2001 montero runs hot

[bracketshark]

I'm working on a female friends Montero. Her claim is that the truck cuts off occasionally for no reason. I drove this truck for ~ 15 miles it ran great with no problems noted, temp gauge read normal. After my test ride i parked on a concrete drive, then noticed some water dripping from under the truck, found the plastic TEE split in the heater hose line. The other one had already been replaced to metal pipe fittings so thats how I repaired the leaking one. I filled the truck back up with anit freeze and water. I didn't test drive it but i ran it in the shop to check for leaks, there were none. I returned the truck to the owners and they drove it 2 days then called and said it had no heat and was cutting off again. I went back and got the truck again this time there wasn't much water in the radiator so i filled her up to drive it home. The temp gauge pegged out hot on the way home and still had no heat. The hose that i repaired had a hole in it when I checked it in the shop so I cut it off that fixed the leak again. The truck is running so hot I think it cuts itself off although it hasn't cut off with me. I've not been driving it just checking in the shop. With the radiator cap off the truck shows hot, there appears to be no water circulating now. When the temp on the truck is hot the heater hoses are cold. I opened 2 bleeds, one on the water inlet pipe and one on the outlet pipe as I filled the system with water. Have I missed one somewhere and got the motor air locked? This truck has the 3.5L motor, I can't find any info on the cooling system anywhere. Information appreciated. Thanks

[RahX]

They are pretty easy to bleed. I always use a radiator cap funnel to fill and bleed the system. Have you replaced the thermostat?