I have a 2002 3.8L Mustang. I just replaced the radiator last weekend. Day after I replaced it, the check engine light came on and the gauge said it was running hot. Popped the hood, and it wasnt running hot at all. Took it to AutoZone.
Code P1285

Definition cylinder head over temperature condition
Explanation ECM detected the cylinder head temp was above safe limits
Probable Causes
1 engine overheated
2 open or shorted circuit condition
3 failed cylinder head temp sensor

Put more antifreeze in it the gauge went back to normal everything was ok. Next day heat went out. Went to warm up the car because it was cold. The air got hot like normal but only stayed hot for a minute or two then went to freezing cold. The next day it did the same. Now its strictly cold air coming out of the vents! Have no idea what is wrong. I was told either the thermostat or the heater core?! I really dont know! Can someone help before i go spend all this money on something I dont need!!?

Thanks!!!

 

hmmm....


Im gonna go with termostat or heater core. want to say heater core. can you smell antifreeze when the heat is on?

 

is the upper rad hose solid when the cars hot, that would be the tstat, if the antifreaze is disapearing, its the heatercore

 

I got it fixed! They didnt put enough antifreeze back in when they replaced the radiator. Put some more in and everything is fine now!!

 

... I was going to say.. try "burping" the system again. It's probably just air stuck. I did the same thing when I first pulled off me lower intake and refilled the radiator. I was flipping out. I just didn't get the air out.

 

Yeah my boss went outside to look at it and told me thats what was wrong. Luckily I had a bottle of antifreeze in my car so I just filled it up! Im so glad it was just that and not something else. I dont have that much money to be fixing all this stuff!

 

Glad you got it fixed.

 

Same problem, same fix.