I have a ford ranger 3.0 Splash and we were at the drive through and we heard a strange clunk in the front towards the air conditioner area, we couldnt figure it out and had it in our garage for a week of no running since we changed the dash lights. We took it out today and it didnt do it till we again were idling in the drive through, this time air conditioning was off. When we started down the road the temp gauge went up then slowly down and whenever we got to a stop sign it would rise again. We stop at our driveway and temp almost goes all the way up. When we poped the hood the air tube was completely flat and coolant was leaking out of the radiator. We think theres a air gap but not completely sure we need help.

Also we know the transmission is going bad, truck has 300,000miles + the odometer went out 70,000 miles ago

And new to the fourms, will be posting a lot in the next month as me and my dad are trying to restore this truck to like new, its as old as me and my dad got it when i was young

 

What is meant by "air tube"?

Check the condition of the radiator clutch fan that draws air inward through the A/C condensor/radiator. With the engine cold and not running, try to spin the fan; it should have some resistance. If it spins easily, then the fan clutch is bad, and needs to be replaced. This can be why the temperatures rise when at an idle, as the fan is unable to pull enough air flow through the radiator to cool the antifreeze/water coolant enough. When your driving at speed, the air flow is enough to provide ample cooling, so the clutch fan is not required, and actually "slips" at these speeds.

If the clutch fan has not been replaced, then you are way overdue at the mileage you posted this engine has.

 

^^^ +1 on fan clutch

If upper radiator hose was flat then radiator cap is bad, or overflow hose/tank is blocked.

Heater hoses can trap air when refilling cooling system, this can cause an "air blockage" in the cooling system, water pumps do fine with fluids, but can't pump air, so circulation is limited with air in the system.
When refilling cooling system remove one of the heater hoses at the firewall or By-Pass if so equipped, fill system until coolant comes out the open heater connection, re-install hose and tighten clamp.

 

We think its the radiator cap, the radiator is brand new we just replaced it not even a month ago but the cap looks like a junky one. Going to replace that and see if it fixes the problem. Not sure of the name of the tube im talking its the biggest tube on the motor that brings air to the motor. You really cant miss the thing soon as you pop the hood

 

It is called the air plenum, I have never seen one collapse, it would have to mean air cleaner box or inlet tube on rad support was blocked

 

Wow! If the "air tube"/air plenum was callapsed (flat), the air filter box or air filter must be completely clogged. I've never seen that, and would like to see a picture of the contents of the air cleaner itself when the cover is removed. perhaps in the week it was not running, a critter decided to make it's home in it.

 

replaced the radiator cap, everything works fine and no more overheating