it's been a little while but have gotten another truck and need help again..

1995 150 4x4 5spd 4.9 XL radio's busted, ac doesn't, and the shift **** is AWOL, but i love my truck.. now to the issues

it randomly overheats (hence the title) sometimes on short trips some on longer, slower speeds seem to affect it most. When i got it, this was a normal occurence. so i tuned it up: new plugs, wires, coil, dist cap and button, water pump, themostat, and belt and tensioner. this seemed to help the issue but since it is now summer it's back.

i have noticed the hoses on the top driver side are rubbing and have began leaking. could i be sucking in cold air and stopping the flow of coolant? the antifreeze is new and full and i have no leaks.

i have an office job now and my tools are a little rusty, mainly my troubleshooting so any help would greatly be appreciated.

 

Replace the hoses for sure and check the fan clutch. Is the fan shroud still there?

 

drawing a blank on the shroud, will look tomorrow. the clutch seemed ok, put some rolled up newspaper in the blade and felt ok. if there is a better test feel free to let me know. i was thinking of switching to a flex fan but still on the fence.

Thanks

 

On my new to me 92 4.9 it was overheating. Previous mechanic installed the thermostat backwards.

 

JMO, flex fans are worthless. The shroud on my truck was nothing more than a safety shield since it did not enclose/circle the fan but only ran across the top...it hasn't missed it in years.

Is your radiator cap known to be good?

 

i thought the same thing about the thermostat so i swapped in a new lower temp one myself about a week or so ago and no change. sorry forgot to mention that.

i hadn't thought about the radiator cap. i am seeing any leakage outside is there a way to test it or best just to buy a new one and know for sure?

if the cap or 'stat were bad would my issue occur more regularly?

i didn't mention that when it is going to do overheat, i can hear what sounds like boiling when i shut it off. sounds like it is near the heater core. the temp gauge doesn't show hot until i start it back up. it runs pretty rough sometimes until it cools back down. Doesn't mean a head gasket does it?

 

"Doesn't mean a head gasket does it?"

It could very well be a head gasket. A pressure and leak-down test of the system might be in order at this point and a compression check too.

 

crap!

it still pulls well, i haven't seen any smoke, and the oil is clean, but that sounds like my luck.

i have a buddy that can do it first of next week

 

@ abranz
so you are using the term mechanic loosely

 

That's no ****. I bought it cheep thinking I had one hell of a find. Well, I was told the clutch was shot.
After tearing into it the trans lost all but 1/2qt of metallic fluid and the cluster is shot requiring replacement. Thought I would change the engine gaskets and possibly the rings. Well, there is 1/4 inch of baked sludge throughout the engine, 2 piston skirts are broke, and the oil pickup was plugged. Took .030 to clean the cylinders, .010 decking an a new (different) head. Needless to say I'm pretty much into a full drivetrain rebuild. Bought a reman trans and just got the bare block back from the machine shop. With any luck and more $ I just may have a good pickup. I honestly am afraid of even looking at the rear diff but ill cross that bridge later. Hands are full with the pile of ---- I brought home.

 

i know the feeling. i'm in a love/hate relationship with this truck. I thought i was getting a good deal, the only thing i wanted different was for it to be 3/4 ton. i was in a bind so i compromised, boy did I.

originally it was priced $2000, i got him down to $1400 so i took it. turns out i overpaid, should've known since i suck at negotiating. since purchase i have replaced all the springs, shocks, 1 gas tank and fuel pump, removed the rear tank completely, the original spare tire and holder, exhaust, and the aforementioned tune-up. The AC doesn't work, supposedly just needed freon. It turns out it has been wrecked, bad enough to replace almost all of one side, but they did a fairly good job. It sat in a field for 4 years before they decided to sell it. a break line burst in a mcdonalds drive through early on a saturday morning, thankfully it's a 5 spd. I could go on but these are the things that pop out in my puny little mind.

just wish people would be straight up when selling, if i liked being lied too, i would only go to car lots.