Over heating

RICKM7

MEMBER
FORD CONTOUR

99 Ford Contour, 2.0L DOC, 120,000 mi, Automatic.
The car suddenly developed an overheating problem that is not consistent. Checked (replaced) tstat, checked water flow, coolant, fan, belt, etc. Is there a sensor that controls the timing to regulate the cooling via the computer that could be bad? If so where is it? Could the ac charge effect the cooling of the engine? Obviously not running the ac would help, however I have had the car for 5 years and it did not do this in the past and is intermittent. It should not do this. When the ac is off it maintains a reasonable temp, but still runs above normal.
I live in Phoenix and not running the ac is tough. Please send me any helpful suggestions that you can.
Thanks
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3 Replies

MERLIN2021

MECHANIC
17,250 POSTS

Iv'e heard of the vanes on the water pumps disolving over time. Also flush it out real well and use the right coolant!

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Saturday, June 23rd, 2007 AT 8:20 AM

MRHAUNTEDLAB07

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2 POSTS

Flushing the system would help but it also could be your radiator cap or ac fan motor.

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Saturday, June 23rd, 2007 AT 10:47 AM

RNSHOE

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Interesting problem: I had a similar issue with another model.
See if your mechanic can preasure check your cooling system (without charging you too much). Sometimes leaks in the cooling the system itself can cause problems like this. There are other things as well that can cause erratic heating: Suppose your cooling system reads fine for holding preasure. Now we move into more awkward parts.
Sometimes a headgasket can cause the same symptoms.
Good luck. Hope you get your AC on soon.

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Monday, June 25th, 2007 AT 7:41 AM