I am having cooling problem what to check?

Asked by tamera22 Sep 01, 2014 at 11:00 PM about the 1996 Ford Thunderbird LX RWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Thermostat works, flow from inlet to bottom outlet
but not out petcock. Gets too hot in a few miles
only. Bad radiator or water pump? Is there a way
to check these without removing them?

4 Answers
144,725

T_S_T answered 10 years ago

I would think water pump,the only true way to check is remove cap,let it heat up,and if it doe,s not circulate good when thermostat open,s it would be the pump.

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63,145

BoholMark answered 10 years ago

Start with the radiator. While your there swap out the water pump. Hell, do the thermostat. Your right there and you'll be good for the next 20 years.

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15,895

Larry answered 10 years ago

Not sure I would just replace the water-pump/thermostat first. Although they are not real expensive, you don't say if you can do the work yourself. If you have to pay someone then it can get a little expensive. Is the radiator the same temp top to bottom on front side? If so, I would think there is no problem with it. If there is a temp change top to bottom, then you need to pull the radiator and have it rodded out. If it is ok, then go the water pump/thermostat route.

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