03 ls thermostat

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nellenrob

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Hey all, just bought an 03 ls and wife loves it. I think it has some issues that I am currently addressing. First is the cooling fans run loud sometimes. I have researched and found that some are ran by power steering fluid, is this correct and how do I tell.
The next is that it smells hot sometimes and there is a small drip from the passenger side of the radiator, so I was going to change out the thermostat. I called the parts stores and they do not show a thermostat for the 2003. Is there one or is there a fancy dancy way for these to cool.
Next the cruise control will come on for a second and then kick off. I have heard of a "clock spring" that goes bad. Any thoughts?
Other than this car is great and fun to drive. Thanks in advance....
 
The 2003 is a gen II and has an electric fan.

2000-2002 are gen I and have the hydraulic fans. The fan will run on high when the ac is on...thats normal for these cars.

There is a thermostat...go to the dealer and they have it. Be aware that eventually all the plastic cooling parts need to be replaced...and usually as you try to replace the thermostat the housing may need replaced also.

All modern cars with steering wheel controls have clocksprings, its simply a cable thats inside the steering wheels which allows them to work.
 
ha, the first time i heard someone say the clock spring is bad, I though how the hell does a clock have anything to do with all those problems... and my car doesn't have a clock so I must be fine...

Then I found out what it is, still have no idea why it is called that
 
nellenrob said:
Hey all, just bought an 03 ls and wife loves it. I think it has some issues that I am currently addressing. First is the cooling fans run loud sometimes. I have researched and found that some are ran by power steering fluid, is this correct and how do I tell.
The next is that it smells hot sometimes and there is a small drip from the passenger side of the radiator, so I was going to change out the thermostat. I called the parts stores and they do not show a thermostat for the 2003. Is there one or is there a fancy dancy way for these to cool.
Next the cruise control will come on for a second and then kick off. I have heard of a "clock spring" that goes bad. Any thoughts?
Other than this car is great and fun to drive. Thanks in advance....
Click to expand...

1. Your LS has only one cooling fan, and it is electric.
2. It does have a thermostat, but it is more complex than most. It's a multipart assembly that you have to put together in the front part of the thermostat housing. The two halves of the thermostat housing are plastic and are probably going to crack when you change the thermostat. You'd best go ahead and order them, as well as the degas bottle. If not already replaced, it will be cracked too.
3. I don't see how changing the thermostat is going to fix your radiator or nearby leak (It's probably your DCCV leaking). You have to fix all the leaks if you don't want the engine to run hot.
4. Since you have a gen II, it will either be the clock spring or the brake light switch stopping the cruise control.
 
I have an '03 LS V8 and have had several issues, half of which related to the cooling system. The thermostat housing is a two piece piece of crap plastic part that has plastic ears inside that break off and makes your thermostat sit crooked. As recommended already, order the replacement thermostat housing and replace it along with the thermostat. I also recommend checking your lower radiator hose, which also has a plastic component that cracks. It will spray on the passenger side. I still have not had a cracked degas bottle, but will order one shortly to have on standby.

You will have to bleed this pressurized system anytime you have any kind of leak to repair. It is complex and usually requires a professional. Good luck. I love my car until I have yet another design flaw issue.
 
I just had my "coolant control valve" replaced by a Ford dealer before I made a 375 mile trip across the desert (San Diego to Phoenix). I also had a small leak in the lower passenger side radiator area.

See item #12
http://deneau.info/ls/s6x~us~en~file=s6x33011.htm~gen~ref.htm

Threadjack:
For me, after driving 425 miles, I nearly overheated the 2nd day back. Car was 7/8 hot. Could the dealership not have bled the system properly? If so, would it have occurred that long (425 miles) after the repair was done?
 
Last edited:
Found the leak

So wife pulls in the driveway today and shuts the car off. Looks like it is overheating, I pulled the engine cover off and it is steaming from around the water neck. So I have taken the advice on here and ordered a new thermostat from ford $25 and the plastic housing $75. Will be here soon. BUt I posted earlier that I had a small leak on the passenger front, well with the overheating issue it gave me time to look closer and I found the leak. The plastic radiator is cracked, and much like the degas bottle, would only leak when it was hot. So now have new radiator ordered. She only drove it from the store to the house which is less than a mile so I am not concerned on the overheating.

Now next question is how to purge the cooling system, I have looked on here and there are many threads with different ways. Using the bleeder valve or removing the lower radiator hose. Which is correct and best. Thanks again
 
Problems coming to the surface

First thanks for the information, it is a GenII V8, So I started tearing into the thermostat last night and found all kind of goodies. First the water fill housing, where the thermostat locks into was missing an ear. So I think the thermostat was sitting crooked and not working correctly. Then I started looking for the source of the leak on top and found a hose that had a small hole in it.
Today off to the dealership again, to get new pieces. Radiator should be here and maybe I can get all these issues fixed.

I am a muscle car guy and these newer cars just amaze me!!!!
 
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