[Thunderbird777]

I recently acquired a 96 T-bird 3.8 L V6 with just under 100k on it. I know the head gaskets are known to go on the V6. The car recently had a tune up (plugs, wires, belt, oil, coolant flush, new filters). Before the tune up the car had some misfiring, and overheated badly.Now the car is misfiring again and still running quite a bit hotter than normal. The temp climbs as the speed of the vehicle climbs. No noticable coolant loss or leaks, no white smoke billowing out either. Oddly though the heat blowing out of the panel vents is not especially hot. Already spent $800 on various repairs so far, what will solve the problems ?
Thanks - Nick

 

[Nativedetroiter]

compression check.

Check to see if the fan engages. Check for bubbles in the coolant resevior.

As for the misfire, clean the MAF.

Oh, and what part of Cali??

 

[DOHC96tbird]

You may have another head gasket going out. Not all head gaskets will cause a lot of white smoke sometimes they do not dump in a lot of coolant, but enough to foul out the spark plugs. I would also check is your radiator is clean?!? a lot of times engines that run hot is because of the lack of air flow through the radiator. I also agree with nativedetroiter about checking the radiator fans too!
About the lack of heat through the vents you may have a plugged up heater core from contaminats getting into the lines when doing the head gaskets. just unhook the lines that go through the fire wall and backflush the core with a garden hose. that might just remedy your lack of heat.

 

[twin turbo 281]

does a 96 3.8 have a distributer still. Im not sure but if it does you might want to check the cap & rotor out and then check the timing?

 

[DOHC96tbird]

no the 96 runs on a DIS system. but now that you mention that the coil packs are known for going bad. If you have a volt ohm meter than I would check the ohms between the coils to see if there is an open in the coil pack.

 

[sinhumane]

so.. bubbles in teh reservoir.. what if it's bubbling over.. and dumping coolant all over the place? when it gets hot, it boils over.

 

[FordMan77]

Have you tried replacing the thermostat?

Jay

 

[sinhumane]

tstat is new on mine. just replaced it, had the cooling system steam flushed, and new rad cap and hoses.