Overheating 03 LS

[WillSandLS]

I have a 03 lsv8 with 135k on it. I just replaced a blown thermostat housing the other day. I used the same thermostat and everything seemed fine on it. I drained and refilled the system with coolant, bled the system and checked everything out it was a go. however its still overheating. I get hot air from the heater so is it a thermostat thats stuck closed???

 

[lsdarkshadow]

A bad housing on the thermo normally points to a bigger problem. Thermo's are cheap. I woulda just replaced it while you had her open. Check the cooling fan though. Is it running faster when the heater is on? May be cooling fan actuator. Dose heat come out when the heater is off?

Either way I would check both of those things and try not to drive it too much til you figure it out. Running the car hot continually is extremely taxing on the cooling system as a whole.

 

[WillSandLS]

fan seems normal even when i screw with the heater. its probably a stuck thermostat. im taking it apart now

 

[WillSandLS]

The thermostat housing probably blew (by blew, i mean pressure blown on the very front of the housing) because of a failed thermostat, right?

 

[joegr]

The thermostat housing probably blew (by blew, i mean pressure blown on the very front of the housing) because of a failed thermostat, right?

Maybe, but those plastic housings are known to crack apart just due to age as well.

When you did the bleed, did you get a constant (steady and strong) stream of water out of the bleed at the end of the procedure?

Also, unless you have recently replaced it, you almost certainly need to replace the degas bottle. It can have cracks in it that prevent the system from pressurizing, but aren't big enough for you to notice a coolant leak.

I do agree that thermostats should be replaced as a preventive measure if you open the cooling system and the thermostat is more then four years old.

 

[LS4me]

The '03+ has an electric fan.......

 

[WillSandLS]

Maybe, but those plastic housings are known to crack apart just due to age as well.

When you did the bleed, did you get a constant (steady and strong) stream of water out of the bleed at the end of the procedure?

Also, unless you have recently replaced it, you almost certainly need to replace the degas bottle. It can have cracks in it that prevent the system from pressurizing, but aren't big enough for you to notice a coolant leak.

I do agree that thermostats should be replaced as a preventive measure if you open the cooling system and the thermostat is more then four years old.

Figures being plastic. I shouldve just replaced the therm when i had it all apart. $20 quick fix

When I bled the system, everything checked out. I followed the "coolant Bleeding Instructions" that I found on another post and everything seemed fine. Steady stream of water, no air, no gurgling through the lines. I guess I can just take the bottle out and check that too. No special instructions for ripping out the degas bottle I hope???

 

[joegr]

... No special instructions for ripping out the degas bottle I hope???

http://deneau.info/ls/s6x~us~en~file=s6x33014.htm~gen~ref.htm

I found that it was easier at step 5 to disconnect the hose at the other end (it's up by the brake booster) than at the degas bottle. New degas bottles from Ford come with that lower hose already attached anyway.

 

[pektel]

hose clamp pliers make the job a ton easier.

 

[WillSandLS]

hose clamp pliers make the job a ton easier.

...good because the "grip 'N rip" method isnt working lol

 

[WillSandLS]

http://deneau.info/ls/s6x~us~en~file=s6x33014.htm~gen~ref.htm

I found that it was easier at step 5 to disconnect the hose at the other end (it's up by the brake booster) than at the degas bottle. New degas bottles from Ford come with that lower hose already attached anyway.

ya that hose at the bottom is a real queen. i cant get to it at all

 

[tireman]

degas bottle

I agree with Joegr +1.

try here for new bottle

www.carpartsdiscount.com/auto/parts...nsion_tanks/coolant_reservoir.html?3593=48079

 

[WillSandLS]

Well, after an hour of monkeying myself to disconnect the coolant line behind the brake booster(which involved me laying across the windshield, aiming straight down, mission impossible style) I took off the bottle. There were no cracks on it or around the seams. Really dirty though. Interesting because I just flushed out my system not 6 months ago. Will install the new thermostat tomorrow morning, may the Lincoln Gods be with us.

 

[joegr]

... There were no cracks on it or around the seams. ...

You would certainly be the first, if that is the original degas bottle. The cracks aren't microscopic, but they are subtle. Perhaps it is too dirty for you to be able to see them.

Another thing to check is to make sure that the metal tube inside the bottle is still sealed in place.

 

[Andrizzle]

Mine did not seem obviously cracked either... But it is, trust us.

 

[lsdarkshadow]

The '03+ has an electric fan.......

Oh yeah....sorry. Just assume everyone has the cooler Gen I like me!