1995 Mustang Overheating

1995 FORD MUSTANG
101,000 MILES • 6 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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SKYLERHANSON STANG
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I am stumped. I have no idea what could be causing my 1995 Ford mustang to over heat. I have had the water pump, radiator, thermostat and a timing belt gasket replaced on it. I do not have a blown head gasket. When i turn on the heat it blows cold. Does anyone have any idea on what could be causing it to overheat so much?
Mar 26, 2011 at 12:26 AM
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WRENCHTECH
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Not sure why you're so sure that you don't have a blown head gasket. You for sure have air pockets in the cooling system that are very likely caused by a blown head gasket. That's the reason you have no heat.
Mar 26, 2011 at 12:45 AM
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SKYLERHANSON STANG
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I took it to a repair shop in town becasue i origanally thought it was a blown head gasket. When they diagnosed it they said i needed to replace my water pump, raditor, and timing belt gasket. I had them replace my thermostat too for good measures. But they told me that my headgaskets were fine. And its not the heater core i don't think because i don't have that "sweet" smell, and my passenger side floor isn't soaked.
Mar 26, 2011 at 12:53 AM
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WRENCHTECH
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They were quick to sell you parts and convince you that you should do these repairs because they didn't think the head gasket was leaking, yet they didn't resolve the problem. You're still losing coolant and I believe they were wrong.
Mar 26, 2011 at 12:58 AM
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SKYLERHANSON STANG
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Well I am not an idoit when it comes to car. I know I had a bad waterpump because the day i sent it in i noticed the coolant wasn't circulating whichs points to a bad water pump. And the Mechanics are good friends on mine and i was with them when they pulled out my radiator which was TRASHED and the timing belt gasket was melted onto it and was all messed up. I don't mean to sound like i don't believe your answer but i have no coolant in my oil and theres not any oil or coolant around the motor.
Mar 26, 2011 at 1:04 AM
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SKYLERHANSON STANG
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Could it be Anything else?
Mar 26, 2011 at 1:06 AM
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WRENCHTECH
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I don't doubt that you needed those parts and most likely they would have been the cause of the extreme heat that led to a head gasket failure. It happens all the time and you do not have to see water in the oil, in fact that rarely happens unless the head is cracked.
Mar 26, 2011 at 1:08 AM
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WRENCHTECH
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Pressure test the system for a long time and see if it hold pressure. I bet it doesn't.
Mar 26, 2011 at 1:09 AM
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SKYLERHANSON STANG
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What are the signs for a blown head gasket and how can you tell if it is blown then?
Mar 26, 2011 at 1:14 AM
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WRENCHTECH
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the signs are just what you describe, air pockets in the cooling system and coolant loss with no visible leaks and no explanation for constant overheating and pressure in the cooling system. It is very difficult to confirm through testing but the most reliable way is using an exhaust analyzer to sniff for hydrocarbons at the radiator cap. They make other chemical test kits but they aren't real reliable.
Mar 26, 2011 at 1:18 AM
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CJ MEDEVAC
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COULD IT POSSIBLY BE A RADIATOR HOSE BEING SUCKED FLAT?...I DID PONDER THE NO HEAT AT THE HEATER CORE (WHICH COULD BE A SEPARATE ISSUE, SUCH AS A BAD BLEND DOOR), BEFORE I THREW THIS OUT THERE (IN THAT MAYBE IT WOULD STILL CIRCULATE EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T GETTING THE COOLER RADIATOR JUICE, IN THAT SITUATION). ARE THE HEATER HOSES GETTING HOT NEAR THE HEATER CORE?......STILL...TRYING TO HELP WITH SOMETHING ANYWAY--THE MEDIC...OUT
Mar 26, 2011 at 2:19 AM
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WRENCHTECH
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Car overheating and no heat from the heater go hand in hand, especially when the car has a history of cooling system issues. If you want to test the principle, do a vacuum fill on the cooling system and I bet the heater problems go away temporarily but will come back.
Mar 26, 2011 at 2:23 AM
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MHPAUTOS
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You can do a head check, this is a simple chemical test to check for Co in the cooling system, if so you will have a head problem, re check that the thermostat is actually opening fully, boil it up in a pot on the stove to check, was the radiator a new unit?
Mar 26, 2011 at 3:35 AM
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RASMATAZ
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Go here and get aquainted with the chemical tester: http://www.arrowheadradiator.com/head_gasket_or_combustion_leak_test.htm
Mar 26, 2011 at 6:53 AM
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WRENCHTECH
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I have just never found those test kits to be very reliable. The problem seems to have to be very severe before those things test positive. They always seem to have a hard time finding the smaller leaks where the exhaust sniffer finds even small leaks.
Here is a video that helps you get a more accurate chemical test.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYQHkWVULn8
Mar 26, 2011 at 12:39 PM
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MHPAUTOS
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I have used these testers for years in my business, i find them very reliable indeed.
Mar 26, 2011 at 2:45 PM