Overheating or bigger problems??

gthompson97 · #1 05-10-2005, 08:07 PM

alright, i just re-built the motor and have about 100 miles on it and now today it started steaming and it sounded like the coolant inside the water neck was boiling. steam was coming out around the cap area (might be the upper radiator hose too). the weird thing is though is that it didn't pull out any coolant from the resirvor. the engine temp also started to climb too. my question is, what would cause this? a stuck closed/open thermostat or what?? i also just blew out the radiator too so it's not a plugged radiator.

97GSTspyder · #2 05-11-2005, 01:39 AM

thermostat is probably stuck...do this. start the car, let it reach normal operating temp, then grab a hold of the upper radiator hose. is it cold? if so, the thermostat is stuck. get a new one. could be a faulty water pump too.

joemathews · #3 05-11-2005, 01:50 AM

What is steaming? You can take out your thermostat and put it in a pot of water on the stove. Heat the water until it boils. If the thermostat opens properly, it's working alright. It should be fully opened by the time the water boils. If it remains closed, it was the problem. Replacing it is cheap and easy.

Other things to check are cooling fans, water pump, head gasket, and a few more things. Try the thermostat first, though. It is probably the most common problem, and one of the most easily fixed. Don't be like me and pull the timing belt off to check the water pump to find out that it is okay.

gthompson97 · #4 05-11-2005, 10:10 AM

well the motor was just re-built and the water pump was working on my other motor so i don't think that's the problem, also it ran fine and the temp was good the past 100 miles that i've driven it and it just did this today. i went to add coolant and found that my radiator cap was loose so i added more coolant and put the cap on tight, we'll see if that was the cause of my problem. otherwise i'm going to do a pressure check and see if i have any leaks.

gthompson97 · #5 05-11-2005, 12:26 PM

alright so after adding coolant and tightening the radiator cap, i drove it home (about a mile) and it was already at normal operating temp. half way there. i pulled into my driveway and popped the hood to check the coolant level and then my serpentine belt started squealing. i got in the car to shut it off and the temp was way up there, not hot but on the way. what would cause it to heat up so quickly? the upper radiator hose is the same temp as the coolant. anyone have any suggestions??

97GSTspyder · #6 05-11-2005, 12:50 PM

could be a bad head gasket or bad water pump. i read somewhere that if you have bubbles through the system, that could cause overheating problems also. you could try draining the radiator fluid and filling it up again. make sure you are using a 50/50 mix of radiator fluid and distilled water. you can buy the stuff already pre-mixed.

gthompson97 · #7 05-11-2005, 01:26 PM

it's a brand new head gasket and new coolant throughout the whole system. it's also an exactly even 50/50 mix.

97gst-04ralliart · #8 08-08-2005, 02:02 PM

I just got a 97 gst. It was overheating so I replace the thermastat, the water pump, the radiator cap, and I check all the hoses and the radiator. But it still overheated. So I was sure it was the head. I took the head to a machine shop and resurfaced it. I also replace the head gasket but it still overheated. I have no clue what it could be. Is there anything I missed?

97GSTspyder · #9 08-08-2005, 02:51 PM

damn this thread is a couple months old....umm, are you filling the radiator with a 50/50 mix? also be sure there are no air bubbles...after filling it, you have to start the car and let it idle for a little bit. after the engine cools, pop the radiator cap off and fill it again because it will be low. other than that i don't see why it's overheating unless there is something wrong with your temp gauge. you said you replaced just about everything else...

wanaplay134 · #10 08-08-2005, 10:00 PM

it sounds to me that you have a warped head
you better yank that thing and check it before
anything worse happens

ned032002 · #11 08-08-2005, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanaplay134

it sounds to me that you have a warped head
you better yank that thing and check it before
anything worse happens

hmm...

Ok well have you checked to see if your burning any? If you are then if your head gasket is good then maybe it's the heater core, usually there will be the smell of antifreeze inside the car when you have the heater on and that smell is sweet... not cool but like Koolaid (it smells delicious)

. Where is the steam coming from? I think you said that it was coming from the loose radiator cap...have you fixed this problem by tightening it or did it still steam around it? Keep us informed.

tsipsi20 · #12 08-09-2005, 12:24 AM

I read through your post and i don't remember reading whether or not you said you replaced the radiator cap. If the steam's coming out from there, then chances are it's no good. On top of that, if it's not pressurizing the cooling system, the faulty cap will allow the coolant to boil and run hot regardless if the thermo is open or not. Check the simple things first, and don't mind me if you said you already replaced it, though i don't believe it was mentioned.

ned032002 · #13 08-09-2005, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsipsi20

I read through your post and i don't remember reading whether or not you said you replaced the radiator cap... don't mind me if you said you already replaced it, though i don't believe it was mentioned.

I recon this I didn't read that you had replaced it as well, sorry if you did though

.

ned032002 · #14 08-09-2005, 08:57 PM

So if this thread is so old then maybe the problem is already fixed cause hes really not responding at all to any of the previous posts...o well maybe we have served some purpose with our words.

tsipsi20 · #15 08-10-2005, 12:39 AM

Let us be an example for others

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