1999 Mercury Sable Logo
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Rmorris Posted on May 10, 2014
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Steam rises from the radiator after car idles for 10 minutes. Replaced thermostat. No improvement. Could this be one of the radiator fans as I noted it does not turn on. The water guage remains wh

Water in radiator is clean, i.e. no rust. Fan(s) do not turn on as expected but water temperature gauge in panel remains within range. No ideas. No leaks

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Jeff3fg

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  • Expert 124 Answers
  • Posted on May 10, 2014
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More than likely there is a small pin hole leak in the radiator or hoses surrounding. The fans should turn on. One might be for the AC, but one should turn on when the engine reaches max temperature, might takes longer than 10 minutes. You should also no be putting pure water in the system, it should be a 60/40 coolant to water, or at least 50/50. Pure water will corrode inside and also boil causing steam.

Testimonial: "Thanks very much for your time and insight. Just FYI, I make certain that the coolant is at least a 60/40 ratio. I will look for what I hope is the "pin-hole". Much appreciated. Russ"

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  • Mercury Master 450 Answers
  • Posted on May 10, 2014
desertracer
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If the steam is rising from the radiator and not from the overflow tank or hose then you do have a leak.. in the radiator. check for a cracked tank or fitting where the hoses connect. If it is making steam the guage is probably defective. Find out where that steam is coming from ! If the car is making steam the rad fan should probably be running.. I do not know about your particular car but some times the secon fan only comes on with A/C use or extream heat.

Testimonial: "Thank you for the time and insight...it seems obvious now, thanks to feedback. I am from the "older era" when cars overheated it was normally due to either a bad radiator cap or the thermostat. Again, thanks for taking the time to offer help. Will take advise and go in search of."

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A

Anonymous

Could be a bad head gasket

Steam has to come from somewhere

Stop using it & get some answers to the problem

5 Related Answers

Anonymous

  • 117 Answers
  • Posted on Jul 01, 2008

SOURCE: 1993 mercury sable

does the car make a squeking noise when you start it?

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aaron johnson

  • 204 Answers
  • Posted on Apr 21, 2009

SOURCE: Radiator fan will not turn on and car temperature goes up.

you should have a fuse for your fan located in the fuse panel. if the fuse ist not bad you more than likely have a bad temp sensor at the fan
hope this helps you out
please give me a rating
Thank you

gordanddar

gord storey

  • 477 Answers
  • Posted on May 10, 2009

SOURCE: temp guage showing hot, not getting any heat for 1992 Mercury Cap

If the hoses to and from the heater core are hot , and you say the heater core is hot , then the only answer is that the air duct that flows into or out of the heater core plenum ( housing ) is not opening.
Heater control on dash borad inoperative.
Not sure about 92 capri , some cars have a cable linkage , some work on vacume motors.
Try to find a haynes manual for your car , they will walk you through almost every step of anything you may ever want to do to your car.

You seem to know what you are doing , but I gotta ask ........the heater core you felt was up behind the dash inside the passenger compartment of the car right ?

duane_wong

Duane Wong

  • 6826 Answers
  • Posted on Oct 12, 2010

SOURCE: 1999 mercury cougar 2.5 still runs hot . 240 .

OK, that is getting kind of hot. I would check that the fan is turning on when it reaches normal operating temperature.

Recently, I had to replace both fans, the relays, and the relay contacts on the harness to fix a similar problem on a 1997 Cadillac Deville Limousine.
The heat got tot he relays and messed things up.

Hope you can fix your overheating problem like I did.

Anonymous

  • 610 Answers
  • Posted on Mar 07, 2011

SOURCE: 97 Cougar....Radiator not leaking....water pump

If your not low, and your not overheating, chances are that the level sensor is either dirty, or faulty. It's located in the coolant resevoir.

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