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1986 Ford Thunderbird steam and gurgle

Tiny
UGLIESTKTTY
  • MEMBER
  • 1986 FORD THUNDERBIRD
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
The other day when I pulled into my drive and turned off my engine my 1986 Thunderbird made a gurgle noise and steam poured out of the front passenger side just behind the radiator. The noise it made was akin to the glub glub sound that one would expect to hear from an inverted 1 litre bottle. My car has never over heated, there is no moisture in the oil, and steam is never visible in the exhaust except directly after the car has been started on a very cold day. It has never been difficult to start or struggled to run.
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Friday, December 24th, 2010 AT 8:33 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Suspect thermostat is stuck shut
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Friday, December 24th, 2010 AT 8:46 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,005 POSTS
My Mom has the same car.I've kept it going for years!

I fell the same as "Doc"

I might Add---make sure your belt is still on also!

The Medic
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Saturday, December 25th, 2010 AT 4:17 AM
Tiny
UGLIESTKTTY
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thank you so much for your help. I love my Thunderbird, it has been a great car so far. I'm so happy that I have been able to keep it running well, and your advice was very useful.
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Sunday, December 26th, 2010 AT 10:58 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,005 POSTS
Well----What was your EZ fix?

The Medic
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Sunday, December 26th, 2010 AT 11:29 PM
Tiny
UGLIESTKTTY
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Hah, complete bummer actually. I was all excited that I might just need to replace my T-stat. Everyone I know totally agreed with you on that one. But my brother and I ran the car and the thermostat came on, and no steam and no funny noise. I live in a very rural area so we drove it to the nearest town a couple times which is about ten miles out. Again no steam, no gurgle. No over heating, nothing. Today I took it on a drive, about 75 miles, to a friend's place. Runs just the same as ever. I may have my mechanic check it just to verify what the issue may be.
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Monday, December 27th, 2010 AT 10:23 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,005 POSTS
It might be teasing you!

Replace it anyway--before you are in a bad situation at a bad time!

Especially if its been forever.I change mine every Spring---Need to--or not. Its a constantly moving, critical part, and very inexpensive!

The Medic
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Tuesday, December 28th, 2010 AT 3:05 AM

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