Well my car was overheating a little but not bad due to the cold weather, but now that is getting warmer it is getting worse. The weird part is that my temp gauge does not go above normal but when I put my hand on the valve cover it is wwaayy to hot. I felt my hoses and the lower hose is very cold and my upper is burning hot so I figure it was my thermostat and got a new one, still had the same problem so then I tested my old thermostat in a pot of water and it worked fine. Then I just ran the motor with no thermostat and my fan kicked in like clockwork(which I haven't seen working in a while) So I put it all back together and ran the car and still the same problem also when I went to release the valve next to the upper radiator hose(while engine was hot and running) a little radiator fluid came out with air, then it just stopped an I was able to take it out fully with no coolant coming out which I thought was weird. Well im just looking for any input on what the problem might be any will help thanks

 

how many miles on this thermostat

 

I would say about 20,000 miles

 

change it

 

change it, but let me tell you. i just changed mine thursday and there is little room to work there.
i think i jam every joint in my hand.
also buy coolant. you lose abit when taking off the hose.

 

I did change it and the new one did the same thing

 

how old is the radiator?
also check the timing.
are you fans coming on still?

 

Just bought the radiator
timing is fine, but still curious as to how that could be affecting my cooling
the fan only came on when I took the thermostat out cause the lower hose was getting coolant for the sensor, but before no luck do to the fact I would not get any flow with it in.

 

Just wondering if anyone has had a bad water pump because that's all I can think of but would rather know for sure before having fun with the crank bolt

 

Change the thermostat, the water temp sensor and see what happens. All bleed the system completely, you mat have some air pockets in there.

 

I'll try it tommorow I hope its air

 

I had a bad water pump on my EG before, and you can tell if it's bad by looking at it. There's a weep hole on the water pump. If it's not working properly your water pump should be really dirty, as if it's dripping slightly but never dripping off your car. Then when you drive it, dirt just sticks to the coolant and then builds up on the pump itself.

 

How would the pump not work?? All it is a wheel that runs off the timing belt, a shaft attached to that runs through the "body" and attachest to the propeller on the other side. Nothing electric. Unless the being had seized, but then it would be causing drag on the timing belt......and water not flowing would be a very small worry.


When you bleed the system, take the radiator cap off, and run the car untill the fans turn on and off twice. If you rev the engine up a little you chould be able to see the fluid moving inside the radiator.

 

It also helps to squeeze the upper radiator hose.

Are you sure you are putting it in the right way around?

 

Well I drained my coolant , Took off my upper rad hose and took off my lower hose and thermostat cover with thermostat. Hooked up my hose to the upper and washed out all the old coolant. I put everything back together and filled my radiator with the bleed screw loose, I let it fill to the point that water was coming out of the bleed screw and continued till all the water was out(if its not distilled water it will cause corrosion). I put the radiator cap back on and turned my car on, once it warmed up the crazy thermostat opened and my fan kicked in THANK GOD. I don't know what I did wrong before but hope someone learns from this. Thanks for all your help guys.
EDIT BTW it never worked righ before when I had the cap off while warming up the car, but also I dont have my heater hoses hooked up.

 

Good job. Make sure to get some proper coolant in there though!

 

Yeah I used the 50/50 and what I was suprised to hear was that they dont make two different kinds of coolent anymore there all universal, but then agian this came from the Advanced auto parts guy