Odd overheating issue

N

nastynaters

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Well, my LS finally started showing signs of a faulty cooling system. It just began about 2 weeks ago, when i tried to use my heat for the first time since last winter. Anyway, the cooling fan is operating correctly, im not low on coolant, and the car ONLY overheats when i turn the heat on. I also dont get any heat, except for some random semi-warm air from the passenger side. From the reading ive done, the heating issue seems to be consistent with a failing dccv, though since it only overheats when i turn the heat on, im kind of confused. Im looking for some advice on this and will likely just replace the entire cooling system, as many have advised. Unless of course someone could offer up any clues on a possible alternative fix to this problem, atleast until I KNOW the cooling system is done. I know it will need to be replaced soon anyway, since the car is a 2001. By the way, its a 01 v6 with the manual tranny. Im fine with replacing it all, i just dont wanna do that, then come to find i still have the same issue because i failed to replace something small like a sensor or valve. Im honestly very surprised these cooling parts lasted so long, as i have no reason to believe any have been replaced by previous owners. Thanks in advance for any help that comes my way, Nate.
 
Have been told by a few car-knowledgeable people that they think its simply the thermostat thats gone bad.. I just feel like with this car, fixes are never as easy as that. Also, could anyone provide a link or information on everything that will be needed to do a complete cooling system overhaul? Ive seen plenty regarding the v8s and gen2 vehicles, but havent had any luck finding those details for a gen1 v6, and manual trans, which i know probly doesnt matter..but thanks again in advance.
 
Well...over 500 views and no replies. Not really surprised as this has been covered countless times. And at this point i dont really care to pinpoint the problem, i just dont want it getting any worse until i have all the necessary cooling parts in hand. Im trying to put this order together but i feel like im missing parts..so if anyone could help itd be greatly appreciated. Even a link to a thread where all the plastic cooling components are listed, maybe with p/n's? I just cant seem to find the specific info im looking for. Thanks again.
 
Patience grasshopper, the right people may have not noticed it yet. guys like joegr and 1 loudls and others are very knowledgeable . They might not have been on line yet. scroll some of the other posts about cooling issues. Unfortunately I have just gotten my LS 2 months ago so I am not very qualified to speak on the issue. Good luck
 
I've seen it. He knows what to do. No need to repeat it all.
 
I made a separate thread about this..but do you know if the gen 1 v6 is able to use the aluminum jag tstat housing? Or ir it only compatible for the gen 1 v8s? I searched for far too long with no luck..
 
Certainly, the V8 part and the V6 part are about as different as they can be. Actually, I thought the V6 thermostat housing was already metal.
 
Are you leaking coolant? Have you bled your coolant system.
There are a lot of threads on this subject. Use the search tool. I too have been seeing this thread for a few days and while I feel your pain, I know the information is there. Don't want to make this into an LS overheating forum.
You can read through this then take a look at "similar threads" at the bottom of the page.

http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/fo...4-Coolant-bleeding-problem!&highlight=drag214
 
Im not leaking coolant as of yet. And i havent even tried bleeding the system either. I dont know much about all this, but if i had air in the system, wouldnt the engine overheat all the time, instead of only when i try to get the heat to work? I havent used the climate control at all since i discovered that, and also havent had any overheating. Again, i dont have much knowledge on this, but it seems like something would be stuck closed, and the hot coolant is being recirculated through the engine, instead of through the heater core which would in turn cool it. Please correct me if this thinking is wrong..id like to learn as much as i can as im pretty clueless in regards to the cooling system
 
The LS has "fail safe" cooling. It will try to prevent a full overheat, but the tell-tale signs that overheating is starting is the fan runing fast (loud). Since you have a Gen 1 LS, you have a hydraulic fan system. Look for threads on verifying and repairing the HYDRAULIC fan system including making sure the hydraulic system is full of fluid (Mercon) if I recall correctly.

If I mispoke the details of how this function...I am sure others will chime in.
 
The fan reservoirs full, and ive definately noticed it kick into high and stay there, but only when the temp gauge raised past halfway. From everything ive read, the cooling fan system is working properly. It never runs on high unless the engine temp goes past midway(with heat on), i flip the AC on, or im idling for any extended period of time. Like i said, i havent had ANY overheating, even while idling, since ive stopped trying to use the heat. Its starting to get pretty chilly up here in WI, and im desperately gonna need my heat soon, so im currently trying to put a list together of all the plastic cooling components to try and tackle this asap. I cannot for the life of me find a link to all these parts i need, have only seen that for the v8. At this point im just going off of the diagram listed on tascas site. Thanks for the help, Nate.
 
I have a V8 and don't have much experience with the V6. In the process of moving and don't have my tech manuals.
The tricky part about the cooling system on the LS is the many places for air to hide. In your situation although it's not overheating now, you were and no action was taken to correct it so it is likely that you will in the near future. That combined with the heating issue leads me to believe you have air in your coolant system. As you mentioned, air in your heater core will prevent proper heating. But when it is in your T-state housing you T-state isn't heated as the antifreeze is. It doesn't open. This prevents the coolant from flowing through the radiator and getting cooled by the fan. When the coolant gets to hot it will reach a boiling point. This point is dependent on the mixture of antifreeze you have in the system (normally around 240 degrees and up). Once boiling, pressure will build and be relieved at the weakest point of your coolant system.

I googled this:

http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/tech/drain-lincoln-ls-cooling-system/
 
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Alright thanks for info. Im stopping at a local ford dealer today with my VIN to ask for part numbers for both the cooling system and some suspension parts i will need soon. Hopefully theyll be able to compile a list for me.
 
Im planning to replace all the plastic cooling components just to be done with it and not have to worry about cooling issues again, hopefully for as long as i have the car. And i couldnt find a list of all the parts i need to do this, plenty of info on the gen 1 v8 though. Unless their cooling systems are identical, but nobody on this forum could link me to what i was looking for. Ive used the google search function for hours with no luck. I know this list must be out there for a gen 1 v6, but i obviously cant find it.
 
There aren't as many plastic cooling system parts on the V6. The degas bottle is the main failure, followed by one or two of the hose assemblies, from what I have seen (don't have a V6).
 
Ha wow..just thought id share this. So i was doing the bleed procedure by the books, everything seemed fine. My heat was back, super hot, car wasnt overheating. Got to the end of the test, shut the car off, and instantly coolant just poured out from the degas bottle. I really need my car so im going to a dealer today for the parts, and replacement of any other plastic parts will have to wait for now. I just hope nothing else fails until i make time to do the repair. For now degas bottle replacement(with attached hoses), coolant fill and bleeding will be all. Hopefully sooner than later, a replacement of other old cooling parts, and a complete system flush from the dealer.
Thanks for the replies.
Nate
 
Just got done cleaning up after installing the new degas bottle. Everythings fine again. Wasnt too bad of a job..besides when i lost one of the wiper arm nuts in the engine bay for a good 45 mins. Turned the 2 hour job into 3.
 
Lol yup. And i cant believe they tell you those plastic push retainers for the cowl are reusable..maybe for the first time. I need to stock up on those. Ended up having to wrap the threads of every single one with electrical tape so theyd hold in place. Also one question for anyone..the strut tower support bar that spans the engine bay, what is its purpose? Does it really privide support, structurally, for the car? Because out of the 7 bolts that tighten it down, 4 had been previously rusted bad and the heads broken off leaving the threads in place. Thinking about drilling them out and replacing if anyone thinks its worth it. Thanks, Nate.
 
nastynaters said:
... cant believe they tell you those plastic push retainers for the cowl are reusable ...
Click to expand...

They are! you are supposed to push down in the center clip to remove them and when they are out, you are supposed to pull the center clip halfway out.
After you've pushed the retainer back down into position, only then does the center clip gets pushed in, to lock the whole thing.


nastynaters said:
... wrap the threads of every single one ...
Click to expand...

what threads? I don't see any.

attachment.jpg
 
Yeaa..kinda figured i wasnt using them correctly..lol. Most of them had pieces broken off already and were just sitting in there loosely. And yea, i know theres not actual threads, i was just referring to the part where threads would be if it were a bolt
 
oh, I see, makes sense now, they are indeed easily broken, they tend to fade as well, brittle stuff for sure. when you see LS'es at the bone yards, it's something to think about grabbing if they are not already removed. I've found some here and there but as you say, tend to be already busted. I got lucky and scored brand new ones from an LVC member here who had bought a box and didn't need the rest of them.
 
Yea i think i need to just order a big bag of those. Probably have close to 20 missing including the ones that hold interior carpet and stuff in place. Off topic, but i managed to break the plastic head off of my radiator drain plug when letting some coolant out. Luckily, I was able to fit a hex head allen wrench into the broken plug to tighten it the rest of the way in, as it was very slowly leaking. Seems to have stopped the leak, and im just wondering if theres any way to replace it without getting coolant everywhere or draining the entire system.
 
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