Coolant smell and loss of coolant; engine running too warm?

[Primalzer]

LOL oh I definitely can find a place to get stuck...my route home just doesn't always have tons of traffic, I may have to go out of my way to get stuck

[Primalzer]

Ok got myself stuck in some traffic, didn't even need to go out of my way!

For the first half, temps stayed strong, sub-185*. Then about halfway through (15 minutes) temps started to rise. Turned off the AC, and temps continued to climb, topping out at about 210. Parked the car and let it idle and got it up to 215. Jumped out of the car, and neither fan was running at all. Huh, turned on the AC, and both fans came on...

Thoughts?

[pmezo33]

Get a new radiator fan. 

[SHOdded]

Odd.  Check the fan module connectors and the connectors at the PCM.  Might be a clue there.

[pmezo33]

Odd.  Check the fan module connectors and the connectors at the PCM.  Might be a clue there.

I've had the same exact thing happen with my last MKZ before this MKS.  Fans work sometimes and they don't others.  They work with the a/c, but the temps would sometimes go up in traffic.  I eventually just replaced the fan and it solved the problem.

[Primalzer]

Looks like it'll be another trip to the dealer. Gotta get my monies worth out of this extended warranty! Fan is ~$160 on RockAuto and probably at least a couple hours labor, definitely worth the $100 deductible...plus I'm sure I can convince them when I brought it in before, and they investigated, that that should count towards the deductible as it's the same issue

[SHOdded]

Good strategy.  Nice that the fans are so much cheaper than for the Edge.  LOL.

[Primalzer]

Little update: Talked to the dealer, and he said he wouldn't be able to do anything unless the idiot gauge on the dash gets to the red. I REALLY don't want to wait until that occurs...220 is too hot @SHOdded would you be able to confirm the 3.5 EB Flex fan activation? In theory it has the 190* stat.

[StealBlueSho]

So a quick internet search shows the cooling fans for the radiator to be a common failure on the 2010-2012 Ford Flex... I am surprised the dealer is not willing to work with you on it...

Honestly I would take it in, let it idle in front of them to show them when the temp gauge gets past halfway the fans don't kick on...

[pmezo33]

I'm looking at my chilton manual for my car.  It's not giving me any info on specific temps when the fan turns on.  All it's giving me is the thermostat starts to open at 180 degrees and it's fully open at 203 degrees.  Nothing about the fan.

I'd be very hesitant to allow your car's temp to get up there.  High heat and aluminum heads are not a good combination.  Anything above the middle of the gauge and I'm turning the car off because it's overheating.  If this were me, I'd really be pushing Ford to replace those fans.  Have they actually seen the car overheating or are they just taking your word for it at this point?

Here's a PDF of the DTCs to run through with cooling issues if you want to take a look.  It's for a 2010 MKS, but it's probably the same thing for your car.

[ZSHO]

Coolant temp Sensor!!!. Z

[pmezo33]

Coolant temp Sensor!!!. Z

Wouldn't he be getting specific CEL's for a bad sensor?  Doesn't seem to be the case here.

[ZSHO]

Coolant temp Sensor!!!. Z

Wouldn't he be getting specific CEL's for a bad sensor?  Doesn't seem to be the case here.

True,but these cars are so stubborn and do not emit codes that easily. Z

[Primalzer]

Coolant temp Sensor!!!. Z

Would I be getting errant signals on my OBD gauge and dash gauge if the temp sensor were bad?

[SHOdded]

Cylinder Head Temperature (CHT) Sensor — 3.5L GTDI

Item  Part Number  Description 
1  14A464  Cylinder Head Temperature (CHT) sensor electrical connector 
2  6G004  CHT sensor 
3  W503274  Ground wire-to-engine front cover bolt 

Remove the Air Cleaner (ACL) outlet pipe and the ACL . For additional information, refer to Section 303-12 .
Position the ACL -to-RH turbocharger intake tube aside. For additional information, refer to Intake Air System Components — Exploded View in Section 303-12 .
Remove the ground wire-to-engine front cover bolt.
Disconnect the Cylinder Head Temperature (CHT) sensor electrical connector.
Remove and discard the CHT sensor.
To install, tighten to 10 Nm (89 lb-in).
To install, reverse the removal procedure.
Do not reuse the CHT sensor. Install a new sensor.