Radiator/Water Pump

[pryornfld]

Hello All,

Seems like everytime I get one problem fixed another appears!! Anyway just wanted to know if any of you had the problem that I'm having right now??

My Temp Guage went to hot and I noticed that there was no heat from the vents. Looked outside for antifreeze leak none apparent. Checked one of the rad hoses going into the rad, very hot, but near the rad cap, I opened it and the fluid was only warm.

I was told that it could be the water pump not working, a radiator blockage or even the belt not driving the pump correctly.

What should I be looking for and in which order?? Any ideas!!!

[garync1]

did you check your thermostat ?? May not be opening fully or at all

[pryornfld]

Originally Posted by garync1

did you check your thermostat ?? May not be opening fully or at all

How do I check the thermostat? And where would it be located??

[garync1]

Is your engine a 3.0 or 3.8

[pryornfld]

Originally Posted by garync1

Is your engine a 3.0 or 3.8

Its a 3.8 engine

[garync1]

Look for the big hose going to the top of the engine. radiator hose that is it should be around the intake area torwards the top I am going blind because my wife has got the van. It will connect to the housing of the thermo usally 2-3 bolts. there well be after thats tooken off a peace with a dome shaped head with a spring interconected to it you will need to replace the paper seal only add just a little sealer when reinstalling.but once you have it out you can drop in boiling or almost boiling water and watch it open if it does not its bad or does not open fully. it better to use a thermometer if its set to 180 it will open at that temp or if it 190 like some it will open then. but just a quick check you can get to boiling or wait tell it opens ethier way for 4.00 bucks its better to rule it out and not worry about it. The seal comes with the thermostat. sorry so choppy. Just let me know if you can find the thermostat housing first. My advice if you dont think you can do it. its better to get someone because it will leak if you dont seal it back right I replaces a bunch and side mounts leak most of the time until you finally get it right.Not too much sealer and not too little. Sometimes the paper it self will work thats what I normally do first.Its an easy fix though.Hope this helps. Gary

[pryornfld]

Originally Posted by garync1

Look for the big hose going to the top of the engine. radiator hose that is it should be around the intake area torwards the top I am going blind because my wife has got the van. It will connect to the housing of the thermo usally 2-3 bolts. there well be after thats tooken off a peace with a dome shaped head with a spring interconected to it you will need to replace the paper seal only add just a little sealer when reinstalling.but once you have it out you can drop in boiling or almost boiling water and watch it open if it does not its bad or does not open fully. it better to use a thermometer if its set to 180 it will open at that temp or if it 190 like some it will open then. but just a quick check you can get to boiling or wait tell it opens ethier way for 4.00 bucks its better to rule it out and not worry about it. The seal comes with the thermostat. sorry so choppy. Just let me know if you can find the thermostat housing first. My advice if you dont think you can do it. its better to get someone because it will leak if you dont seal it back right I replaces a bunch and side mounts leak most of the time until you finally get it right.Not too much sealer and not too little. Sometimes the paper it self will work thats what I normally do first.Its an easy fix though.Hope this helps. Gary

I just added some antifreeze(about 2 L) and let it idle for about 10 min, and took it for a short drive. The temp guage was about normal, and there was heat in the vents. Does this make sense or should I research it a little more??

[wiswind]

You may want to replace the thermostat, just to be on the safe side.
The new thermostat should have a very small hole....that should be at the top when installed.
This hole is to permit air to escape..into the radiator....and out through the overflow bottle...in the event that you get air into the system.

It is possible that this is what happened.......
The air will go the the highest point in the motor.....which is the thermostat. If it cannot escape through the small hole I mentioned......(could have gotten clogged) then the air will act as an insulator.....and keep the thermostat from opening at the correct temp.

[garync1]

Yea would agree with wiswind.. Still may want to change it. I will say this if it over heats again. shut it down.sometimes therostats stick and start to work usally after they over heat. Also with these newer closed type systems if you loose a little fluid they may over heat as well . My chevey malibu did that one time.But the filler tank was almost empty. Still had a little in the bottom. Good luck.

[pryornfld]

I was told that the antifreeze leak was at the timing cover? Has anyone had any problems with this?? Thermostat and Water Pump Ok. My mechanic done a compression test, and found a leak on the timing cover(at least I think that is what he said)

[12Ounce]

There have been some front cover coolant leaks. I believe they happened more on '98 and earlier units.

[pryornfld]

Originally Posted by 12Ounce

There have been some front cover coolant leaks. I believe they happened more on '98 and earlier units.

My mechanic told me to take it for a week, keep an eye on the temp guage and the coolant level. He said that if there was indeed a head gasket leak I should see a change in the van. If there are no signs, then a good chance it would be the timing cover.
Does this sound correct? What should I be looking for?

He wanted me to do this so that I can eliminate the extreme possibility of head gaskets before fixing the problem.

Any ideas or concerns???

[12Ounce]

If you see any coolant leaks anywhere outside the engine ....that would be good news.

It's the coolant that finds its way into the crankcase or combustion chamber that leads to disaster. Keep an eye on the dipstick ... a little coolant will make the oil murky/milky ... a lot of coolant will be obvious. Any coolant in the oil would be a signal to stop driving the car as soon as you can.

If you see or smell coolant at the exhaust ... that's just as bad.

Often a blown head gasket will push oil into the coolant passages. Sometimes bubbles are visible. An oil slick in the coolant reservoir is an indicator.

[pryornfld]

Originally Posted by 12Ounce

If you see any coolant leaks anywhere outside the engine ....that would be good news.

It's the coolant that finds its way into the crankcase or combustion chamber that leads to disaster. Keep an eye on the dipstick ... a little coolant will make the oil murky/milky ... a lot of coolant will be obvious. Any coolant in the oil would be a signal to stop driving the car as soon as you can.

If you see or smell coolant at the exhaust ... that's just as bad.

Often a blown head gasket will push oil into the coolant passages. Sometimes bubbles are visible. An oil slick in the coolant reservoir is an indicator.

My mechanic said that there was an external leak which was on the timing cover after he placed a overnight pressure test.Would this be something that would be noticeable right away if it were a head gasket? The van seems to run fine, not rough. I put some antifreeze in the tank, ran it for two trips approx 50KM and the temp guage was about half.

When you say murkey/milky do you mean a whitish colour?

[12Ounce]

If he saw leakage outside the engine "upper" after a pressure test, I'm betting it is not caused by a head gasket.

The front cover and the lower intake manifold are now candidates.

My money is on the front cover.

Yes, "whitist".