02 F150 Overheating
New User
Joined: Aug 2002
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02 F150 Overheating
my 02 f50 overheats fairly regularly. generally when the ambient temp is above 95 degrees. doesn't seem to matter whether it is under load or not. and of course, the truck never overheats when i take it in to the service department. they say that they have done flow tests, bock tests and called detroit for help, but cannont seem to find the problem. the truck has less that 23000 miles on it. any suggestions other than lemon law. i've got about 3000 into the truck and don't wnat to have to pull all my accessories
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Austin Tx.
02 F150 Overheating
Merlin,
I'm sure you probably already checked this, but are you actually seeing signs of overheating. Maybe it's just the sending unit or gauge. Did you say the fan clutch is working. Good luck.
Pete
I'm sure you probably already checked this, but are you actually seeing signs of overheating. Maybe it's just the sending unit or gauge. Did you say the fan clutch is working. Good luck.
Pete
New User
Joined: Aug 2002
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02 F150 Overheating
thermostat has been replaced, didn't help. one of th ebelts squeks under hard acceleration, although i think it may have more to do with the a/c.
as far as signs of overheating, i had a digital thermometer wired into the radiator hose, temp got as high as 262.
as far as signs of overheating, i had a digital thermometer wired into the radiator hose, temp got as high as 262.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 351
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From: Delaware
02 F150 Overheating
When does it overheat?
If it runs cool at highway speeds, then your radiator, thermostat, and water pump are functioning properly.
If it overheats at low speeds and /or idle, then suspect the fan.
Good luck!
Bru
2002 F150 Super Crew
Black 4X4 Lariat
5.4 Engine Ford Chrome Bars
Ford Bedliner
1979 Bronco 351M 75K orig.
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02 F150 Overheating
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 24-Oct-02 AT 11:50 AM (EST)]I recall that some 4.6 Crown Vic's had a problem in that the water pump impeller was loose on it's shaft. The fan belt would turn the shaft, but the impeller would either turn at a much slower speed, or not at all. This problem did not occur all the time on an afflicted car, but when it did, no coolant circulation.
P.S.: Repeatedly frying an engine that contains aluminum components is a very bad idea. Get more aggressive about finding out the problem.
P.S.: Repeatedly frying an engine that contains aluminum components is a very bad idea. Get more aggressive about finding out the problem.
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Joined: Jul 2006
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I'm having a very similiar problem with 2002 f150, it overheats at highway speeds when the outside temperature is above 85 degrees. The water pump, thermostate, and radiator flush have all been replaced and the problem has persisted. The truck does not overheat at low speeds or while idling. To keep the truck from overheating I can turn on the defrost which alleviates the issue. It has been looked at by two different ford dealerships and the problem has not been discovered. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Georgia
Turning on the defrost engages both the heater and the a/c at the same time. It's the heater coil that's giving you some extra cooling. It sounds to me like the thermostat, or a blockage in the system somewhere.
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2004
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if the tranny is an automatic, look at tranny temps. A cooler line that runs through a radiator will overheat the engine if the tranny is running excessively hot. Found this out while mud running rigs with "autotragics" in the mountians here. Either figure out trans temps, or switch to a purley external tranny cooler (eliminate it comepletely from the radiator)
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Joined: Jul 2006
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look at recent thread about 97 f150 overheat then cool again. my 03 is doing the same thing and ford is replacing the heads, head gaskets, intake manifold gasket and spark plugs. seems the head gaskets were bad. it must be a common problem because ive been waiting three weeks for heads- one set came in but they were bare heads and they had ordered assembled heads. ive heard that you can pull the spark plugs and look for coolant on them- that is what finally got them going in the right direction with my truck.
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