Cooling System, Impending Failure ????

[WM-300]

This morning it was 23 degrees, warmed my 2003 HO for about 5 minutes before heading for fuel and a 180 mile round trip. Engine warmed quickly and began to throw some heat. Then no heat, just cold air. Temp gauge was just off the peg on the low end. Stopped and got fuel. Start up, no heat still cold on temp gauge. Hit the Interstate (going to head home, something wrong). On the Interstate run it up to 65 mph and temp climbs really abnormally fast to about 1/4 inch above 200 degree mark. NO heat cold air. I slow down to pull off the interstate before I overheat, get down to about 45 mph, temp gauge goes to a tad below 200 where I normally run and I have immediate great heat.



So I keep going on my trip (to get my Buckstop bumpers from the trucking company) I watch everything close on the 180 mile round trip. Everything is fine, temp running at just a tad below the 200 mark, normal heat. No more problems.



Any ideas what was going on ??? The coolent level was checked when I bought fuel, it was right up full. This is the first time this has happened. Ran truck this past winter at 36 below zero no problems. Is there a TSB on this? I can locate anything. Am I looking at an impending failure ?



Thanks

WM-300

 

[RM]

thermostat

only thought i can offer is on my 96 this happened and i found the rubber that was rapped around the thermostat had come loose. and stuck in the opening i dont know if the 03 are a different design on not but if it did it again i would have the thermostat checked its about the only thing that could do this hope this helps ron

 

[mberry]

Only thing I can think of is maybe the coolant level is low. Either that or there's something wrong with the water pump. Sorry I can't be of more help.



If your coolant level is normal, you might have/had an air bubble trapped in the water pump causing a vapor lock type of situation.

 

[dmurdock]

sounds like a sticking thermostat to me... check it asap

 

[hammersley]

It has to be the TSTAT... ... . Unless you have a gremlin under the hood.....

 

[WM-300]

Thanks for the fast responses. I will have the dealer check the T Stat.



WM-300