New Member, Cooling problems - Ford Forums

laars · 05-21-2004, 14:09

I'm new to this forum, so before i get started i want to introduce myself. My name is Daniel, and I'm a junior majoring in economics at UT Austin. I drive a 1986 ford Bronco (my second bronc), and my hobbies include golf, almost any sport or outdoor activity, and brewing my own beer and hard cider.

Some background on my bronco...I purchased it non-running for $500 2 years ago. Before I bought it, it was idle for about 2 years. After some new electrical components, a fuel system flush, 2 new fuel pumps and filter, new battery, and a couple of hose replacements, I got it running pretty well and it has been that way for a few weeks. It has a 302, and an A4OD tranny. Aside from needing a coolant gauge repair and a new speedometer cable, it's in good shape.

Yesterday I was stuck in traffic and I noticed a strange smell (one I've never smelled before, kind of like burning rubber but not quite). My engine became very sluggish, but I managed to get it home. When I got there I popped the hood to see what the problem was, and didn't notice anything leaking. I had a suspicion that it might have been overheated (couldn't tell because of the busted gauge/sensor) so I got a towel and popped off the radiator cap. A geyser of coolant mixture shot out of the radiator for a few seconds, then stopped. This brings me to my first question: Would it do this if the truck wasn't overheated?

Secondly, if it was overheated, I either have a water pump or thermostat problem (the radiator is in good shape). My guess is the thermostat so yesterday I bought a new thermo and a coolant temp sensor. As many of you probably know, the thermostat on the 302 is a real pain to get to and replace, so if possible I want to be sure I'm right about it overheating before I put it in. I'm going to install the coolant temp sensor, but I'm not sure of the exact location. I know it's on the intake manifold, and I found a sensor that looks like it but it has a wire coming straight out of the top of it, unlike the bolt on the top of the new one I purchased. Is this the sensor, or is it somewhere else? Thanks for any help you can give.

89F150 · 05-23-2004, 02:02

You should never remove the radiator cap just after you have hopped out of the vehicle. There is a fair bit of pressure running through the radiator and all it takes is a little mistake and you could scold your hands arms or another part of your body. You should let it sit for awhile before removing it. As yiu have just hoped out of your car and took the cap off, there is always going to be fluid flooding out of the radiator. That is normal. The first step i'd be taking is getting that guage working.
Are you losing fluid? I'd get the guage working first before playing with anything else.

'92BigBronco · 05-25-2004, 20:12

Agreed. Fix the temp sensor and go from there. It doesn't take much in the way of overheating to blow a headgasket or warp a head. Check the coolant level, the thermostat, and get a new sender installed.