Hello,

My 2000 S-type 4.0 V8 (48K miles) suddenly acting up in 70F normal city traffic. The temp gauge moved to the red, high engine temp warning light lit up, cooling fan ran up to full speed. This morning the temp gauge quit working, and there is no heat.

There was no overflow of coolant fluid. Is the culprit the thermostat, temp sensor, or overflow tank cap?

Thanks for any suggestion.

 

Points to major loss of coolant. Have you checked the level?

If that's OK, possible water pump failure.

 

Care needed: find the fault fast as that engine cannot stand much if any overheat.

 

Agreed. Do not drive the car until you find the source of your over heating. Check your coolant overflow res, hoses, thermostat housing, water pump and thermostat.

 

Hello, I am still trouble shooting this problem and have not drive the car since. I just notice something very strange and perhaps bad sign? There seems to be a plastic gasket/bag/jacket surrounding the bottom of the intake manifold (I think) that is fill with coolant fluid. Please see pics, area circled in yellow. The "bag" continue on the "other" side too. I don't think this is normal.

What is this bag/gasket? Many thanks.

 

insulation blanket

 

Thanks so much for the prompt respond. Is it normal for the "blanket" to have full of fluid that looks like orange coolant fluid? Thanks again.

 

If you have coolant there look at the thermostat housing. I can tell you that the short hose from the housing is bulging and needs to be replaced pronto...If

 

Found the source of the overheat problem. It's a coolant leak between a hose and ??? See red circled (next to screw driver handle) area in pic 1 and blow-up view in pic 2. Temporarily, I added water, bleeded the system, and everything work fine. Now have to take thing a part to fix the leak. Thanks.

 

You have the old 4.0L V-8 so get ready for a lot of work and expense. All that plastic around the thermostat area is weak and if not leaking now will be shortly. You would be miles ahead to replace the thermostat and cooling tower plastic parts now.

Your hose are bulging and they should all be replaced as well. The car is now 16 years old.

I would also replace the water pump since you will be most of the way there anyway.

Finally have you changed the timing tensioners yet?

As was posted above be careful about the engine running hot. It's an all aluminum V-8 and it will NOT tolerate being over heated!
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No, I have not replaced the tensioners. I also read something about the tranny might need some preventive work. After being stranded 3 times for 3 different reasons, my wife does not trust this car anymore. So after fixing this overheat problem, we either sale it or trade it in. Too bad the car is beautiful, drive great, and like new cosmetically. We bought it new for $50K, we'll be lucky if we can get $3K for it, ouch!

Thanks for all the suggestions!

 

Statistically, that's more reliable than most cars on the road. My wife's old Civic left her stranded more often that that in a shorter period of time.

I find it strange to have concerns and criticism of a car yet knowingly neglect to perform the one maintenance item that will reduce the car to scrap value in an instant, in addition to another event of being stranded.