B2 Slightly overheating
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B2 Slightly overheating
I have a 87 B2 2.9 that had a slight overheat problem. When I am towing or when I have the A.C on. I had a new 2 row radiator put in the other day, a new Thermostat, and new coolant. The fins from the condenser look clean and non damaged, There are times when the gauge goes all the way to the a in NORMAL. It has reached L and Redline... Any Help Out there????
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Joined: Mar 2001
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B2 Slightly overheating
It could be your thermostat, i bought a new one, which opened hotter then my old one. Each one opens at a certain temp to send the coolant through the system.. It's either that or your water pump, u can check that buy seeing if theres pressure on the top hose (when it's running)
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Joined: Apr 2001
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B2 Slightly overheating
Hello,
I have an 86 Bronco II, and before I did a v8 conversion on it I had a 2.9 liter v6. I had a similar problem with it. I replaces the radiator, the water pump, the temperature sensor, the fan and clutch, I mean I replaced everything and it would still overheat a little.
I got fed up and cut the whole center out of the thermostat and put it back in so that it would free flow, and left it like that for two years without a problem. I beleive it would still be ok if I hadn't pulled the motor out.
But you know what is strange, I took the truck to three different ford dealer servicve departments, and numerous garages and no-one could tell me what the problem was. Every time they ran a test or checked it they could not find anything that wasn't working right, but it still overheated until I cut the thermostat.
Anyways good luck
I have an 86 Bronco II, and before I did a v8 conversion on it I had a 2.9 liter v6. I had a similar problem with it. I replaces the radiator, the water pump, the temperature sensor, the fan and clutch, I mean I replaced everything and it would still overheat a little.
I got fed up and cut the whole center out of the thermostat and put it back in so that it would free flow, and left it like that for two years without a problem. I beleive it would still be ok if I hadn't pulled the motor out.
But you know what is strange, I took the truck to three different ford dealer servicve departments, and numerous garages and no-one could tell me what the problem was. Every time they ran a test or checked it they could not find anything that wasn't working right, but it still overheated until I cut the thermostat.
Anyways good luck
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B2 Slightly overheating
Whatever you do, don't cut a hole in your thermostat. It will run to cool and you'll kill your engine. Trust me, bad experience. Go down to your local autoparts store and ask them for a Fail-safe thermostat. You're probably getting 165 or so thermostats? What happens is that the engine gets to hot and the t-stat freaks out and just closes. That's it. If your car over-heats with a 180 or so (which is much harder to do) and it siezes shut, same thing. The fail-safe ones sieze open so fluid still flows and keeps it from over heating. The best way to tell if it's your t-stat is drive it around long enough to get it hot, about 10-15 minutes of city driving will do nicely. Then with the right tools, drain half of your coolant so the top of it is below the t-stat (a 3/8" radiator hose scrap helps tons) and take out your t-stat. You should see a 1/2" to 3/4" opening in your t-stat. If there is less than about 1/4" to 1/8" opening, your t-stat is shot. Something else that really helps, electric fan. Much more air than belt driven fans, plus you get a little more HP out of the deal. Hope this helps!
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B2 Slightly overheating
You don't need to worry too much. My BII does this when I have the A/C on, too. I think it's normal. When I'm driving without the A/C, it's fine. The temp gauge is at 1/2. When I turn on the A/C and sit at idle (like in a drive thru), it starts to head to the red line. I have actually hit the red line, then I have to shut the A/C down. That was on a 98 degree day, though. I wouldn't waste the time or the money on a quick fix. If you watch your temp. gauge, you'll be okay...oh!! Make sure to check your coolant regularly, too. Good luck!! BTW..I don't tow anything with my truck because I have nothing to tow. I don't know if it'll overheat in that case.
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B2 Slightly overheating
An update: I've ran some tests along the problems all have been having with a few friends of mine. None of us overheated. We sat in a parking lot for an hour with a/c on and I think only one of us reached the A in normal. Most of us were on the m or between ma. Maybe it's just humidity or something that's killing you, but I would check to make sure.
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B2 Slightly overheating
I realize the temp gauges probably aren't all that precise, but was wondering where on the gauge most B2s point when all is well. I'm wondering if mine even has a thermostat installed - or maybe one somebody blocked open.
Mine is slow to warm up and settles on the "N" in NORMAL and seems locked there. The only time it climbed higher (to the R and M areas) was when I was towing a U-HAUL trailer up I95 at 70 mph in overdrive.
So is the gauge pointing to the N in NORMAL pretty much the way most work?
'90 Bronco II XLT
'99 Firehawk #521
Mine is slow to warm up and settles on the "N" in NORMAL and seems locked there. The only time it climbed higher (to the R and M areas) was when I was towing a U-HAUL trailer up I95 at 70 mph in overdrive.
So is the gauge pointing to the N in NORMAL pretty much the way most work?
'90 Bronco II XLT
'99 Firehawk #521
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Junior User
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B2 Slightly overheating
Most likely, yes. But in my case, my gauge is at rock bottom 99% of the time. And I'm only using a 50/50 mixture of coolant, and using a 180 degree thermostat.
So I'm not sure if my gauge just isn't reading properly or what...
But I do know, on our 1985 F150, it seems to stay between the N and M in Normal.
So I'm not sure if my gauge just isn't reading properly or what...
But I do know, on our 1985 F150, it seems to stay between the N and M in Normal.
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B2 Slightly overheating
The temp sensor is on the left side (Drivers side) just right below and to the right of the thermostat housing. Its about a inch in diameter, and should be a copper color...