Briefing on me: Still new to the entire old car thing so I am learning! (and do not know much yet...) Hence why I am here.... So I have had this 59 Fairlane for a few months and really havent hit any major speed bumbs, a couple minor things but I was able to figure it out. But now.... my temp gage inside the car does not work so I cannot tell I am overheating until I park, turn it off and hear it. (It kind of squeels from the radiator I think) Then I can hear it boiling in there.... yikes, Im sure thats NOT good. This has only been going on for a few-maybe two- days. THEN... yesterday I went to get under the hood and try and tinker and I notice its leaking all my fluids out (I think it was just coolant and water...) So, now my baby darling is parked until I can figure out what the **** is going on. And I have no idea where to even start. Anyone?
Thermostat is sticking. Water is low, needs water. Timming is off, check it. Water pump is bad, there is a weep hole on the bottom of it. Needs a fan shroud. Needs a temp guage fo sho. Just some stuff to check before you drive it any longer.
Something to think about, it's been terrible hot out this way for the last week or so. How far up are you filling the radiator? If you have been filling it to the top, you may just be puking out some over flow. Plus the basics always need to be covered, flush, fill. How old is the radiator cap? How old is the Thermostat? Does it boil over while running? Have your driving habits been different the last few days? And last but not least, see about getting the temp gauge or a dummy light working on that. It's a nice thing to have.
Them old Fords would take the temp sending unit out when they over heated and that is most likely why the temp gauge doesn't work. Check the radiator cap, run anti freeze. Is it overheating on the highway or idleing around town?
It's just around town, let me get out my Shop Manual and see if I can check these things and go from there.... Thank you guys!
pennylane, Something that may help all of us. Since there are a lot of things that can cause overheating, or at least the appearance of overheating, a bit of history on what has been done to the cooling system as well as the type of motor in the car may offer some clues. But one thing that I have chased before are bad lower radiator hoses. When they get real soft, they can suck closed and cause a car to overheat also.
Exactly when did it start to overheat? WHat did you do or happen JUST before this that could be making it overheat? Tuneup, hit a bird, drag race it? If you hear it boiling it should have thrown water out the overflow before that.
Okay the hoses aren't sucking closed, it is overflowing when it gets hot, there was no difference in my driving and no drag racing or hitting birds How can you tell if the water pump is working? Or if there is a hole in it? I filled it back up and drove it around closely watched it, it looks like the water isn't circulating- tomorrow I'll buy a new thermostat and some antifreeze and hopefully that's where the problem ends.
Sounds like its the thermostat. The water will still circulate even if the water pump is bad, but it will leak at the shaft behind the pully, or from the bottom through the weep hole. This will cause the system to not hold pressure.....making it over heat. The weep hole is there to let you know when the seals bad in the pump, it will leak when the seals bad. All water pumps have that little hole. Get a mirror and look to see if it has been leaking. The water will not circulate with a bad thermostat. Test the new thermostat in a pan of hot water before you put it in the car, sometimes they are faulty. The thermostat looks like a tree, root goes in the block. Hope that helps.
OK been reading your post if you will take the time lets put things in order.a car gets hot for 3 reasons.......... A.no water or water flow 1. frist make sure water is full and there are no air locks bubble in system the best way to do this is remove thermostat and fill block when it is cold leave thermostat out to check water flow when started. put on gasket and fill with water. you are now ready to start car. 2. leave cap off start car make sure water is flowing. if ware come bubblig out over flowing. it is eather. radiator pluged or internal engine leak ie head gasket ect. if the cap rubber seal looks good and the spring has tenshion. put cap on and let it get to normal temp or as best you can tell with out a guage. shut the car off and look for leaks. they make tool to pressurize the cooling system. some parts store around here rent them. most over heating is caused by low water from a water leak so check this well. as said the hole in the water pump i what we call a weep hole it is put there on the back side of the front bearring if there is leak. water will come from that hole. get out a mirror and put it under bottem pully. and see if you can see a water leak. not trying it be sexes sexes or anything but acompac mirror works good. i know because iv used one before. B. air flow start car hold a red blue white shop towell in frot od radiator like you are holding it to fight a bull car running let it go should be sucked right up to the radiator. if not. 1. check radiator fins make sure they are clean put a light behind them and look threw from front. if not make a mix of baking soda and water paint on with a large paint brush or hudson sprayer. this mixture seems what makes the stick is the acid in there bug juce. baking soda takes care of that.now you can wash them out with garden hose. 2. if still lacking air flow. and it has a fan clutch. get it hot shut car off now grab fan blade and see if it has play up and down or side to side should be no play. or movement. in hot areas seem to last only 5-6 yr. for the brave at heart try holding fan with your hand or stick have your buddy start the car if it spins out of youh hand when its hot it is not bad. (this should not be tryed at home or any were else for that mater just my little disclamer). short peace of rope. will work did i say shot peace. 3. fan shroud if it had one it needs one..... if it did not the closer you can get the blade with out hiting the better. C. we talked about this a little. internal combustion leak head gasket leak, cracked head possable bad block. there are a couple ways 1. to test this one is drain th raditor down a little leaving an air pocket 2" down put an emissions tester probe and see if it picks up gass. 2. the way i like to do is called a dye test. you can buy these at most part stores and iv also seen then for rent there is a cap that goes on the radiator. it has a bulb and hose that conects to a clear plastic cylinder filed a blue dye squeze th bulb it pulls the air out of the radiator and forses it into the tube and dye if the dye turns yellow you got a leak there you have the ABC of getting HOT. THANKS Jim ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ps check the themostat in the pan of water as said. and remmber its all abought water and air flow a dirty radiator wont show up till it gets hot and you need all 100% of it. not just the 70% that was open!
I never told you guys how I got down on it! Im so proud of myslef haha. Thank God to my SHop Manual and you guys... So I started with draining my radiator, Then I put in a new thermostat (I used butter instead of grease bc I was out :/ to keep it from slipping down when I put it on there, funny, but it worked) Then I did an acid flush on the radiator, then just a water flush, then filled that bitch up with Coolant/Antifreeze some sludgy stuff that stops leaks, water wetter and water and let her run for a while. Let me tell you, she's running like a rape'd date! Thanks for the help you guys are super helpful. So until my water pump or some belt breaks... Im good for now! Cheers Lads and Ladies!
One other really easy to forget item is the bypass hose. This is used during warmup to allow the water to circulate and not build up excess pressure. If you get a symptom of getting excessively hot while warming up the engine, then it goes back down to normal, check the bypass hose for retrictions. GET THE TEMP GAUGE WORKING IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY. BETTER TO HAVE AN INDICATOR THAN NOT.
Yes, thats definitly next on the to-do list.... hopefully thats an easy fix and not a mess of wires or things... eek. haha Well, wish me luck! Im getting it all slowley but surely!!!
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