I just replaced the thermostat about 4 days ago. car has been runnin great but tonight it started overheating. the overflow tank is completely full. i have no clue why. any suggestions? i was thinking about wiring up a fan switch, but i dont know what wire to tap into to do that. im running prestone 50/50 antifreeze.

 

I doubt it's a fan probably, seeing how it's winter and you're not in So Cal.

Ether the thermostat is fauly, you have a bubble in your cooling system, your head gasket is bad, or you have blockage somewhere.

 

Nope its 34 degree's today. maybe bad radiator?

 

warm up your car and feel you rad entry and return lines and see if there hot? Run your heater also see if it gets hot to rule out bubbles/ blockage, maybe.?

 

top line is hot bottom line is cold

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDMlifestyle &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">top line is hot bottom line is cold</TD></TR></TABLE>

Means thermostat is not working still or like they said it has a air bubble. Fan is not going to help since your engine is not getting coolant through the whole motor.

 

what is the purpose of the thermostat? to click on the fan when it gets hot? or does it route water?

 

you may need a new radiator cap.
but i would do a compression check to see if it is the head gasket. i use to have same problems and i had to change the head gasket....thats most likely what it is, how many miles are on your car?

 

there is about 45-50k on the motor and about 20 k on the head

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by USDM Tsuchiya &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what is the purpose of the thermostat? to click on the fan when it gets hot? or does it route water?</TD></TR></TABLE>

The thermostat just stops the flow of coolant at a certain temperature to allow the block to heat the coolant in the block faster... it then opens and when the all the cold coolant out of the radiator gets into the block it closes again allowing it to heat it up faster than if it were openly flowing...

The ONLY purpose of a thermostat is to get the car's coolant up to operating temperature faster.

the Coolant temperature sensor tells the fan to come on and off.

*edit*
As mentioned... if only one hose is hot then the thermostat is still malfuntioning... you may have gotten a bad one out of the box... it does happen... not too likely but it does happen.
*/edit*

 

did you burp the system?

 

Sounds like a blockage to me.....more than likely it is the new thermo
have you ever had any leaks from hoses or radiator?
Check heater core also.....turn your heat on, let it run and then check radiator cap to se if fluid is full........could be different things
hope you find it

 

did you put the new thermostat in backwards perhaps....it is possible

 

thermostat is installed correctly. COuld it be a bad radiator?

 

If it is completely clogged possibly. Try back flushing it and see if anything comes out.

 

i did a flush the day after i replaced it and all the fluid came out

 

could it be the head gasket? or the radiator. the car has been running great since i replaced it. but it just acted up tonight.

 

i got 50 bucks that says you got a defective thermostat. go exchange it and i guaran damn tee your problem will go away. this happens all the time. those thermostats you get a pepboys etc are very often defective. i've had 2, and i've seen many others have the exact same problem.

 

God i hope so i tested both thermostats and they both opened. 162 and 183

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by pdiggitydogg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">did you burp the system?</TD></TR></TABLE>

answer that!

 

yes i ran the car for 20 mins with the radiator cap off.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDMlifestyle &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yes i ran the car for 20 mins with the radiator cap off.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i dont believe thats the proper way to bleed the system. turn on the car and pour coolant till it spills. it its full, bleed it properly.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDMlifestyle &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">. the overflow tank is completely full. i have no clue why. any suggestions? i.</TD></TR></TABLE>
i'd throw a new cap on.only costs a few bucks.if the spring is worn out,it will start releasing coolant instead of building pressure.
chris

 

what is the properway to bleed the system

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDMlifestyle &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what is the proper way to bleed the system</TD></TR></TABLE>

loosen the bleeder bolt and let the coolant flow out in a steady stream for a few seconds