Hot Tbird uh oh

[5bird7]

Ok, negligent on taking care of our Inca,
Had to put it on a trailer today and take it to the mechanic's shop 03 2022 trailer_4767feb16 2022_800.jpg

Saga will continue. Hope it's a common cure.

ps, the photo is a stereo photo for x-eyed viewing. focus on a finger put in front of your nose with the photo in the background. Cool way to view stereo sets without any other aids (maybe glasses if you wear glasses)

[007Cruiser]

Good luck with your repair.

[JerriLampon]

Definitely keep us updated. We are all "uh oh" prone, so your solution may (most likely) will prevent others in the future.

[BLACK BEAUTY]

How many smiles on that car Dot?

[AZTB]

And when you say "hot"...does that mean, Dot, that it overheated? Can't tell you how many cracked thermostats and thermostat housings I went thru in the first IG, not to mention one cracked overflow reservoir.

[Frank Dreano]

Don't feel bad friend....my '02 has had no problems other than an FEM swap and yesterday I smelled hot burnt oil and bluse smoke exiting the passnger side of the hood, maybe a valve cover leak, but no puddles under car and oil level is good - don't know what that entails.

[Tbear]

I hope it's something easy Dot. Please let us know the solution.

[5bird7]

And when you say "hot"...does that mean, Dot, that it overheated? Can't tell you how many cracked thermostats and thermostat housings I went thru in the first IG, not to mention one cracked overflow reservoir.

yes overheated. 122,000 miles on the car. leaking coolant fluid by the time this went in; engine light had been on for 2 1/2 months--- that's where my negligence came into play. George didn't seem concerned, and I didn't want to read up on what else could make that engine light come on (too much going on the past 3 months in our lives). The fan had been running at full speed during this time anytime I drove it. All code said at the beginning was minor fuel emission leak as I recall. but this last week, I got an alarm ie about 4 beeps as I'm driving along into town. Wasn't coming from radio so checked the dash and the thermometer was pegged to the top and the red thermometer on my instrument panel was on! I pulled over, turned it off and waited a few minutes, called George, no answer, so decided to just go home. Turned it back on, thermometer red normal and drove it home. that was last Friday. George called the mechanic, and they couldn't get us in until yesterday. Tried to drive it in to shop but it went hot again about 3 miles from home and wouldn't cool down like it did last week, so we decided it was trailer time. George went back and got the trailer and put it on and now it's there at the shop.

Are there any GOOD Degas bottles out there to be found? If I can do aftermarket, we will but I need one that will last at least 10 years, not the 1 to 2 years we get reports on. Meanwhile they are ordering the super expensive Ford one and I don't know if they'll find one???

[AZTB]

yes overheated. 122,000 miles on the car. leaking coolant fluid by the time this went in; engine light had been on for 2 1/2 months--- that's where my negligence came into play. George didn't seem concerned, and I didn't want to read up on what else could make that engine light come on (too much going on the past 3 months in our lives). The fan had been running at full speed during this time anytime I drove it. All code said at the beginning was minor fuel emission leak as I recall. but this last week, I got an alarm ie about 4 beeps as I'm driving along into town. Wasn't coming from radio so checked the dash and the thermometer was pegged to the top and the red thermometer on my instrument panel was on! I pulled over, turned it off and waited a few minutes, called George, no answer, so decided to just go home. Turned it back on, thermometer red normal and drove it home. that was last Friday. George called the mechanic, and they couldn't get us in until yesterday. Tried to drive it in to shop but it went hot again about 3 miles from home and wouldn't cool down like it did last week, so we decided it was trailer time. George went back and got the trailer and put it on and now it's there at the shop.

Are there any GOOD Degas bottles out there to be found? If I can do aftermarket, we will but I need one that will last at least 10 years, not the 1 to 2 years we get reports on. Meanwhile they are ordering the super expensive Ford one and I don't know if they'll find one???

There are good degas bottles, thermostats and thermostat housings, but just avoid ANY product from Dorman.

...here's a site that may help (found it under "reservoir", but nothing under degas - even though that's how it's listed on pg 303-03-6 and 303-03-27 of Thunderbird shop manual):

https://www.fordgenuineautoparts.com...and-components

Snip20220218_1.png

[5bird7]

Don't feel bad friend....my '02 has had no problems other than an FEM swap and yesterday I smelled hot burnt oil and bluse smoke exiting the passnger side of the hood, maybe a valve cover leak, but no puddles under car and oil level is good - don't know what that entails.

Just to give you an insight to my suggestions below: first I am not a mechanic and I don't fix things that are wrong mechanic-wise on these car but I do watch what George does and have for over 55 years. I have seen him change the coils and also have to change the o-rings in the cam area of the retro engines because of oil leak into the coil wells. We've had numerous failures on our 02 with the coils in its first 10 years including water and bad coils. among other things.

Sounds like you should check around the coil cover on the passenger side of the engine. Take it off and see if there is any oil in the coil wells. If not, then a bolt may be loose on the back side of valve cover. might be a leaking seal on the valve cover. it may be just a minor amount of oil that is burning off of the engine on that side. It might be a sign that there will be a coil failure in your future.

[5bird7]

There are good degas bottles, thermostats and thermostat housings, but just avoid ANY product from Dorman.

...here's a site that may help (found it under "reservoir", but nothing under degas - even though that's how it's listed on pg 303-03-6 and 303-03-27 of Thunderbird shop manual):

https://www.fordgenuineautoparts.com...and-components

Snip20220218_1.png

Thank you, Jim, Just called them and they already have the parts needed. wow, after hearing reports from others, that was a quick turn around. So I am stuck with the full cost. Probably being installed today but the car may need more once it's installed. I'll just wait to see how things go.

[BillyL]

I remembered seeing this posting on a metal replacement degas bottle. i saved it because I think it is what I will do when mine fails.
Degas bottle fix

Sep 14, 2021, 12:36 PM
I found this on ebay and thought I'd pass it along. Silver or black. Seems like the fix to me. Hope this helps. They are around $102. ea.

Aluminum Coolant Degas Overflow Expansion Tank For Lincoln LS Ford Thunderbird (02-05) With Cap




100% Brand New
The tanks are 100% welded by TIG.
Installation Instruction is NOT Included
Replaces Factory Plastic Tank for a Heavier Duty Model [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1096230[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1096231[/ATTACH]

Specifications:
Material:6061 Aluminum
Color: Silvere
FITS THE FOLLOWING:

• 2002-05 Ford Thunderbird Coolant Reservoir
• 2000-06 Lincoln LS Coolant Reservoir

[007Cruiser]

Found the link for you

https://www.ebay.com/itm/26457046858...3ABFBMsuuNheJf

[Brad]

As a cautionary tale, the parts cars I'm buying, the #1 reason the owner gave up is bad head gaskets, often caused by not addressing repeated overheating. The one I have with a ceased engine has what looks like thin chocolate milk in the crankcase

www.TbirdBob.com

[5bird7]

Got the Tbird back today and it runs great again. Of course the degas bottle was replaced and the thermostat along with the coolant control valve. They also had to replace the thermostat housing as it had deteriorated and had interfered with the thermostat working. Being 17 years old, the plastic, etc were falling apart and probably had caused the thermostat to quit working..

btw, the coolant tank (degas bottle) has a part number indicating that it's for the 2005s. Apparently they replaced the gas cap, too and it's a 2003 part #. All the rest have 2002 part #s.