Car overheating..... need some help....

Ok I have a couple things that have been going wrong as of late and was wondering what to do.

1 - Temp gauge is screwy. It started going up and down and now it goes to hot and stays there.

2 - All interior and exterior lights are dim untill I hit 1100-1200rpms.

3 - Heater is shooting cold air for quite awile after the car is warmed up.

4 - There is a bubbling noise coming from the engine after I turn it off.

Oh ya. I had a new alternator installed two weeks ago and I have a fairly powerfull system (250-500 watts) So what can I do......

Thanks for the help:D

Coolant issues sound similar to mine. Try opening the radiator cap, then let the car idle for a good 15-10 minutes. Top off if needed. See if that helps. It helped my problem.

no codes coming from ecu?

So take off the rad cap then let it idle? Then top it up, if needed?

ECU, I'd check if I knew how.

Originally posted by 88CRX

1 - Temp gauge is screwy. It started going up and down and now it goes to hot and stays there.

3 - Heater is shooting cold air for quite awile after the car is warmed up.

4 - There is a bubbling noise coming from the engine after I turn it off.

Thanks for the help:D


1. happened to me, either your thermostat is dead, or your water pump is.

3. air in the coolant system.

4. that's your overflow resovoir boiling.

hope i helped.:D

4. that's your overflow resovoir boiling.

Is that normal? sorry but I'm dumb:(

How do I fix the other two? Or should I say how much to get them fixed?

To check the ECU pull back the carpet on the passenger side (where your feet would go) turn the key to the on position but dont start it. Count how many (if any) flashes you see from the ecu's light (the light is down where you pulled back the carpet)

yeah like the otehr guy said, your resevior coolant is boiling, that is bad. check to make sure no hoses are leaking. do you smell coolant ? yeah you should change your thermostat, then if that doesnt work then you should replace yoru water pump, i say put some of that cooling system cleaner inside there to clean it out. then if that doestn work then you might need to replace yoru radiator. but i mean it could really be anything, maybe coolant is leaking in your heater, idk it could really be anything,

Ok, the coolant fluid level is low. It was full about two weeks ago but not anymore. I'm talking about the tank next to the window washer fluid. It appears to be leaking out the bottom. There is a stain running down the metal in the engine bay and the carpet like thing at the bottom looks soaked.

So..... take it to a shop and have them look at it and tell me I need a new water pump when maybe I don't? What should I do?

My suggestion would be to re-fill the coolant, and replace the thermostat. If the problem is still there after you do that, then I'd take it to a shop. If you're poor like me and can't afford to replace your waterpump, just run the car without coolant, and without a functioning waterpump, you can go at least 10min before the car is seriously overheating. I've been running like that for two months, and the only huge problem is a warped head, but it still runs.:D

Originally posted by Marc-OS
My suggestion would be to re-fill the coolant, and replace the thermostat. If the problem is still there after you do that, then I'd take it to a shop. If you're poor like me and can't afford to replace your waterpump, just run the car without coolant, and without a functioning waterpump, you can go at least 10min before the car is seriously overheating. I've been running like that for two months, and the only huge problem is a warped head, but it still runs.:D


dude.....how the hell can you abuse a rex like that.......wtf...man....30bux for a water pump...5bux for a gallon of antifreeze?.......did you know if your water pump is bad and is left bad it can continually get worse and eventually the bearings can go then your timing belt will go then say goodbye to your lil engine......fuck....if you that poor get one from the bone yard or something....:confused:

Hows the b18 swap coming?

also check your oil, if its milky looking your coolant is leaking into your motor. Sounds like a blown head gasket to me, get it replaced or do it yourself if your can. While your at it do the water pump, drive belts and re-ring the pistons...you'll have a brand new motor(more or less)...good luck....

gunnmen01

Um, ya. I dont do work on cars without detailed instructions. So I guess I'll just take it to a mechanic and hope I dont get rapped too bad.

Oil isnt milky and the head gasket was just replaced 6 months ago.

stick your hand on the bottom of the resevior and find out if its leaking, or check where you saw the stain and find out where its leaking form. maybe you just need a new resevior.

is a leak really gonna cause it to overheat and the heater to stop working?

Originally posted by Melt
Hows the b18 swap coming?

I couldn't find a b18 that was cheap, so I decided on getting a b16. I should have it by the end of the month, and it'll be swapped in by the end of January if all goes according to plan. I'm gonna get the turbo in a few months after I save a bit more money, but my goal will be to have the turbo installed by May or June.

Originally posted by 88CRX
is a leak really gonna cause it to overheat and the heater to stop working?

Yes, your not only running out of coolant but your also not getting a good coolant pressure to circulate it right. If im not mistaken most heaters run off a coil heated by the hot coolant coming off the engine, someone correct me if im wrong but im pretty sure im right