I am trying to help a family member out and the problems are mounting and I am not sure where to go from here.
99 Explorer with the 4.0L.
Vehicle had a new radiator, thermostat, and water pump last spring after it was purchased. The gauges indicated overheating, the stock radiator was leaking, and the mounts were rusted out. The work was done by an unfamiliar shop.
Vehicle started smelling like coolant a couple months ago. No leaks found, no white exhaust, no coolant in oil. Coolant would "disappear" at the rate of about a couple ounces a week.
Last week it began visibly leaking coolant from somewhere near the bottom of the radiator or block. I was not there and did not see, that's just what I was told.
It was brought to a trusted shop a week ago, where the technicians said the stock thermostat was improperly replaced, and the thermostat housing was cracked. Those items were taken care of. They also replaced some hoses that were stock, the serpentine belt (also stock), and belt tensioner.
The vehicle seemed to be fine for a few days. Yesterday it seemed the faint coolant smell returned, but the levels did not go down. I took a quick peek, but it was night time and just using a flashlight. The only thing unusual that I saw was a tiny amount of clear liquid bubbling like seltzer, kind of hard to describe, but it was coming from a place where a smaller hose met the radiator on the upper right side. Below the "upper radiator hose" as I recall. I believe the fitting looked like crimped aluminum. It smelled like it was definitely not coolant, maybe some kind of uncured adhesive or something from the work earlier in the week.
Since the defective stock radiator was removed last year, the temp gauge had always remained in the normal range....until tonight.
Now, the gauge remains in the safe zone only when the heat is off. When the heat is turned on, it starts to climb to nearly overheating. There is a faint smell of coolant but the levels appear normal.
I just spoke to them again, they say the gauge is moving between about the halfway and the 3/4 point in its range. It has never gone all the way up to overheating.
I forgot to say, a defective radiator cap was also suspected and was replaced this week. Could it be the wrong one? Stock and replacement are rated 16PSI....perhaps it should be an 18 or something? I just spoke to someone about this and he mentioned that as a possible factor.
I am not well experienced in cooling systems so I don't have a good guess, only that it may be related to the thermostat.
Anyone have an idea? And is it safe for them to drive like this? I said it would probably be OK as long as they keep the heat off (not easy to do here in the northeast, but it's been warm lately), and get the vehicle looked at on Monday.
Thanks in advance to all who take the time to read this
99 Explorer with the 4.0L.
Vehicle had a new radiator, thermostat, and water pump last spring after it was purchased. The gauges indicated overheating, the stock radiator was leaking, and the mounts were rusted out. The work was done by an unfamiliar shop.
Vehicle started smelling like coolant a couple months ago. No leaks found, no white exhaust, no coolant in oil. Coolant would "disappear" at the rate of about a couple ounces a week.
Last week it began visibly leaking coolant from somewhere near the bottom of the radiator or block. I was not there and did not see, that's just what I was told.
It was brought to a trusted shop a week ago, where the technicians said the stock thermostat was improperly replaced, and the thermostat housing was cracked. Those items were taken care of. They also replaced some hoses that were stock, the serpentine belt (also stock), and belt tensioner.
The vehicle seemed to be fine for a few days. Yesterday it seemed the faint coolant smell returned, but the levels did not go down. I took a quick peek, but it was night time and just using a flashlight. The only thing unusual that I saw was a tiny amount of clear liquid bubbling like seltzer, kind of hard to describe, but it was coming from a place where a smaller hose met the radiator on the upper right side. Below the "upper radiator hose" as I recall. I believe the fitting looked like crimped aluminum. It smelled like it was definitely not coolant, maybe some kind of uncured adhesive or something from the work earlier in the week.
Since the defective stock radiator was removed last year, the temp gauge had always remained in the normal range....until tonight.
Now, the gauge remains in the safe zone only when the heat is off. When the heat is turned on, it starts to climb to nearly overheating. There is a faint smell of coolant but the levels appear normal.
I just spoke to them again, they say the gauge is moving between about the halfway and the 3/4 point in its range. It has never gone all the way up to overheating.
I forgot to say, a defective radiator cap was also suspected and was replaced this week. Could it be the wrong one? Stock and replacement are rated 16PSI....perhaps it should be an 18 or something? I just spoke to someone about this and he mentioned that as a possible factor.
I am not well experienced in cooling systems so I don't have a good guess, only that it may be related to the thermostat.
Anyone have an idea? And is it safe for them to drive like this? I said it would probably be OK as long as they keep the heat off (not easy to do here in the northeast, but it's been warm lately), and get the vehicle looked at on Monday.
Thanks in advance to all who take the time to read this
