Boiling Over 2003 Cobra convt

Chain52 · 07-31-2004

Just bought a 2003 new cobra convt, has 571 miles on it today. It has been to the dealer twice in the 2 weeks since I bought it.

Problem, car temp gauge does not go into red, or actually overheat, usually reads right in the middle. When AC is not on, just past half when AC is on. Everytime I drive the car radiator fluid boils out of the top of the radiator. Originally only did it when AC was on during the day.

First visit- 479 mile per a svt tsb drain radiator and replace do to a air pocket from factory. Did not fix anything still leaving probably boiling out a 32 oz drink on the ground when parking it probaly a big 44oz drink if AC was running. according to them all codes and tech drive test vehicle was fine.

Second visit 2 days later, drained radiator again, replaced thrmostat and radiator cap as a precaution. All temp and fans checks ok per codes in comp and tech road test. No dice no car boils on even nightime driving with no AC on. They also drove my car about 20 miles and burned a 1/4 tank LOL bet they had fun.

Anyone else have this problem on their new cobra. I was beginning to think I shoulda kept my 2000 convt GT. Got this for a year or so till new cobra comes out. I hate to say this but I coulda bought a new vette. I was at a younger age pro chevy till they moved the camaro plant from my Los Angeles area, actually out of Van Nuys so I have gone to ford ever since. I also don't want to go with any stinky rice burner or Euro-trash. Like this car alot but man is this what I get. Help.....Fustrated new Cobra owner

Regards,
Chain52

wilit · 08-03-2004

I could have sworn I read somewhere the really early '03's had a problem with the heads that would make them overheat. There is a silent recall I believe to replace the heads with a later revision that fixes this problem.

badass98svt · 08-03-2004

not liking your '03 cobra? sell it me or we can do a trade! i'll give ya 2 stangs for it.

Monkey Boy · 08-03-2004

Air pockets in the cooling system of the 4 valves has been a problem since 96. Don't know if that is causing your problem but don't stop hounding the dealership until they fix it.

hmarv347 · 08-04-2004

i had a similiar problem in my 02 gt. then all of a sudden it stopped so I never really had it looked at. I just kept refilling it.

Mana4Real · 08-04-2004

Good luck getting it fixed. That sucks that it's boiling over all the time. I would give it back to ford and call it a lemon.

SMOKE · 08-06-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mana4Real

Good luck getting it fixed. That sucks that it's boiling over all the time. I would give it back to ford and call it a lemon.

Agreed. Sounds like a something bad in that Cobra.

Chain52 · 08-08-2004

Gents,

Thanks for the info. Last week I took it to the largest Ford dealer in all the US. Galpin ford they had it for 5 days. They fixed all the little problems, small split seam in drivers visor and loose master brake cylinder line. But low and behold they again flushed refilled and replaced therm, cap and a seal and no dice. How many times till I can get a new one on the lemon law. LOL I have put more mileage on my rental focuses and escorts than I have my new car. Its been out of service for over a week and I have owned 3. It now has 720 miles on it. The service advisor did say a tech checked for a warped head and checked compression all seems good. They test drove it about 20 miles they said with AC on. I took it straight home on fri night a cool drive, dark at 7:30 and it boiled over immediately on shutdown. I know the car probably did it when they test drove it but they probably didnt want to pay for the rental on the weekend. I really like this car but it is testing my patience. Will take it back on monday and keep you all posted.

Chain52

Mana4Real · 08-08-2004

Ask to drive another cobra on the lot and see if it does the same thing that your car does.

SMOKE · 08-09-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilit

I could have sworn I read somewhere the really early '03's had a problem with the heads that would make them overheat. There is a silent recall I believe to replace the heads with a later revision that fixes this problem.

Truth on the silent recall.

Note for REF: 1 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. very good reference 7. 8.Possible trend???? 9. 10. Lastly .... 11.

Could any of the above mentioned (air pocket ... cap) .....

Curious, please keep us updated.

mustangtk · 08-10-2004

Yesterday morning I worked on a new Cobra (less than a 100 miles) that had a radiator hose blow off while it was being driven on a test drive(I work at Ford dealership. )This happened on a Saturday (I don't work Sat.) and another "tech" fixed the leak but didn't fill the cooling system correctly and I kept overheating. By overheating I mean 246 degrees measured by the ECT sensor. I removed the bleed plug (its to the drivers side of the alternator) and tried to add water, but it boiled as soon as it hit the tube. So I turned on the high speed fan relay and monitored the ECT sensor. I added water/coolant mix into the degas bottle and then using my cooling system pressure tester I force the mix thru the engine, I had to repeat this a couple of times until the engine was cool enough to add at the bleed port. Then I added more at the degas bottle and so forth. I all this took about an hour and one half. The four cam motor has always been hard to bleed the air out and the SC engine seems to even harder. There is only one message I'm aware of for the Cobra engine something to do about a ticking noise coming from the valves. Fords recommended procedure for filling a 2-valve is by taking off the thermostat housing and 'stat' and pour the coolant mix into the engine, the reinstalling the parts. The problem with the Mustang is that the heater core and the crossover tube (in front of the alternator) are the highest points of the cooling system and air can get trapped there.

SMOKE · 08-10-2004

:thumbup

Quote:

Originally Posted by mustangtk

Yesterday morning I worked on a new Cobra (less than a 100 miles) that had a radiator hose blow off while it was being driven on a test drive(I work at Ford dealership. )This happened on a Saturday (I don't work Sat.) and another "tech" fixed the leak but didn't fill the cooling system correctly and I kept overheating. By overheating I mean 246 degrees measured by the ECT sensor. I removed the bleed plug (its to the drivers side of the alternator) and tried to add water, but it boiled as soon as it hit the tube. So I turned on the high speed fan relay and monitored the ECT sensor. I added water/coolant mix into the degas bottle and then using my cooling system pressure tester I force the mix thru the engine, I had to repeat this a couple of times until the engine was cool enough to add at the bleed port. Then I added more at the degas bottle and so forth. I all this took about an hour and one half. The four cam motor has always been hard to bleed the air out and the SC engine seems to even harder. There is only one message I'm aware of for the Cobra engine something to do about a ticking noise coming from the valves. Fords recommended procedure for filling a 2-valve is by taking off the thermostat housing and 'stat' and pour the coolant mix into the engine, the reinstalling the parts. The problem with the Mustang is that the heater core and the crossover tube (in front of the alternator) are the highest points of the cooling system and air can get trapped there.

Now this is sounding more and more like the culprit .. MODDed and not. Hearing this from a few sources. :thumbup

mustangtk · 09-16-2004

Update on my previous post. The Cobra was recenctly sold and guess what, it overheated again. I replaced the thermostat this time and when doing this I noticed a leak. The hose clamp on the lower radiator at the engine had cracked and wasn't around the hose correctly. I replaced this clamp and replaced all the other cooling system clamps as well. While doing this I found the upper radiator hose clamp (at the radiator) also was broken. This makes three broken clamps on one car

! Ford had problems with the clamps on other vehicles also. I inspected the Cobras on our lot and none other had broken clamps...yet. If the temp needle is straight up then your engine is at normal temps; but if the coolant level drops to low the guage won't read correctly. Ford uses a head temp sensor as a back up to the ECT sensor, so if the head temp sensor goes above 225 degrees the Pcm will turn on the high speed fan, shut off the A/C compressor and enter 'limp home' mode. If you think your engine is overheating turn on the heater. Is it blowing out HOT air or is only warm or even cool, if its not hot then you have a low coolant level and an air pocket.