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I have a 1994 2.3L 5 speed Ranger that just started overheating the other night. She has 207,xxx on her and appears to have been maintained fairly well, but I have no documentation proving it. Had the truck for a few months now. Temp gauge never went beyond the "R" in Normal.
I let my son take it to work the other night (I know... 1st mistake) and it snowed 6 inches. He calls me at work and says it just started overheating on him after driving for 1/2 an hour. He added more anti-freeze to the overflow tank and waiting 20 minutes before heading home. Said it overheated again and steam was coming out from under the hood.
I start the truck up the next morning and let it idle for 10 minutes. Temp level seems normal so I drive about 1.5 miles to get gas for the snow blower. Temp gauge starts climbing to Hot by the time I get to the Gas station. I let her cool down and head back home. Same thing happens going back, she gets real hot again. Now the heater is blowing only cold air out. I check the upper, lower and heater hoses and they are cold to the bare hand. The radiator cap was on crooked (because my son took it off and put it back on that way), so I put it on correctly. Hour later I started the truck and drove around the neighborhood only to have the Temp spike once more.
I'm suspecting a Thermostat being stuck open and picked one up at AutoZone along with a gasket and new hoses. After I drain the radiator and remove the lower hose, I plan to pour 5 gallons of hot water in the radiator. Michigan is in the 20's and I won't be able to run a hose to the truck. It appears that the Thermostat is in the housing that the Upper Rad. Hose and one of the Heater core hoses run to. Is this correct???
A friend thought that the Water pump may have failed as well. Figured I'd try the Thermostat route first before heading there. Any other ideas/suggestions???
Thanks,
Dave
I let my son take it to work the other night (I know... 1st mistake) and it snowed 6 inches. He calls me at work and says it just started overheating on him after driving for 1/2 an hour. He added more anti-freeze to the overflow tank and waiting 20 minutes before heading home. Said it overheated again and steam was coming out from under the hood.
I start the truck up the next morning and let it idle for 10 minutes. Temp level seems normal so I drive about 1.5 miles to get gas for the snow blower. Temp gauge starts climbing to Hot by the time I get to the Gas station. I let her cool down and head back home. Same thing happens going back, she gets real hot again. Now the heater is blowing only cold air out. I check the upper, lower and heater hoses and they are cold to the bare hand. The radiator cap was on crooked (because my son took it off and put it back on that way), so I put it on correctly. Hour later I started the truck and drove around the neighborhood only to have the Temp spike once more.
I'm suspecting a Thermostat being stuck open and picked one up at AutoZone along with a gasket and new hoses. After I drain the radiator and remove the lower hose, I plan to pour 5 gallons of hot water in the radiator. Michigan is in the 20's and I won't be able to run a hose to the truck. It appears that the Thermostat is in the housing that the Upper Rad. Hose and one of the Heater core hoses run to. Is this correct???
A friend thought that the Water pump may have failed as well. Figured I'd try the Thermostat route first before heading there. Any other ideas/suggestions???
Thanks,
Dave
