I have an '88 ranger 2.9 4x4, I cannot keep it from over heating, I have replaced the water pump, thermostat, I have flushed the radiator, I have tried running it with no thermostat, I have installed a new electric fan, I have cleaned out the fins of the radiator on the exterior of the radiator. I have VERY little heat from the heater even with the temp needle reading hot. I have shut it down before it gets out of the normal range. I am stumped. The truck does not blow white smoke out the exhaust. PLEASE someone tell me you know whats wrong..... I am getting aggravated...

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1988 Ranger beater 4x4 8" of lift. Dull blue paint that rubs off. Custom mud undercoating. Huge ass bald 33 inch tires. Custom wiring job consisting of bare wires in places and connectors hanging lose in other places. Thats just the outside, the inside has a nice red interior thats faded, a baby blue steering wheel and ducktape covering various holes in the floor. I almost forgot the broken windshield that looks like someones head hit it on the passenger side... But I love Papa Smurf

I'm guessing clogged heater core.


Quick fix on an older ranger.

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2000 Ford Ranger XL 2.5L 5-speed RWD 3.73 open - 170,000+ miles
Buggman LED 3BL/CARGO, Buggman Stang Dome LED conversion, LED Brake Light conversion, Line-X O.T.R., Air silencer removed
2.3L Headgasket/TIMING/Water Pump replacement guide

Are you going by gauge reading hot or is it actually boiling over?

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A clogged heater core doesn't stop the flow of water to the rest of the engine.

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(Formerly)
FireRanger
2003 Edge 4.0 4wd

How to: Aux light wiring, relays, & fuses
Info: 300+ intake threads here on FRF
Info: HID Projectors
How To: NO HEAT Troubleshooting Guide

Guessed wrong then. Didn't know, have never had a problem with one.

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2000 Ford Ranger XL 2.5L 5-speed RWD 3.73 open - 170,000+ miles
Buggman LED 3BL/CARGO, Buggman Stang Dome LED conversion, LED Brake Light conversion, Line-X O.T.R., Air silencer removed
2.3L Headgasket/TIMING/Water Pump replacement guide

Both... I replaced the temp sensor for the gauge. There is pressure in the radiator but it don't seem to be getting hot...

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1988 Ranger beater 4x4 8" of lift. Dull blue paint that rubs off. Custom mud undercoating. Huge ass bald 33 inch tires. Custom wiring job consisting of bare wires in places and connectors hanging lose in other places. Thats just the outside, the inside has a nice red interior thats faded, a baby blue steering wheel and ducktape covering various holes in the floor. I almost forgot the broken windshield that looks like someones head hit it on the passenger side... But I love Papa Smurf

Ok first you said it is overheating. Now you're saying it doesn't seem to get hot. Which is it.

__________________
(Formerly)
FireRanger
2003 Edge 4.0 4wd

How to: Aux light wiring, relays, & fuses
Info: 300+ intake threads here on FRF
Info: HID Projectors
How To: NO HEAT Troubleshooting Guide

The engine is overheating, the coolant in the radiator seems not to get hot.

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1988 Ranger beater 4x4 8" of lift. Dull blue paint that rubs off. Custom mud undercoating. Huge ass bald 33 inch tires. Custom wiring job consisting of bare wires in places and connectors hanging lose in other places. Thats just the outside, the inside has a nice red interior thats faded, a baby blue steering wheel and ducktape covering various holes in the floor. I almost forgot the broken windshield that looks like someones head hit it on the passenger side... But I love Papa Smurf

Does your coolant level stay full? Also, is there any pressure in the hoses?

One more thing, change your radiator cap to eliminate that as a possibility.

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Torch Red 2004 Ranger Edge 4x4, 4.0 SOHC w/5speed manual, R7-8.8 LS 4.10 diff

Hmmmm... Did you put your accessory belt back on (that drives the water pump)?

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2000 Ford Ranger XL 2.5L 5-speed RWD 3.73 open - 170,000+ miles
Buggman LED 3BL/CARGO, Buggman Stang Dome LED conversion, LED Brake Light conversion, Line-X O.T.R., Air silencer removed
2.3L Headgasket/TIMING/Water Pump replacement guide

There is pressure, I felt the cap and it was cold so I loosened it to the safety catch and coolant sprayed everywhere. I took the cap off and idled the truck to see if I could see coolant flowing and it would fluxuate with the rpm of the engine about an inch... While warm I can squeeze the upper radiator hose and cannot feel any coolant movement.

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1988 Ranger beater 4x4 8" of lift. Dull blue paint that rubs off. Custom mud undercoating. Huge ass bald 33 inch tires. Custom wiring job consisting of bare wires in places and connectors hanging lose in other places. Thats just the outside, the inside has a nice red interior thats faded, a baby blue steering wheel and ducktape covering various holes in the floor. I almost forgot the broken windshield that looks like someones head hit it on the passenger side... But I love Papa Smurf

well sir, it sounds like you could be clogged inside the block...

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Torch Red 2004 Ranger Edge 4x4, 4.0 SOHC w/5speed manual, R7-8.8 LS 4.10 diff

This makes no sense. You're saying the engine is overheating... yet coolant that isn't hot is being pumped through the radiator. And it's building pressure, which is a result of being hot.

Do you get heat from HVAC system?

__________________
(Formerly)
FireRanger
2003 Edge 4.0 4wd

How to: Aux light wiring, relays, & fuses
Info: 300+ intake threads here on FRF
Info: HID Projectors
How To: NO HEAT Troubleshooting Guide

He said only "a little" heat from the HVAC. Sounds like a flush, run, repeat scenario...

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Torch Red 2004 Ranger Edge 4x4, 4.0 SOHC w/5speed manual, R7-8.8 LS 4.10 diff

I suppose if the radiator is completely 100% clogged, it could present like this. But he said he flushed it. It couldn't be completely clogged if he was able to flush it. I'm thinking there is a valve stuck somewhere. Can you take a picture of the hot water lines? I need to figure out how the coolant is routed to and from the heater core.

__________________
(Formerly)
FireRanger
2003 Edge 4.0 4wd

How to: Aux light wiring, relays, & fuses
Info: 300+ intake threads here on FRF
Info: HID Projectors
How To: NO HEAT Troubleshooting Guide

put a thermometer in the rad see what temp it reads did you put the thermostat in the right way take a heater hose off and see if you have water flow