coolant temperature

FORD EXPLORER
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H20SKIER70
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i have a 1998 ford explorer sport with the 4.0 SOHC V6 engine and i have noticed the the coolant temerature gauge has been getting to the high side everytime i start to drive and the check gauge light comes on. what could be causing my coolant to get so hot?
Nov 27, 2006 at 3:59 PM
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CATCH_15
  • CAR REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
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First and foremost, check your coolant level. Next, when the temperature gets to about 3/4 of the way to maximum, does the coolant fan come on? If it does, it could be that the thermostat is bad and needs replaced.
Nov 27, 2006 at 4:02 PM
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BRUCE HUNT
  • CAR REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
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One is the coolant could be low, another is that the thermostat is failing. Sometimes the thermostat will stick and not open in a timely fashion. Ensure that the vehicle is not losing coolant. If it is, you need to hunt down the source of the loss. A faulty radiator cap can also play havoc with the temp and a system that is corroded will have problems allowing the coolant to flow through the radiator and thus not cool as efficiently as it should.
Nov 27, 2006 at 4:03 PM
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