The Patient: 2000 LS V8 124,000 miles


The Issues:

First, Heat takes up to 30min to kicks in,, once it's on it's very hot and works perfect.

Second, Car has been idlin low bout 600 rpm's,,and idles ruff.

Also has been runnin ruff with low power, with a lil gas smell.

What I know:

Did Diagnostic at Autozone, Coil #2 is bad

Any info or help would be great.

does the car's temperature guage show that the engine is heating up normally?

Change the thermostat and the coil. Do a search for coil replacement, you may have more problems such as valve cover gaskets. This is all covered in previous post. Start there and then go through your heating and cooling systems.

does the car's temperature guage show that the engine is heating up normally?

cars temp has always stayed at half never an issue

past couple days it has spik4ed and i pulled over let it sit and than left it was fine

lastnite it happened but had to stop n wait 3 times to finally get it to half,, but it spiked as i got home,

havnt been in it yet today.

i have the coil and the gaskets ready to go in. just want to know if there is somethin else goin on.

You could have a couple of problems. Could just be the thermostat, air in the system, hairline crack at the bottom of your reservoir(common issue) and maybe even a fan problem. Is it leaking behind your drivers tire when it heats up? If it is, check the plastic coolant res. (pain in the @ss)

You could have a couple of problems. Could just be the thermostat, air in the system, hairline crack at the bottom of your reservoir(common issue) and maybe even a fan problem. Is it leaking behind your drivers tire when it heats up? If it is, check the plastic coolant res. (pain in the @ss)

Thanks will look for a leak now.

So fixing Thermostat will fix problem with over heat and fix the heat inside the car?

If you are at temperature and the heat doesn't work (after a recent hi-temp spike) I would suspect your coolant is low. But, it is going somewhere, so find that leak!

If you are at temperature and the heat doesn't work (after a recent hi-temp spike) I would suspect your coolant is low. But, it is going somewhere, so find that leak!


Just took it for a ride,, and it over heated in 5 min of drivin.

Looked for a leak ,, dont see anythin on the street, or in engine or tire.

heat works after 30 - 40 min of driving,, even tho the car temp has been at halfway within few min of startin the car

the LS uses a secondary electric pump to move coolant through the cabin.

your temp spikes sound like a thermostat. Once you swap that - and bleed the system properly - if your interior heating issue continues then we'll start looking at the secondary interior loop.

when swapping the coil - look for any presence of oil in any of the plug wells - that will tell you if it's the VC gaskets adding to the issue.

the LS uses a secondary electric pump to move coolant through the cabin.

your temp spikes sound like a thermostat. Once you swap that - and bleed the system properly - if your interior heating issue continues then we'll start looking at the secondary interior loop.

when swapping the coil - look for any presence of oil in any of the plug wells - that will tell you if it's the VC gaskets adding to the issue.

Thanks Quik

Thermostat fix.. that a do it urself thing? or need to take it in to a shop?

Also should i go with a HI Temp Thermo, or the regular one? and do I need a new Thermo housing aswell?

it is only three bolts - very simple.

here is a thread on it -> http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/showthread.php?t=28236

here is the instructions on bleeding (since you have to drain a little coolant to swap the t-stat) - > http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/tech/Lincoln-LS/CoolingSystemDraining/

stay with the OE t-stat

Quik went to the links u included and read this

"If you are overheating I can tell you this is 99.9999% probably NOT the problem. these thermostats are known to fail "open" which causes the car to not heat up. If you are overheating you likely have an airlock and/or a leak in the system."

Is this true? I looked at the Plastic Res, looks filled to half, and no leaks that i could see.

I don't know - my only dealings with my t-stat were on the SC project.

Seems that alot of pre-03 owners have had t-stat issues. If they were failing open.... a thermostat opens when a spring in the t-stat gets hot, so it would make sense that it could fail and not open, or the spring fails and it flops open and sometimes closes.....

you could pull it and test it in some boiling water

I don't know - my only dealings with my t-stat were on the SC project.

Seems that alot of pre-03 owners have had t-stat issues. If they were failing open.... a thermostat opens when a spring in the t-stat gets hot, so it would make sense that it could fail and not open, or the spring fails and it flops open and sometimes closes.....

you could pull it and test it in some boiling water

Just went for a ride,, heat was half way,, but the fan was on hi,, under the hood.

Had a very similiar issue on mine. Temp gauge spiked, CEL came on, went into reduce power mode, puff of steam came out from under the hood at the driver's side firewall(reservior location). Took it in for warrenty work, and they said the t-stat was the problem. They changed it and all has been well since.

Had a very similiar issue on mine. Temp gauge spiked, CEL came on, went into reduce power mode, puff of steam came out from under the hood at the driver's side firewall(reservior location). Took it in for warrenty work, and they said the t-stat was the problem. They changed it and all has been well since.


Thanks Boom,, takin it in for that tomorrow.

crazy how a 15$ piece can basically stop ur car from movin,,lol

Ok got new Thermo,, $ 102 later it kicks great heat out quick and doesnt over heat.

Issue now is the fan is like stuk on high,, the way it sounds when the car is clsoe to and is over heating.

Why is this still happening?>