
Ask A Question - Help - Register - Login

automotive repair

Sent to Car Experts September 25, 2006 9:51 p.m.

I have a 1991 Ford Explorer, and just installed a new radiator, upper and lower hoses, cap, and thermostat. I was instructed to only add a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water to the system. Now, the temperature gauge fluctuates up and down, and there is no heat inside the vehicle.

Optional Information:
1991 Ford explorer 4.0 litre

Already Tried:
Bleeding air from the system, but don't know if I did it right.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $15

Info Request
September 25, 2006 9:54 p.m. (2 minutes and 5 seconds later)

REPLIED to Info Request

The mixture sounds correct(thats what your supossed to use). Did you have this proplem in any way before you replaced those parts?

stin1974 -- Auto Service Technician -- 100% Positive Feedback on 97 Car Accepts
Domestic transmission diagnostics and troubleshooting. General repair diagnostics and troubleshoot.

Answer
September 25, 2006 10:00 p.m. (6 minutes and 53 seconds later)

THIS ANSWER IS LOCKED!
You can view this answer by clicking here to Register or Login and paying $3.

Hammer Time -- L1 Master Technician -- 98% Positive Feedback on 2710 Car Accepts
ASE Mastertech with Adv level Engine performance cert.

Reply to stin1974
Sent September 25, 2006 10:17 p.m. (16 minutes and 39 seconds later)

No I did not. The temp gauge stayed in a stable normal zone, and I had plenty of heat.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Answer
September 25, 2006 10:42 p.m. (24 minutes and 45 seconds later)

REPLIED

Well is sounds like to me you were right with you first thought that you might have some air in the lines that is causing this. Im guessing you have the right thermostat.The first thing to do being that you already have it full of anti-freeze is making sure the thermostats opening when the vehicle is at operating temperature Just feel the hose under where the thermostat is and see that its getting hot ( telling you that it is opening and that its working properly). If its nit letting the water circulate maybe its bad(not likely but Ive seen it happen) If all this is ok it sounds like there is a problem woth trapped air. I dont know what you have for tools, but we always use a vacume that pulls all the air out of the system them immediatly refills it without letting in any air. If not, anter all this, start the vehicle cold, without the Rad cap and just make sure its at operating temp make sure its full. Watch for the water to drop when the thermostat opens and just keep adding water till its full and make sure you radiator resevior is full also. That should release all the air. Som models also have a bleeder screw on the top of the gooseneck where the thermostat is and by loostening this you can relieve the air.

stin1974 -- Auto Service Technician -- 100% Positive Feedback on 97 Car Accepts
Domestic transmission diagnostics and troubleshooting. General repair diagnostics and troubleshoot.

Reply to stin1974
Sent September 27, 2006 8:07 p.m. (1 day and 21 hours later)

Hose under thermostat is getting hot. Started vehicle cold, without radiator cap. Radiator full, resevoir full. Water dropped and after about a minute, gushed out of radiator. Let vehicle run about 15 minutes, and it went back and forth by dropping and gushing out. After each drop, I added antifreeze mix. Had heater on hot and fan on high the whole time. Still no heat inside vehicle. Probably bad news, huh? Any suggestions?

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Answer
September 27, 2006 9:44 p.m. (1 hour and 37 minutes later)

THIS ANSWER IS LOCKED!
You can view this answer by clicking here to Register or Login and paying $3.

stin1974 -- Auto Service Technician -- 100% Positive Feedback on 97 Car Accepts
Domestic transmission diagnostics and troubleshooting. General repair diagnostics and troubleshoot.

Think you can answer this question?
Login or Become an Expert

Related Answers:

	DISCLAIMER: You acknowledge that any information you may obtain from individuals you contact through use of the Just Answer service comes from those individuals, not from Just Answer!, and that Just Answer is not in any way responsible for any of the information these third parties may supply. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty and no representations are made regarding the qualification of an Expert. Responses and comments on Just Answer! are for general information and are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (such as medical, legal, investment or accounting) and do not establish a professional-client relationship. Just Answer! is not intended or designed to address EMERGENCY QUESTIONS which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals. Please carefully read the Terms of Service.

Just Answer! > Car Repair > For Questions