96 stang heat problems?

[1stimestangoner]

I just bought my first mustang last week and already have problems.

Three days ago my 96 mustang 3.8 V6 got really hot. The temp gauge was almost to the red line. I was only half a min from home so i just got home and parked it. I am not sure if that was the right move but it is done. Now I popped the hood and the coolant was overflowing. I took it to a ford dealership the nex day and they charged me a $100 bill and got it back to normal. They didn't tell me much except that the fix was temporary. They gave my a list of parts that I "may" need to replace, like, radiator, water pump, and thermostat.

Now, I got home from the dealership fine, no overheating. I waited 'till the engine was cool then popped the hood and there was no coolant and the radiator cap was loose. put a little (1/3) coolant in and tightened the radiator cap. I went for about a 15 min drive and the temp gauge went from medium to cool two times, and the heater did the same.

Sorry to rample on but if anybody has any suggestions or has had this happen to them and would like to share it, it would be very helpful.

Thanks
Tim

 

[AP1995V6]

Unless your radiator is oozing fluid, I doubt you'll need a new one. Water pump and thermostat are more likely. Start with the cheapest/easiest to fix then work from there.

The temperature fluctuation was probably due to an inadequate amount of fluid circulating through the engine.

 

[Skymarshal]

This actually sounds a lot like a blown head gasket. Fluctuating coolant temp and disappearing coolant are two signs, and the '96 is one of the problem years that was known for that.

How does your oil look? How about the coolant?

 

[232Mustang95]

This actually sounds a lot like a blown head gasket. Fluctuating coolant temp and disappearing coolant are two signs, and the '96 is one of the problem years that was known for that.

How does your oil look? How about the coolant?

Just what I was thinking.

What color is your oil?

 

[AP1995V6]

As far as disappearing coolant is concerned, my drain plug in my radiator is bad so I've been leaking coolant through the drain. Just another place to look.

 

[1stimestangoner]

my oil looks fine to me but what should I look for?

 

[AP1995V6]

It'll be a lighter color. Also, you may be blowing white smoke out your exhaust, but that's not always the case. A compression test will also show if you have a blown gasket.

 

[ChingonStang]

This sounds all to familiar to me. I hope you didn't buy my old 1996 White Mustang. I had similar issues with it.

 

[1stimestangoner]

well... it has been two days and the temp gauge has been acting normal. I took my kids on a hour long drive to the zoo today with no problems.... i'm wondering if something was clogged or the water pump is starting to go, or maybe the thermostat... I will probably just take the advice and work from the cheapest and see what works. Thanks everybody. I will keep you updated.

 

[raz54]

Another way to tell if a head gasget is blown is to remove the radiator cap (while it's cool) and let the engine run. Watch the water for any bubbling, it should be smooth flowing, if there is you have an internal leak into a combustion chamber.

 

[vega7891]

could this be caused by a leaking heatercore??