thermostat problems

[kamikaze2899]

I have a 03 Marauder, that is mostly stock except for exhaust. I removed the thermostat to replace it, and now my car overheats with it in. It's OEM replacement, that's rated at 195 degrees. I've checked the install diagram, and it's installed the correct way in the housing, with the pill facing up. I've also filled it as directed in the manual through the bleed, on the top, with motorcraft 50/50 coolant. With the thermostat out, and a restrictor in place the engine runs fine, although on the cold side. (just above the cold mark on the temp. gauge) Am I missing something on the install/refill procedures? This is driving me nuts. Any help would be appreciated.

Aloha, and Merry Christmas

[RF Overlord]

kamikaze, welcome to the site...LOTS of good people here who will help you out.

One question, when you say "overheat", do you mean it actually boils over, or is it just that the temperature gauge reads higher than usual?

I ask this because you said you got an OEM replacement rated at 195°. The factory thermostat is rated at 188°. I'm not saying this will cause your car to overheat, but it IS the wrong temperature.

[kamikaze2899]

the temp gauge goes almost all the way into the red. Later when I drained the radiator, the coolant was still cool enough to touch. While the coolant in the upper hoses were hot. I made sure to monitor the temp gauge, and shut it down before it got to the point of boiling over. Thanks for the info on the thermostat. I'll go get another one before trying this again.

[jgc61sr2002]

Welcome aboard. :D

Any possibility of air in the system?
Did you bleed the system after refilling the antifreeze?

[kamikaze2899]

tried a couple of different ways to bleed it out, but not sure what the procedure is. The cooling setup on this engine is different from the norm. Any suggestions?

[jgc61sr2002]

There is a bleed valve on the top of the metal cooling line where you can purge the system.

[kamikaze2899]

that's where I filled it from. so i should run the engine with this open for a little bit to purge the air, and then cap it off?

[jgc61sr2002]

that's where I filled it from. so i should run the engine with this open for a little bit to purge the air, and then cap it off?

YES that should do it.:D

[fastblackmerc]

that's where I filled it from. so i should run the engine with this open for a little bit to purge the air, and then cap it off?

Search the site for the correct procedure to bleed the cooling system.

[Local Boy]

I believe you need to run the heater on "High" to get air out of the heater core...some say, car on a slight incline helps...

ALOHA

[FormulaMarauder]

May have a falty thermostat. They are ill crafted pieces of metal that bind themselves pretty bad. i had a falty one on my Firebird. Sucks when you install a new part and it performs worse than the one you just removed!

[kamikaze2899]

Thanks for all of the help and info. I'm going to try it again tomorrow, after picking up a new 188 degree thermostat (thanks RF Overlord). I'll let you know how it goes.

[Zack]

When a Marauder overheats, ALL the coolant in the radiator will be ice cold because it is not circulating through the engine.
The air pocket prevents flow

[magindat]

Find a funnel with a neck diameter (or cut one to fit) that fits tightly in the air bleeder in the crossover tube. Jam the neck in the hole. Fill the funnel 3/4 with 50/50. Run the engine 'till it's warm enough to open the thermo. Monitor the funnel for bubbles and level. When it stops bubbling, quickly remove the funnel with one hand and slap the cap in with the other. It may help to have the ratchet already in the cap and set to 'tighten'.

You and the belt will take a bit of a glycol bath. You both may squeal for a moment. Just rinse with a light mist of water.

A little messy? Yes. However, I've never overheated or had to burp the system.

[kamikaze2899]

Thanks so much for all of the tips. I installed to thermostat yesterday, bled the system out. Everything is working as it should right now. Again, thanks plenty for all the help. Appreciate it.

Aloha

[kamikaze2899]

Problems AGAIN!!

Just started a 2 days ago, under normal operating conditions, my MM will run hot. Ambient temperature is anywhere from 70-84 degrees fahrenheit. Sitting in traffic, or driving normal in traffic, or slowly through residential area, the temp gauge will climb to the upper area of the temp range on the gauge. About an 1/8 of an inch from the overheat range. Also going uphill on the freeway, cruising at 70 mph the temp will climb. If I kick it into neutral while sitting at a stop, rev it up to 2500-3000 rpm, the temp will drop to normal.

I checked the thermostat prior to the install and it opened when it should. I also burped the cooling system 4x already, and filled it with 50/50 glycol coolant. I checked the serpentine belt routing to make sure I installed it right, and it is. The fan kicks on when it should, and does adjust speed as the temperature increases/decreases.

For some odd reason, only the driver side of the radiator will be hot at times, and the passenger side reservoir will be cool to the touch.

I'm thinking either a bad water pump, or plugged radiator.

Any help, or suggestions on this would be appreciated.

Mahalo

[kamikaze2899]

Almost forgot, the themostat that I put in was 195 degree. I bought it at Redline. I even went to the dealer and they said that this was the right one. Is this correct? If I change to the 180 from Reinhart would this solve/help this problem? I was going to wait to buy my tuner before changing out the thermostat, but don't want to run my MM this hot.

HELP!!

[Zack]

There is still air in there.

Park car on a steep incline (Front higher than the rear)
Make sure you start with the car cold and bleed it again.

[kamikaze2899]

There is still air in there.

Park car on a steep incline (Front higher than the rear)
Make sure you start with the car cold and bleed it again.

Did that, i actually jacked the car up, and put it on stands. I'll do it again and let you know.

Mahalo

[RF Overlord]

Almost forgot, the themostat that I put in was 195 degree. I even went to the dealer and they said that this was the right one. Is this correct?Your dealer is wrong. It happens frequently as most dealers know NOTHING about this car.

The OEM thermostat is 188°. (see reply #2)

[magindat]

And the 180 will be fine even without the tune. Thermostats are somewhat standard. Take your stocker or your 196 down to the local parts store. Tell them you want a 180 that will fit. Spend $12. Then go home and install it.

[Local Boy]

Hey Wade,

Bring it by my house, I'll help you with it...

And bring a 180* stat...

ALOHA

[Zack]

Your dealer is wrong. It happens frequently as most dealers know NOTHING about this car.

The OEM thermostat is 188°. (see reply #2)

On the contrary Bob.
All part stores, including NAPA, have the stock temp listed as 195 degrees.

Indeed it is 188 on the stat, but not in any replacement part catalog.

[RF Overlord]

How is what I posted "contrary"? The OEM thermostat IS 188° even if the parts stores list it differently...

[NRAUD]

Problems AGAIN!!

Just started a 2 days ago, under normal operating conditions, my MM will run hot. Ambient temperature is anywhere from 70-84 degrees fahrenheit. Sitting in traffic, or driving normal in traffic, or slowly through residential area, the temp gauge will climb to the upper area of the temp range on the gauge. About an 1/8 of an inch from the overheat range. Also going uphill on the freeway, cruising at 70 mph the temp will climb. If I kick it into neutral while sitting at a stop, rev it up to 2500-3000 rpm, the temp will drop to normal.

I checked the thermostat prior to the install and it opened when it should. I also burped the cooling system 4x already, and filled it with 50/50 glycol coolant. I checked the serpentine belt routing to make sure I installed it right, and it is. The fan kicks on when it should, and does adjust speed as the temperature increases/decreases.

For some odd reason, only the driver side of the radiator will be hot at times, and the passenger side reservoir will be cool to the touch.

I'm thinking either a bad water pump, or plugged radiator.

Any help, or suggestions on this would be appreciated.

Mahalo

Howzit Kamikaze? Did your problem ever get solved?

[Richy04]

Watch out, I changed mine and it was great for three days, then BANG, it boiled over.. The only solution was to get the nose in the air and refill it and now its fine. The guys are right, anytime you touch the system in any way, you have to get the car up on an incline (the steeper the better) to work that bubble to the front. If your heat is luke warm or no heat at all, you have the "bubble".

I noticed when after the antifreeze change and upon starting the car the first time every day, it would shoot up in temp and it would have poor heat , then the rest of the day it was fine. I tried everything but the system has to be elevated to get that ***** out..!! Follow the instructions here from Zack and others..

[bobsawyer7]

Had change the stat when I first got my Marauder.
BURPETY...BURP...BURP...BURP
Didn't have the front elevated so I think I ended up burping about 6 times before all the air was out.
Never had another problem.

[TAKEDOWN]

Hey Wade,

Bring it by my house, I'll help you with it...

And bring a 180* stat...

ALOHA


Now... that's a great guy there!

[doyounochef]

i am going to piggy-back this when i start my 04 and let it sit the termo will show that its overheating and it wont cool or come down till is drive it