please help..

[5.0notslow]

ok so ill start from the beginning, i noticed the car running a little weird, so my friend and i took a look at it and i was leaking coolant from the lower intake manifold. so i took it to a shop and had them replace the gaskets. then when driving the car home it still felt like it was not running right and before i could get anywhere the car started over heating real bad and steaming like crazy. so i pulled into a gas station and popped the hood. i could not see it leaking from anywhere, the coolant came out of the overflow tank. so i took it back to the shop and they said i had an air bubble, so they "fixed" the air bubble and it drove home fine (not over heating or steaming anymore) but still not right. so when i left for work it happened again so once again i went back to the shop and it was steaming like crazy and they could not find any leaks. so they "thought" it was the thermostat, so they replaced that. now the car is still doing the same thing..and its really starting to piss me off..i need any advice as to what it could be, what they did wrong, what i should do, and anything else useful before i decide to do something drastic and cuss someone out or anything to get in trouble or start something bad..please help

Thanks.

 

[tstang21]

hmmm....are you running at a hot level ? when this occurs,what does it say on the gauge ? check your water/coolant level (when its cold) to see if you have anything in there. waterpump pulley spinning properly? when your running at a high level temp, coolant goes into the overflow and its too much, it will come out from a little vent below the black cap. try the "burping methid" or replace your rad cap.

 

[RoushTbird]

Water pump? Maybe you got some corrosion in the system and its clogged.

 

[5.0notslow]

OK some updates... I went up to the shop this morning and talked to the guy and told him its still doing the same stuff. so he called his ford "tech" and he thinks its a head gasket. my buddy told me i should take the car away from them, b/c i was going to leave it with them and have them look at it on Monday. but he said that this could be their fault, that when they replaced the intake manifold gasket that they put it on upside, backwards, or any other wrong way. so now the car is at my house and i pulled some plugs to check them and the front three on the pass side are white looking and the ones on the driver side are black. i replaced the water pump gasket no more than 6 months ago and the water pump was fine. i will try to check it tomorrow. on Monday i am having the car towed to a ford dealership and have them find out what is wrong. any advice on what else to check, do, look for, any advice is greatly appreciated...

Thanks,
Bryce

 

[neoxaero]

I would think with one side being white and the other side being black... You're runnin lean on one side, and rich on the other...

Would lead me to believe the gasket was installed incorrectly on which ever side is running lean.... OR the bolts weren't torqued correctly...

How does the car idle, run.. etc

I would think its possible that its over heating from running lean on that one side of the motor...

I would honestly pull the upper and lower manifold and make sure the gaskets are installed correctly, and then re-torque the bolts... i think i read the spec is 24ftlbs.. but that seems high -- I'd do them to ~18ftlbs

 

[5.0notslow]

the car idles fine. but it has no and i mean no power. and when its runs it overs heats super fast and coolant comes out of the overflow tank. so if the first shop installed the gasket wrong what should i do? should i have them refund me all my money and have them pay ford to fix everything? or just sue them?

 

[neoxaero]

I don't know what your financial situation is like... but I had an issue like this a few years ago with an eagle talon (awd.. 450hp.. )

I ended up taking my car to a more reputable shop and have them fix the issues the other shop caused

I then sent the first shop a bill for the work the 2nd shop did.. they refused to pay up, so I contacted a lawyer friend of mine. He made a phone call to the owner of the shop, and a few days later the shop wrote me a check...

------

Could always have the ford dealership diagnose the problem then call the shop and tell them what the ford dealer says (if its their fault) -- ask if they're willing to pay for the dealership to fix the problem... Some will, Some wont.. depends how much they care about their reputation

This is why I try to do 99% of all my wrenching nowadays -- i *know* the quality of work that goes into my ride

 

[hotcobra03]

Thats a tight spot. I just had a problem with the electric fan. On my cobra fan the blades are all plastic and the outer ring broke and fan stopped spinning. Bad news followed, a cracked head.ran it hot .question when engine is running and just at idle does it overheat? And how long does it take to start spitting fluid?

 

[Touring23]

I wonder if they moved the dizzy and thus the timing is (way) off...?
Any check engine lights/codes?
Is it possible to install a tstat backwards in a 5.0?

 

[hotcobra03]

Maybe not your problem,but after reinstalling engine ,mine ran like crap .the antifreeze blew up both new o2s.it spit code p135 .

 

[5.0notslow]

well ford called me and said that the first shop put in a wrong thermostat...should i get everything fixed then go to the first shop and confront them? or confront them now and see whats happens?

 

[toyman]

well ford called me and said that the first shop put in a wrong thermostat...should i get everything fixed then go to the first shop and confront them? or confront them now and see whats happens?

What did they mean by "wrong thermostat"? What does your invoice from the shop that changed it show as to type and temp? Somehow I don't get the impression that a functioning T-stat at almost any operating range is causing the overheating issue.

 

[hotcobra03]

Now what if ford changes tsat and problem not solved. Did ford tell you how they found that? As to the main question.As an owner i have learned an old saying. The customer is always right. And to mechanic, u touch it you own it. Most people give up and dont fight, but the ones who do win. I too just had both heads at a machine and they didnt torc the cam sprockets.when the first one broke ,i went back and said whats the deal?with dohc he never had to remove them. Well ok im no engine guy. Than 3days later boom 2 on the driverside blow. I went back with fords instructions and proved him wrong. I won

 

[vladasap]

i had that happen

head gasket it was