97 rodeo overheated is it dead?

[RanchoMike]

The wife developed a coolant leak, tried to make it home but didn't. She has no idea what the temp gauge might have told us. I can only assume it was hot and it quit. How do I tell if it's toast or if it's repairable?

ranchomike

[Cat Fuzz]

Let it cool down, fix the leak, refill the cooling system and see if it will run.

Once all the coolant leaks out, the temp gauge is no longer accurate.

[Ramblin Fever]

It's hard to say, as Catfuzz said, flush the cooling system, refill it completely, get all the air out of the system, AND might as well change the thermostat - easy job on the '97 3.2L V6's, but MAKE sure it's an OEM Isuzu thermostat replacement.....other thermostat's are notorius for not keeping the engine cool enough.

If it still overheats and your radiator is original, have it thoroughly checked out, or just replace it....they're generally only good for 7-10yrs; also check your fan clutch and radiator cap.

Check the radiator/heater core hoses at the passenger side firewall, if these are original, they're most certainly shot.

You'd be shocked to find out how many little hoses are on this beast.....not just the big obvious ones.

Keep us posted.

Also, bare in mind, if this truck is an automatic, you may want to change the transmission fluid too; this tranny is cooled by the radiator as well and does NOT take to overheating too kindly. When one gets too hot, so does the other.

[RanchoMike]

I was expecting the worst after the overheat because it wouldn't fire at all, but compression is Ok, I have spark and fuel. Checked codes and saw no overheat/radiator/cooling system codes, but a pending cam sensor code. Looked for leak, couldn't see anything obvious until I added fluid and saw it gush back out of the timing cover. Looks like massive water pump failure that took out the timing belt- all new including tensioner and idlers less than two years ago. Should have a warranty on the pump so some help there maybe.

Ranchomike

[FL 3.2L]

Whose pump is it?


(please don't say "Advance"....please don't say "Advance"...please don't say "Advance"...)

[Ramblin Fever]

Originally Posted by FL 3.2L

please don't say "Advance"....please don't say "Advance"...please don't say "Advance"...)

Surfer....say you didn't!...NO NO NO ....just shoshin.

Hopefully it's not an oem Isuzu one either....that's what I used!opcorn:

[FL 3.2L]

Originally Posted by Ramblin Fever

Surfer....say you didn't!...NO NO NO ....just shoshin.

Hopefully it's not an oem Isuzu one either....that's what I used!opcorn:

I confess!

But I got an OEM tensioner. Sounds like the failure of the water pump can be the equivalent of a failed tensioner, though, doesn't it?

[Ramblin Fever]

Yeap, it does.

When my waterpump was on it's way out, the tensioner gave up ghost at the same time, causing the timing belt to slap around big time.

[RanchoMike]

Update: I took it to the mechanic sinceI figured it would need a new timing belt. It was a mess. apparently water pump locked up, belt generated tons of friction until it melted itself onto the pulleys and idlers. New belt, idlers, water pump, cam pulleys, crank pulley and seals under all the pulleys. It run good now, but there is a massive oil leak from under the timing cover that the mechanics haven't found. I think its time to reseal the oil pump. Has anyone ever done this? Mechanic is saying 10.5 hours! Haines makes it look like an easy job. Anyone with experience?

Tons of money spent, 4 weeks down and still no driver

Ranchomike

[Ramblin Fever]

Did they replace your camshaft/crankshaft seals....if so, one of them may not be sealing correctly....and if not, one of them might be toast from age.

[RanchoMike]

Oil leak was crank seal after all. It seems mechanic was using a generic one instead of the factory crank seal. After 2 of them they decided to get the factory seal. Been good for 5 days now. In the meantime I paid to have the three oil filter console seals (o-ring and 2 copper gaskets) replaced. Probably a good idea anyway although I didn't need the extra expense at this point!