DeTomaso Mailing List: February 1997, Message #200
     



From: MikeLDrew@aol.com

Subject: Re: pantera overheating

Date: Fri, 28 Feb 1997 14:30:23 -0500 (EST)



All,



This is gonna sound really dumb, but have you checked to see if your fans are

spinning the right direction?  It is possible to hook them up backwards, so

that they suck air away from the radiator instead of pushing air through it.





Also, have you thoroughly bled the cooling system per the factory manual's

instructions?  The rear end of the car MUST be elevated a couple of feet in

order to allow the trapped air in the system to rise out.  I fought this

problem years ago, after one of my water hoses became detached and drained

all my coolant on the freeway.  After reattaching it (and fitting DOUBLE hose

clamps everywhere, a super idea everyone should do), and filling the system

until I thought it was 'full', I had the same types of problems you do.



After a week of running in town with the temp needle poised dangerously close

to the red, I elevated the rear and bled the system again, and got all sorts

of burps and bubbles.  Things were better, so after another week I did it

AGAIN.  More burps and bubbles.  Really, you should expect to have to bleed

the system at least twice for optimal performance.



When all was said and done, I then hopped in the car and blasted nonstop from

California to Wichita Falls, TX in one banzaii blast.  The car never

overheated, but by the time I got there, my stock clutch throwout had conked

out and I didn't have reverse, and the battery was toasted so the car

wouldn't start when hot, and my front and rear main seals were leaking so I

had used over 20 quarts of oil....



....hey, it got me there!



I've since replaced my radiator (which was full of holes and actually leaked

coolant while the engine idled in the driveway) with a Hall unit, and while I

was at it replaced my fans with Hall fans (my car came with one factory fan,

and one weirdo flex fan as I recall.)  Haven't driven the car yet in this

configuration, but I expect no difficulties.



Mike