my 88 si over heats after driving it for only 15 minutes , i needed a rad., so i put one in, thinkin that was the prob., it still overheats, im thinkin that it's the thermostate, but iono. if anyone has had the same prob. and fixed it, or anyone that knows what i need ta do, i could hella use the advice!!!!!!!!

 

When was the last time you replaced the fluid? I would just replace the fluid, thermostat and cap and see if that does anything? Also could it be the water pump, has that been replaced?

 

like a week ago i put new rad. fluid when i changed my rad., i thought that it might be the water pump or the thermostate, so i wanna do the thermostate first because its cheaper. also, iono if my fans r workin or not, under the hood it says that they may run for 15 minutes after the car turns off, but even when it over heat it wont come on, i tried the fuses, there not blown, so iono, i hella dont want ta take it to a shop, id rather do it myself, so if it happens again. should i jus take it to a shop an see if it could be my fans.

 

check 1st the fuses...they are located under the hood, and if they are good check the relay...

 

Sounds like a thermostat problem cause if it is stuck closed it won't send a signal to the computer telling what the water temp is and the fans wont come on b/c they don't know they need 2. Also if it is stuck closed as mine was you won't get adequate waterflow through the head block and erthing else. Hope that helps u.

 

thanks yall, imma get a thermastate an see what happens

 

I may have a suggestion. If in case anything and you want your car to always run a bit cooler than keep the thermostat out. Reason being with no thermostat means the water will continually flow because it can't tell if its hot or not. So you will have a constant flow rather than having the thermostat telling your car it is hot and turns on the water at that time and only then. But the only problem with that is, if you have Vtec then you will have to wait a bit longer for it to warm up.

 

DONT PULL THE THERMOSTAT! you would think that a continuous flow of coolant will keep the engine cool, but it actually does the oposite. if the coolant is flowing through the radiator too fast it won't have time to cool down, it'll just keep running hot. the reason most people run with their heat maxed out when they overheat is so the coolant flowing through the heater core will cool down. if the coolant flows too fast through the heater core or radiator the coolant will not drop to operating temperature.

 

Well what you may say is true but I have a mechanics teacher who specifically stated that the thermostat will keep the car running cooler. And i did that with my other car and it never had a problem of overheating or anything like that. Like i said it was a suggestion nothing more.