2000 Cobra and it keeps overheating. I have tought that it was the head gasket but if it were the gasket wouldnt it be putting out white smoke? I am not real familiar with the 4.6 or 5.4 engines but would love to get this thing so it is drivable soon. Any thoughts? Thanks.

First of all, it is either a 99 or 01 Cobra (unless you reside in Australia).

Anyway, check for a faulty thermostat.
 
could be many things...

air in coolant system
thermostat
oil cooler problems
electric fan is broke

highly unlikely to be head gasket...

it is expensive to own a cobra R take it to an expensive shop or google the problems I listed and fix it yourself if you can...
 
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If "Cobra R" was listed in the title to this thread you would have a thousand views already and a metric ton of replies. That is all I have for you. Keep us updated with everything you do to this car and post some pics. It is a rare ride.
 
I have a 2000 Cobra and it keeps overheating. I have tought that it was the head gasket but if it were the gasket wouldnt it be putting out white smoke? I am not real familiar with the 4.6 or 5.4 engines but would love to get this thing so it is drivable soon. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Head gaskets do not always show as white smoke out the tail pipe.

There are a lot of things to check before assuming head gasket. I would start by pressure testing the cooling system. If there are any leaks, they should show up. If the system won't hold pressure and there are no external leaks, then you are looking at an internal engine issue such as an intake gasket, a head gasket, or a cracked cylinder head or block.

If the system does hold pressure, I would then start looking towards the thermostat and making sure the radiator cap itself is good. Using an infrared heat gun, I would measure the temperature on the inlet and outlet hoses on the radiator to make sure I have good flow through the radiator. The cooling fans should operate correctly, and the factory air dam should be installed and undamaged.

You also need to make sure that the water pump is circulating the coolant (the blades can actually break off of some pumps causing them to not circulate the coolant) and the system should be properly bled of air.

Lastly, you can have the cooling system tested for the presence of hydrocarbons. The only way they can get into the cooling system is through the introduction of combustion gases, which indicates a blown head gasket or cracked cylinder head.

Can you tell us what the modifications are? Oh, and pictures would be great for the rest of us who don't get to see these very often :)
 
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Has it overheated since you bought it? You said it had been abused and modified. Is the 5.4 factory motor or the factory intake on it? I don't see it being the head gasket but if the prior owner had put a supercharger on it, removed it and sold it, the odds of a head gasket issue are higher. Here is a link to pics of the 2000 Cobra R with engine pics in case you are unsure of how it looked from the factory:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261370238616?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
 
Head gaskets can go and that won't happen. I mostly see the radiator being over pressured and blowing the cap or coolant out. Or the famous coolant coming from the down pipe and out the back of the exhaust :p funny how customers don't notice the burning coolant smell, I guess you get used to it.
 
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