Starts to heat up, starts to knock and loses power?

Tiny
CHAVEZEY18
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 FORD WINDSTAR
Starts and runs fine. Once it starts to heat up, starts to knock and loses power at stops. What could be wrong?
Monday, January 25th, 2010 AT 12:34 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
SQM
  • MECHANIC
  • 6,383 POSTS
Hello,

First you need to figure out why is the engine overheating.
An engine can over heat due to simply being low on coolant. So check the coolant and make sure it is at the correct level.
It can also overheat for having any defective cooling components like a stuck closed thermostat, faulty water pump, inoperative radiator fan, bad radiator.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-overheating-or-running-hot

One of the most common overheating reason is a stuck closed thermostat. When a thermostat fails at the closed position it does not allow the coolant to flow thru the engine. This will crate a temperature difference between the upper and lower radiator hose.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-an-engine-thermostat-works
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-thermostat

Also you need to check to see if the cooling fans are coming on when the engine is at operating temperature. If the cooling fan is not working it can be due to the fan relay/wiring issue, temperature sensor or having a bad fan.

Here are couple of helpful articles:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-an-electric-cooling-fan-works
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-a-bad-water-pump

I have attached diagrams for your reference.

Please let me know of any questions.
Thank you.
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Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021 AT 9:45 PM

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