1997 ranger 2.3 overheating
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 871
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From: Kenner LA
1997 ranger 2.3 overheating
Bought this truck at auction a few days ago. Started drive home and noticed temp gauge almost pegged full hot. Stopped and left it and pickup up later that day with trailer. Got home and started and ran it. Will not overheat at idle. Gauge fluctuates between full cold and 1/2 at idle. Rev up and temp drops to full cold. Drive around town under 35 and it stays between 1/2 and 3/4. Get on the highway and Pegs full hot. Replace thermostat and flushed system. Lots of rusty water and chunks of rust/mud poured out. Upper rad hose is firm and hot. Lower rad hose is warm soft. Bypassed heater core and still over heats. I can run water hose from top hole on radiator and water crosses threw radiator and pours out the bottom so I don't think it's clogged. It's not the head gasket, I have no smoke, no milky oil and no oil in coolant. Fan clutch seems fine, I can spin it with the engine off and feel resistance. Truck hasnt boiled over while running hot so the gauge may be wrong. I'm stumped and have no idea what else to do. If it means anything the truck runs very rough and pulled up a misfire on cylinder #1 and had a iac code.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,533
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From: Dexter, MI
How many miles are on the truck? If miles > 100K, the impeller on the water pump may be worn/rusted down to the point that little coolant is circulating through the system. Under that condition, coolant may be circulating enough the handle the heat load with the engine idling or moderate speed but not enough to handle the heat load created at high speed.
Let us know what you find out when you pull the water pump.
Let us know what you find out when you pull the water pump.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2012
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Too little cooling in the radiator can do what you are describing, and the flush having "chunks" in it point to partially clogged radiator. Pull the radiator and have it professionally cleaned and repaired. A good shop should do that for about $65 (my area) depending on how bad it is.
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
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I have a hunch you are correct. That or possible valve issues with that particular cylinder. A compression test would reveal one or both causes.
Certified Thread Hijacker
Joined: Aug 2001
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Is the coolant boiling over? How do you know the engine is really getting hot other than the factory idiot gauge?
Need to back up the gauge with an IR reading or another known good sender and gauge. I wouldn't take what the factory gauge is telling you as gospel.
Josh
Need to back up the gauge with an IR reading or another known good sender and gauge. I wouldn't take what the factory gauge is telling you as gospel.
Josh
Certified Thread Hijacker
Joined: Aug 2001
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A bad sender with a wicked air bubble in the cooling system will cause the gauge to be erratic like a kitten on catnip.
Josh