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DWood · Sep 17, 2003, 12:00 PM

I have a 96 Ford F 150 which is overheating. I had the radiator rebored about a year ago.

It overheated about a month ago and when I opened the cap it spewed for a short time. I added anti freeze and water. Then, it was OK for about a month.

It has started again. I checked the water levels and it is still full. I noticed steam inside my windshield (right hand passenger side) this morning and I am smelling anti freeze. I can't see any leaks at all.

Any advise will be appreciated.

Thanks!

Traffic · Oct 26, 2003, 09:45 PM

Hello...

When you see steam inside you windshield and on the passenger side (accompanied by the smell of antifreeze) - your heater core is leaking...

The heater core is located behind the dashboard on the passenger side - The symptom of a bad heater core is leakage... this will cause your windshield to steam up on the passenger side and the smell of antifreeze in the cab... Also, in the advanced stages of heater core breakdown - you will actually get a puddle of antifreeze on the floorboards on the passenger side...

...

DWood · Oct 27, 2003, 07:49 AM

Thanks for the info. Will that also cause it to get hot? Or are they two separate issues?

When going down the highway, it doesn't get hot, but when it's in traffic or idling, it does.

Thanks again!

freejosh · Mar 21, 2004, 05:38 PM

Try the thermostat also. Take it out and toss it in a pan of boiling water. If it opens it is good... If not, get a new one. Also, check your fans. I am not too familiar with your truck, but you may have an auxiliary fan with a bad switch. Like the last guy said, your heater core needs to be replaced or you will end up with puddles in your front seat. Good luck.

-Josh

labman · Mar 21, 2004, 07:36 PM

Considering the price of thermostats and how tough getting some of them out is, I would tend to toss it in the trash and buy a new one. Maybe try boiling the new one before putting it in.

Check your belts and any fan clutch. How are your hoses? If they are soft and spongy, they can shut the flow of water off.

Let it set in the driveway and idle as it heats up. Feel the hoses and the radiator core and see if they are hot. You should not be able to squeeze the upper hose shut. Do not feel the fan or belts. Count on it at leash hurting if you get your hand in it.

Many heaters now have an outlet to make the puddles under the truck if they leak. Replace it anyway. It is more of a GM thing, but neglected minor coolant leaks can destroy an engine.

hugobazan · Jun 24, 2004, 08:19 AM

Hello Dwood, I have a F150 4.2 L 6cil. And having the same problem... :( I change the fan clutch one week ago because I was having a noise problem, and now my truck is getting hot, I put 50% Water and 50% AntiFreeze and I have the same situation, it is happening when the truck is not running, like in the stops, or traffic, not when the truck is running like the express way.

Did you found any solution? It never happened to me before.

labman · Jun 24, 2004, 09:55 AM

F you weren't over heating before you changed the fan clutch, and are now, I would take a good look at the fan clutch, and also the belt. Make sure any shrouds you may have removed are correctly in place.

Have you opened the hood and looked to make sure the fan is turning rapidly at idle? The purpose of the fan clutch is to disengage it when you are moving and have enough air flow without it. It must engage when you are stopped.

jruss · May 14, 2006, 09:00 PM

Heater core leaking-replace. Overheating, possibly wrong type of fan clutch installed. The type you need is a thermostatic clutch.

gatorguy_k7 · Aug 11, 2009, 01:14 PM

I have the same truck and the same problem and all I did was get a brand new thermostat and flushed the radiator and put new fluids in and now the truck is running fine! By the way when it does start to overheat idle the truck and turn the heater on it cools it down faster!

sprintr36 · Jul 12, 2010, 07:16 AM

Truck overheating ,water is coming back out of the rad when the cap is off.

TxGreaseMonkey · Jul 12, 2010, 08:42 AM

sprintr36, this link may help:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-t...tml#post235973

Phosphate scale may be blocking passages and require replacing the radiator.

cliffherrin · Mar 15, 2011, 06:45 PM

Have a 2004 5.4f150 its overheatingmay run for a month with no problems... when it overheats its instantly and if u shut it off it goes back to normal temp? No slow increase in temp,always sudden.