I've got a 1999 XLT 4WD. I'm having over heating problems. So far I've flushed the cooling system, replaced the thermostat, then the radiator, I'm begining to think I need a head gasket, but it's not puffing white exhaust. The coolant doesn't seem to be circulating. I say this beacause the heater doesn't produce any heat then after 10-15 minutes the temp gage spikes and the radiator boils. I've had a mechanic look at it. He doesn't think it needs a head gasket.

Thanks for any sugjestions.
sfp

 

Have you checked your hoses? what engine is it?

 

just to say it again...hoses could be clogged..? idk. if coolant is not circulating this should be a red flag oh and welcomee

 

Welcome to R-F

 

Welcome. I replace the radiator on mine because of a crack. Let it run and was sitting in it, and it warmed up to normal. Them kept rising so I killed it. Started looking around on the ground and found one of the rubber caps from the radiator hose port.....Only 1 though. Pulled the top hose off, it wasn't there. Pulled the bottom one and there it was. Going through all of this to ask: was there caps on your radiator? And did you take them off?

 

Thanks for all the sugjestions. I had a mechanic replace the radiator, I've worked with him for a long time. I pretty sure he removed all the plugs in the new radiator and he checked all the hoses at that point. I saw an earlier post from some one having the same problem with 3.0L and it turned out to be a head gasket. The shop is doing a compresion check on it tommorow.

Thanks again
sfp

 

Welcome! Hope you getting your cooling issues sorted out.

 

thnx!