'98 Rodeo overheating\pressure problem | any ideas?

Wow i did a google search and found this forum and it's great!

I've got a 1998 Rodeo 2.2L v4 with manual trans. The previous owner drove it hot one day and blew the head. it was pretty bad because water would come out the exhaust. He had the head replaced 1 month before i bought it.

I'm now having problems with it overheating and building up pressure in the cooling system. I originally replaced the radiator thinking that would solve the problem. The new radiator that i put in exploded several months later because of to much pressure - I guess. So I put in a second radiator and replace the thermostat with a non-oem one. Well that radiator eventually exploded also! So i'm on my third radiator and want to make sure i do this right!

I've bought a new non-oem rad. cap and new hoses to go with the new radiator. but the hoses are still expanding rock hard even if I drive it for 10 mins. When i put that second radiator in I took out the t-stats and it wouldn't over heat or build up as much pressure as before but it eventually blew the radiator apart. I've also ran it without the cap on and with the t-stats in and it's pushing water through the radiator. None of my reservoir hoses are blocked. I've never had a problem with it leaking or "using" antifreeze.

Does anyone have a clue why the cooling system is building up so much pressure that it would litterly explode the radiator and cause it to overheat?? (I've talked to the radiator manuafactor and they haven't had any recalls or defective radiators for my make.)

Usually indicated trapped air in the system. When filling, try to get the front of the truck up in the air or park it on a hill. Run the engine and massage the hoses to burp out the air bubbles. Also, make sure you run the heater to get any trapped air out of the heater core.