1995 Mustang Overheating

Tiny
SKYLERHANSON STANG
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 FORD MUSTANG
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 101,000 MILES
I am stumped. I have no idea what could be causing my 1995 Ford mustang to over heat. I have had the water pump, radiator, thermostat and a timing belt gasket replaced on it. I do not have a blown head gasket. When I turn on the heat it blows cold. Does anyone have any idea on what could be causing it to overheat so much?
Saturday, March 26th, 2011 AT 12:26 AM

15 Replies

Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
Not sure why you're so sure that you don't have a blown head gasket. You for sure have air pockets in the cooling system that are very likely caused by a blown head gasket. That's the reason you have no heat.
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Saturday, March 26th, 2011 AT 12:45 AM
Tiny
SKYLERHANSON STANG
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I took it to a repair shop in town becasue I origanally thought it was a blown head gasket. When they diagnosed it they said I needed to replace my water pump, raditor, and timing belt gasket. I had them replace my thermostat too for good measures. But they told me that my headgaskets were fine. And its not the heater core I don't think because I don't have that "sweet" smell, and my passenger side floor isn't soaked.
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Saturday, March 26th, 2011 AT 12:53 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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They were quick to sell you parts and convince you that you should do these repairs because they didn't think the head gasket was leaking, yet they didn't resolve the problem. You're still losing coolant and I believe they were wrong.
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Saturday, March 26th, 2011 AT 12:58 AM
Tiny
SKYLERHANSON STANG
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Well I am not an idoit when it comes to car. I know I had a bad waterpump because the day I sent it in I noticed the coolant wasn't circulating whichs points to a bad water pump. And the Mechanics are good friends on mine and I was with them when they pulled out my radiator which was TRASHED and the timing belt gasket was melted onto it and was all messed up. I don't mean to sound like I don't believe your answer but I have no coolant in my oil and theres not any oil or coolant around the motor.
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Saturday, March 26th, 2011 AT 1:04 AM
Tiny
SKYLERHANSON STANG
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Could it be Anything else?
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Saturday, March 26th, 2011 AT 1:06 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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I don't doubt that you needed those parts and most likely they would have been the cause of the extreme heat that led to a head gasket failure. It happens all the time and you do not have to see water in the oil, in fact that rarely happens unless the head is cracked.
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Saturday, March 26th, 2011 AT 1:08 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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Pressure test the system for a long time and see if it hold pressure. I bet it doesn't.
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Saturday, March 26th, 2011 AT 1:09 AM
Tiny
SKYLERHANSON STANG
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What are the signs for a blown head gasket and how can you tell if it is blown then?
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Saturday, March 26th, 2011 AT 1:14 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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The signs are just what you describe, air pockets in the cooling system and coolant loss with no visible leaks and no explanation for constant overheating and pressure in the cooling system. It is very difficult to confirm through testing but the most reliable way is using an exhaust analyzer to sniff for hydrocarbons at the radiator cap. They make other chemical test kits but they aren't real reliable.
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Saturday, March 26th, 2011 AT 1:18 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
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COULD IT POSSIBLY BE A RADIATOR HOSE BEING SUCKED FLAT.I DID PONDER THE NO HEAT AT THE HEATER CORE (WHICH COULD BE A SEPARATE ISSUE, SUCH AS A BAD BLEND DOOR), BEFORE I THREW THIS OUT THERE (IN THAT MAYBE IT WOULD STILL CIRCULATE EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T GETTING THE COOLER RADIATOR JUICE, IN THAT SITUATION). ARE THE HEATER HOSES GETTING HOT NEAR THE HEATER CORE. STILL. TRYING TO HELP WITH SOMETHING ANYWAY--THE MEDIC. OUT
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Saturday, March 26th, 2011 AT 2:19 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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Car overheating and no heat from the heater go hand in hand, especially when the car has a history of cooling system issues. If you want to test the principle, do a vacuum fill on the cooling system and I bet the heater problems go away temporarily but will come back.
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Saturday, March 26th, 2011 AT 2:23 AM
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
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You can do a head check, this is a simple chemical test to check for Co in the cooling system, if so you will have a head problem, re check that the thermostat is actually opening fully, boil it up in a pot on the stove to check, was the radiator a new unit?
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Saturday, March 26th, 2011 AT 3:35 AM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
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Go here and get aquainted with the chemical tester: http://www.arrowheadradiator.com/head_gasket_or_combustion_leak_test.htm
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Saturday, March 26th, 2011 AT 6:53 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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I have just never found those test kits to be very reliable. The problem seems to have to be very severe before those things test positive. They always seem to have a hard time finding the smaller leaks where the exhaust sniffer finds even small leaks.
Here is a video that helps you get a more accurate chemical test.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYQHkWVULn8
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Saturday, March 26th, 2011 AT 12:39 PM
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
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I have used these testers for years in my business, I find them very reliable indeed.
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Saturday, March 26th, 2011 AT 2:45 PM

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