I have a 1988 Ford tempo and today in town i started it, drove it half a block after loading a peson in handicapped and got to the light and the engine started smoking as if hot.
I stopped and turn off the car but it almost did not start so I hurry and drove it to a gas station, added water to tank on drivers side and kept air flow to engine.
It made it home but what things can cause the engine to overheat.
the fan was not on.
belts- look ok and tight
thermostat - i dont know where it is.
Fuses - can't find the box and the hot gage is not working on dash.
water pump ? located where and how to check?
anyone with any help please post
2006-10-18 15:05:00 · 10 answers · asked by Sunni 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
If you get smoke coming out of your hood, it is probably not the sensor. Your car was truly overheated. First you need the coolent to be fully circulating to bring the heat away from the engine block. So the thermostat controls the flow. It is usually below the radiator cap. If you want to replace it, make sure your car is completely cool before you open the radiator cap or you will get burn. It is usually very hot. You can actually drive without the thermostat. I have done that in my old car. Your heat just won't be very warm when you don't have the thermostat. If your thermostat is not the problem, make sure your radiator fan is working. First, physically turn the fan with your hand to see if the fan bearing is seized up. If it turns freely, drive your car around the house, stop, leave the engine on and pop to hood to check. If it is not turning wait a while and check again. It should eventually kick on. If it never turned on, you can check the fuse box. You can also hot wire the fan to see if the motor is good. If the motor is bad, it can get expensive.
If your head gasket is blown, you will see a lot of white smoke coming out of your tail pipe. It is a thick white smoke so you won't miss it. Good luck.
2006-10-18 15:22:52 · answer #1 · answered by Bruce__MA 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I live in Australia and I am not familar with that vehicle.
It sounds to me like you checked the water in the over flow tank, but not the radiator. First a huge warning NEVER EVER EVER check the water level in the radiator when the engine is hot. If you have driven the vehicle today, then wait until first thing tomorrow morning to check the water.
Front and center of the engine bay is the radiator. in the middle is the radiator cap (most vehicles) it undoes about half a turn and then pulls off. See what the water level is directly in the radiator. When the system is working normally, the overflow tank controls the level, but when it springs even a small leak, the overflow system stops working.
Top the water up tomorrow in the radiator and drive it for a day (if it doesn't overheat) then the day after early in the morning, check it again to see how much it used. You may have a very slow leak.
Please I stress, never remove the radiator cap from a hot engine, I have seen horrific injuries from this.
2006-10-18 15:12:32 · answer #2 · answered by teef_au 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ford Tempo.....overheating problem is not unusual! If this is the first time the car overheated, you may have lucked out (but I doubt it).
4cyl. engines have a tendency to overheat and warp or crack the cylinder head. Water will start seeping out beneath the cylinder head, thus making the engine overheat. I would recommend you have a mechanic run a pressure test on the cooling system.
Other possible causes could be: broken or cracked hose(s), radiator leak, electric fan not functioning properly, faulty thermostat, worn water pump or engine crankcase low on oil.
I wish ya luck!
2006-10-18 15:17:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have a mechanic check simple things-
water,
thermostat,
water pump
hoses.
cooling fan
Ford Tempos are not worth but about $1200, and it will cost more than that to repair serious engine damage. Dont' let a mechanic run up a huge shop bill diagnosing the car, or talk you into a large repair bill. Car isn't worth it.
2006-10-18 15:39:43 · answer #4 · answered by electron670 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have the 6 cylinder engine in that thing you probably need a head gasket. This will run you about $800 - $1,000 to fix. My girlfriend had this go wrong with her Ford. It is a common problem with them.
The way to tell is that the passenger compartment heater wont work when the motor over heats.
Get a Chevy and bury that Ford
2006-10-18 15:10:15 · answer #5 · answered by my_iq_135 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sound like your radiator fan are not working,most common problem with the older car over heating is neither your fan are not working or your radiator clogged up or you thermostat stuck, a thermostat is located at the end of a top radiator hose to the engine block, take the hose out you will see thermostat housing take two bolts that hold the housing to the cylinder block out you will see the thing sticking out from the block that they call thermostat, it cost around three to four dollars with gasket come with it, install reverse with how you take out,if that doesn't work check your temp switch for your cooling fan that located under your thermostat housing ( the one have two wire) one wire is temp sending unit.the next thing get you radiator check and clean.
2006-10-18 15:31:07 · answer #6 · answered by pvphelp 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the fan wasn't on that could be why it ran hot, it could have a bad fuse or sensor. The thermostat is located at the water inlet on the block of your motor ( where the top radiator hose goes to the motor). Worse case senario is you could have a blown head gasket and or warped head which can be a costly repair.
2006-10-18 15:11:54 · answer #7 · answered by n0s 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i own a repair shop,and i can tell by the way you talk your not that familiar with engines,you need to have it checked out by a god mechanic ,he can at least tell you what is wrong with it,you keep driving it like that your going to ruin the engine in it,it could have damage to it now,it doesn't take much heat to ruin one,at least let a good mechanic look it over rel good ,it might help save your cars life,good luck i hope this help,s
2006-10-18 15:14:52 · answer #8 · answered by dodge man 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
follow the top radiator hose from the radiator to where iot ends at the engine. at the end of the hose you will find a hose clamp. loosen the hose clamp pull the hose and under that housing is your thermostat. see what degree it is and get one and a new gasket. good luck
2016-05-22 01:03:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's the thermostat.
2006-10-18 15:08:57 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋