John Deere 445 dash blinking

[wwivhobbit]

My 445 has always ran hotter than I'd like but whenever the gauge got up to the red the thermostat would seemingly open up because the gauge would drop back to around halfway and start climbing again. The last time I had it out I noticed the center light started blinking. Its one long followed by 3 short blinks. The today the blinking started in again and the temp gauge went up past the red and stayed there so i got nervous and shut it off. When i raised the hood i could hear and see the coolant bubbling in the reservoir so I'm pretty sure the gauge wasn't lying. Any ideas before i start ripping and tearing?

 

[RandyT]

Long, short, short, short is coolant temperature sensor warning. Blown head gasket possibly pushing exhaust into the cooling system. Or water pump not working. Or clogged radiator.

 

[wwivhobbit]

Long, short, short, short is coolant temperature sensor warning. Blown head gasket possibly pushing exhaust into the cooling system. Or water pump not working. Or clogged radiator.

Thanks! New head gaskets and water pump, but that's not a guarantee that they aren't defective. I guess I'm more puzzled that the blinking started before the temp gauge maxed out?

 

[Spanner]

Try removing the thermostat and running the engine.

 

[arto98607]

Try removing the thermostat and running the engine.

Better yet, remove the thermostat and test it in hot water & thermometer to see at what temperature it will start to open and close back again?

 

[bigtiller]

Are the air inlet screens under the dash open and clean?

Are the radiator fins clean and open? You may need to remove the battery to see them.

 

[beenthere]

Is the radiator clean, and not full of mud. Happens when people think washing with a garden hose and water turns the dust to mud. Also there is the hyd. oil cooler adjacent to the radiator that needs cooling.

 

[wwivhobbit]

Thanks! New head gaskets and water pump, but that's not a guarantee that they aren't defective. I guess I'm more puzzled that the blinking started before the temp gauge maxed out?

Try removing the thermostat and running the engine.

Ok i just tried that. The temperature gauge climbed clear past the red and stayed. I checked all over with an infrared thermometer and the top of the cylinders was about 250 in the front and 220 in the rear. The thermostat housing was about 190 and the radiator hoses both read about 187.

 

[wwivhobbit]

Is the radiator clean, and not full of mud. Happens when people think washing with a garden hose and water turns the dust to mud. Also there is the hyd. oil cooler adjacent to the radiator that needs cooling.

Well, when i got it the poor thing had been brutally misused and neglected so this has been a long journey. The radiator was so caked full of mud that it took me hours with a pressure washer to clear it out. We had a big yard job with the loader during a hot dry week so dust has worked into everything including the radiator so i just flushed it all out again. I don't really know about the inside but there aren't any radiator shops around here anymore and a new one is unavailable so my best bet is a good flushing out...again.

 

[Richard001]

The radiator was so caked full of mud that it took me hours with a pressure washer to clear it out.

I'm guessing that the force of the pressure washer flattened all the cooling fins.

Richard