hey guys I need some help, I'm having cooling issues. first coolent started coming out of my ac drain so I by-passed the heater core by joining the hose going into it to the one coming out. it was ok for a while then the radiator blew, so I have a new one in now.
now what happens is it gets really hot when I first start driving it, it goes up to almost 260, then it drops quickly back down to below the half mark, when at a light it goes just above the half mark, then when I drive after a few min it goes back down. when I stop and turn the car off I hear a loud bubbling noise. also when I check it the coolent level in the over flow is high, and if I drain it it just fills back up.
whats wrong?
-bad radiator cap?
-flow problem?
-to much water not enough coolent?
-air in system?
what is it and how do you fix it, thanks
neko
91 cavalier 2.2 5-speed
well this is kinda what my cavy did with the gauge actin crazy, and the head gasket was cracked.
nothing
Have you changed your thermostat? That could be the problem and its a cheap fix
<img src="http://www.geocities.com/fudd_22602/elmer-shoot.gif"> Old school Js rock
no its not the thermostat cause it does the bubbling even before the car is warmed up.
thermostat is the only thing that explains the temp going way up then dropping back down to half. replace it, its less than $10 and easy to change. start with that, its likley the problem.
popped a new stat in today and it didn't do anything to fix it, still going all over the temp guage and its still bubbling and filling the overflow.
neko reid wrote:no its not the thermostat cause it does the bubbling even before the car is warmed up.
Ok, that didn't make any sense, what do you mean by warmed up? The temperature gauge isn't reading the temp is hot or what? Obviously the engine is warmed up since its cooking the coolant
<img src="http://www.geocities.com/fudd_22602/elmer-shoot.gif"> Old school Js rock
Quote:
Ok, that didn't make any sense, what do you mean by warmed up? The temperature gauge isn't reading the temp is hot or what? Obviously the engine is warmed up since its cooking the coolant
no if I turn the car on for 30 seconds then turn it off its bubbling, and its not hot at all, I can put my hand in the coolant and its still cool to the touch, so is the radiator cap, engine, hoses, and radiator. so its not an over heating issue, its something else, what it is I don't know. weird right?
My cutlass supreme did a similar thing there was an air pocket in the coolant lines... I could be totally wrong but just a thought...
thats what I was thinking, but how do you get the air bubbles out?
You could simply have a leaking head gasket, which is leaking combustion gas into the cooling system. this will cause the radiator cap too blow coolant into the overflow tank (cold or hot). It will also cause the engine too get hot, because the increased pressure in the cooling system from the combustion leak causes the radiator cap too vent, releasing the pressure in the cooling system, causing the coolant too loose it's cooling effect. Once the pressure is vented, the temperature returns too normal, until the cap vents again.
Which engine do you have?
I would assume a 2.2.
Curtis
91' Turbo Z24
http://www.turboz24.com
yes its a 2.2, how hard is it to change the head gasket? do you have to remove all the accesories (power steering, alt.....). I had to replace the belt tensioner a while ago and that was such a pain I almost just junked the car. tell me whats the best way to do this please.
If you are mechically inclined, it isn't hard too do. You will most likely need the head rebuilt or at least shaved so that it's flat. No point too replace a head that's possibly warped and will not seal correctly.
You would need too remove the tensioner, most of the components off the head, pull the head and manifolds, etc.
Curtis
91' Turbo Z24
http://www.turboz24.com
Blown head gasket caused by fan not operating properly! Did you happen to see if your fan was cutting on when you are NOT MOVING? So long as you had air passing through it while moving, you were fine. But that head or head gasket may be gone now. As for the bubling, your coolant is so hot that it is boiling. When you shut off your engine, it alll overflows right? that is because when you cut it off, it all settles back at the bottom. All that expanded gas in your coolant will find it's way out somewhere.
