I have a '96 Lincoln Mark VIII with 230K (HIGH MILES !!!) ...

The engine ONLY overheats when I am idling, otherwise the engine temperature is fine. Any ideas ???

Thanks !

I have a '96 Lincoln Mark VIII with 230K (HIGH MILES !!!) ...

The engine ONLY overheats when I am idling, otherwise the engine temperature is fine. Any ideas ???

Thanks !

Check your coolant.

Check your coolant.

I checked it and it was a bit low, but I filled up the reservoir and the level has remained the same. I don't think there is an external leak...could this be a head gasket issue ? Or perhaps the fans are not working when idling ?

... Or perhaps the fans are not working when idling ?

Turn on the AC - the cooling fan should kick in lo speed. Turn on the MAX AC - the cooling fan should kick on high speed.

Turn on the AC - the cooling fan should kick in lo speed. Turn on the MAX AC - the cooling fan should kick on high speed.

Thanks man...Gonna try that today...hope that does the trick...

Should'nt need to do that. The fans are supposed to come on automaticly when I certian temp is reached. How hot is it getting? You say it's over heating, but how high on the gauge is it getting?


Could just be an inacurate gauge also.



Mike

Should'nt need to do that. The fans are supposed to come on automaticly when I certian temp is reached. How hot is it getting? You say it's over heating, but how high on the gauge is it getting?


Could just be an inacurate gauge also.



Mike

Its getting into the Red Zone on the guage and the alarm is going off on the display saying "Check Engine Temp". I know in the past when it overheated the needle will go way past the Red Zone on the guage. Now the needle is stopping in the Red Zone on the guage...but only when Idling. When I am driving the car, it doesn't overheat, probably because the wind is entering the radiator, which leads me to believe its the fans....but who knows ???

my mark was doing the samething but i only have 60k on it, but my car was not "smoking", the engine was hot but not on fire hot to the touch. i changed my t-stat and so far its been fine ever since. but i think it might be your fan not kicking in when it is suppose to.

Check your T-stat, replace your water pump and flush the radiator. Sounds like your not getting enough flow.



Mike

Check your T-stat, replace your water pump and flush the radiator. Sounds like your not getting enough flow.



Mike


I replaced the waterpump about a month ago, but I will definitely have the T-stat checked. Thanks a lot...

Should'nt need to do that. The fans are supposed to come on automaticly when I certian temp is reached. How hot is it getting? You say it's over heating, but how high on the gauge is it getting?


Could just be an inacurate gauge also.



Mike

I was only trying to say how to test the operation of the fan.

The fan should come on low speed at 215 degrees and turn back off at 205 degrees(with the AC OFF). I do not know what temperature(s) it steps up to high speed.

The fan should come on at low speed anytime the AC is ON.

The fan should run high speed anytime the AC is set to MAX AC.

The fan should shut off at 45 mph and above.

Have you checked to traped air?

I was only trying to say how to test the operation of the fan.

The fan should come on low speed at 215 degrees and turn back off at 205 degrees(with the AC OFF). I do not know what temperature(s) it steps up to high speed.

The fan should come on at low speed anytime the AC is ON.

The fan should run high speed anytime the AC is set to MAX AC.

The fan should shut off at 45 mph and above.

The fan is not working at all, no matter what I do...

Definitely the fan.

good thing you know what the problem is now, it could of been a lot worse. good luck!

Check the wiring at the fan while the engine is hot enough to call for the fan to come on. If you have voltage at your fan, you either have a bad motor, or the ground is bad.


If NO voltage at all. check the fan control system. realys, and fuses.



Mike

i have a 95 with 60k on it.....and it kept overheating like yours.....check the motor that makes the fans spin. mine was burnt out. the way i found that out was by checking the 40 amp fuse under the hood....it kept buring out. so i called my local lincoln dealership and the fan motor was $480....but i found one at the junkyard for $175. i just put it in last weekend and it solved my problem....hope this helps...peace!