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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Maintenance and Repair / April 2008OK, I'm stumped...(97 Legacy Wagon overheating)
Been overheating. As some of you may have read, I tried the Headgasket in a bottle trick. It seemed to be working but when I took it out for a little cruise tonight it overheated. Here's what happens: The car will go along for a few miles just fine, small rises and dips in temperature, and then after 20 minutes or so the temp will begin to rise. It then goes into full overheating, right to the top of the guage and stays there. Sometimes revving the engine more will get a little cooling, and sometimes coasating will. But not always. Sometimes revving will raise the temp, and sometimes coasting will. OK, sounds like a blown HG, and there was exhaust gas in the radiator back in December. Now, this is the part I don't get: when you open the radiator cap, the radiator looks full. Also, tonight when I refilled the radiator, I filled the opening where the cap is, and filled the other side where the 'bleeder' is. The radiator was full, and the overflow bottle was full of plain water. When I got back from my little excursion, all the coolant on the bleeder side of the radiator was...STEAM, and the filler neck side was full. The overflow bottle had coolant mixed in with the water. I refilled it and ran the engine for a while, and the temp climbed up to about 3/4 on the guage, and then settled right down to normal again. This is the part I don't get! Also the radiator was STONE COLD, even though the temp was elevated. Also, there was no heat; when I refilled the 'bleeder' side of the radiator, it took a while but the heat came back...HOT!!! I mean HOT!!!!!! I'm stuck. It looks like, besides a BHG, I also might have a blocked radiator. This car is worth $500 to me. That's about the most I will put into it. Open to all suggestions... > Been overheating. As some of you may have read, I tried the Headgasket in > a bottle trick. It seemed to be working but when I took it out for a [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > Open to all suggestions... Did you fill the system with the nose up and heater on max? Could be a bubble in the cooling system. Though, of course, the 'bubble' could be exhaust gasses. Did the o'flow bottle - um - overflow itself? When the system cools off, does it draw back from the o'flow bottle? For a simple concept, there are multiple ways for a cooling system to 'go wrong'. If coolant mixed in with the water, AND coolant is sucked back from the o'flow when the engine cools off, probably the rad cap is OK. Is it new? How about the thermostat? Can you see bubbles in the neck if you run with the cap off idling? probably exhaust gasses. Anyway - sounds like you definitley did not get water flowing through the heater core - so a plugged up radiator OR a gas bubble or a stucl thermostat are likley. hmmm.... Carl  Signatureto reply, change ( .not) to ( .net) >> Been overheating. As some of you may have read, I tried the Headgasket >> in a bottle trick. It seemed to be working but when I took it out for a [quoted text clipped - 49 lines] > > Carl Thanks, cARL. yES, THE NOSE WAS IN THE AIR WHEN i FILLED THE SYSTEM (oops...) HEater on MAX, and there also seemed to be a bubble, but the STEAM coming out of a stone cold radiator is what's really puzzling... I tried to get the bubbles out before I took off...ran it until the T-stat opened, and then added more, and then opened the bleeder. I guess my $9 Headgasket repair, didn't... So, I'm thinking, either new head gaskets (and plane the heads...?) or another new motor (supposedly this one has ~125,000 miles on it...) It runs smooth, there is a very slight knocking noise sounding like in the center of the engine, very very slight. The bosy has 335,000 on it, that's why I'm not putting a lot into it... > >> Been overheating. As some of you may have read, I tried the Headgasket > >> in a bottle trick. It seemed to be working but when I took it out for a [quoted text clipped - 66 lines] > > The bosy has 335,000 on it, that's why I'm not putting a lot into it... I recall you posted months back that you have a subie that you want the fans not to work during winter season because the engine gets very cold. And you said you only used the subie during snow season. Is this the same car? The engine gets very cold in winter and overheats in warmer weather? >> >> Been overheating. As some of you may have read, I tried the Headgasket >> >> in a bottle trick. It seemed to be working but when I took it out for a [quoted text clipped - 72 lines] > the same car? The engine gets very cold in winter and overheats in > warmer weather? Nice try! But no, this is a different one. The one with the pump driven fan was the *OTHER* car I used the Genie in a Bottle stuff on, and that one's running great. i never did swap the fan over; I have one, but that car's coming off the road...since it's time... http://www.geocities.com/ma71supraturbo/pictures/88front.jpg http://www.geocities.com/ma71supraturbo/pictures/88tdash.jpg http://www.geocities.com/ma71supraturbo/pictures/92t.jpg >When I got back from my little excursion, all the coolant on the bleeder >side of the radiator was...STEAM, and the filler neck side was full. The [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >there was no heat; when I refilled the 'bleeder' side of the radiator, it >took a while but the heat came back...HOT!!! I mean HOT!!!!!! >I'm stuck. It looks like, besides a BHG, I also might have a blocked >radiator. Sticking Thermostat? Not to say that's the only issue, but if it's not opening and the suddenly does it could explain the temperature spikes and the cold rad. >>When I got back from my little excursion, all the coolant on the bleeder >>side of the radiator was...STEAM, and the filler neck side was full. The [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > opening and the suddenly does it could explain the temperature spikes > and the cold rad. New t-stat. Of course, that doesn't mean it's good, but it is new. >>>When I got back from my little excursion, all the coolant on the bleeder >>>side of the radiator was...STEAM, and the filler neck side was full. The [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > >New t-stat. Of course, that doesn't mean it's good, but it is new. If it's an autoparts store type they might have taken a short cut to make it cheaper. I've seen it before... sometimes it makes a difference. Although if there is a t-stat issue it's probably just a minor one making things worse. >>>>When I got back from my little excursion, all the coolant on the >>>>bleeder side of the radiator was...STEAM, and the filler neck side was [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > Although if there is a t-stat issue it's probably just a minor one making > things worse. It only overheats when it's under a load for a while. It will sit at idle or high idle for HOURS without overheating. The problem is this: http://wwlp.images.worldnow.com/images/incoming/wx/7day.JPG and this: http://www.geocities.com/ma71supraturbo/pictures/92t.jpg Only one car can go on the road right now. Can you guess which one? ;) >>>>>When I got back from my little excursion, all the coolant on the >>>>>bleeder side of the radiator was...STEAM, and the filler neck side was [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > Only one car can go on the road right now. Can you guess which one? ;) I've read ALL of this thread - whew! Well, here's what happened to me years ago. I had a 1972 Corvette that had a VERY similar problem. After checking and double checking everything I could think of, I pulled the new waterpump I had installed a few weeks earlier. Turned out that the pump impeller was not tight on the shaft - the pulley was driving the pump impeller shaft as it should, but the impeller was only turning at, who knows, half speed? quarter speed? So especially at highway speeds or under load, it would overheat. At low load or idle, no problem. Well, there's my two cents worth. > I've read ALL of this thread - whew! Well, here's what happened to me years > ago. I had a 1972 Corvette that had a VERY similar problem. After checking [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > overheat. At low load or idle, no problem. Well, there's my two cents > worth. I had the same water pump impeller problem with a 1965 Plymouth. To the original poster: Have you pulled the water pump and checked it? >> I had installed a few weeks earlier. Turned out that the pump impeller > was [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > I had the same water pump impeller problem with a 1965 Plymouth. To the > original poster: Have you pulled the water pump and checked it? Nah... On the '89 Suby it's a good old fashioned on-the-fan pump. I think the '97 is at the timing belt, IIRC... One thing I think people are missing: There *IS* exhaust gas in the radiator. When I had it inspected the guy stuck the 'sniffer' in the radiator filler neck and when we revved the engine hydrocarbons went way up... > Been overheating. As some of you may have read, I tried the Headgasket in > a bottle trick. It seemed to be working but when I took it out for a [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > Open to all suggestions... Hmmm Is the rad fan working(comes on when rad is hot)? Next thermostat, then water pump check them all. >> Been overheating. As some of you may have read, I tried the Headgasket in >> a bottle trick. It seemed to be working but when I took it out for a [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > Is the rad fan working(comes on when rad is hot)? > Next thermostat, then water pump check them all. Yeah the fans are working. All the obvious stuff (er, I think!...) is OK. > Been overheating. As some of you may have read, I tried the Headgasket in > a bottle trick. It seemed to be working but when I took it out for a [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > Open to all suggestions... If you remove the radiator and take it to a radiator shop they can flow and pressure test it. It's not very expensive to have them do that. Are you absolutely certain that the thermostat is installed correctly? Just a thought. >> Been overheating. As some of you may have read, I tried the Headgasket in >> a bottle trick. It seemed to be working but when I took it out for a [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > Are you absolutely certain that the thermostat is installed correctly? > Just a thought. Yeah, I believe so. But then again... When I took the old one out, I saw how it had been installed, made a note, and put the new one back in. But, the prior owner gave it to the guy that gave it to me cause it was overheating... According to this, it's correct: http://www.autozone.com/images/cds/jpg/small/0900823d801c6040.jpg That would have been too simple, eh? Only time I've had the cold radiator while heating up is with stuck radiator or frozen radiator hose. Other problem I just ran into that probably will be of no help. My son just returned my 97 Impreza because it was sporadically losing water and heating up. As it turned out, even with frequent anti freeze changes, something had eaten half of the surface where the radiator cap seals inside the plastic radiator. Outer seal (top of radiator) was fine. Should be a smooth continuous ring of plastic. I have repaired with JB weld (and let it cure at least a day) and is so far giving a good seal. In particular, the first hill would cause water to overflow and eventually would expel enough to cause overheating. Only time I've had the cold radiator while heating up is with stuck thermostat or frozen radiator hose. Other problem I just ran into that probably will be of no help. My son just returned my 97 Impreza because it was sporadically losing water and heating up. As it turned out, even with frequent anti freeze changes, something had eaten half of the surface where the radiator cap seals inside the plastic radiator. Outer seal (top of radiator) was fine. Should be a smooth continuous ring of plastic. I have repaired with JB weld (and let it cure at least a day) and is so far giving a good seal. In particular, the first hill would cause water to overflow and eventually would expel enough to cause overheating. > Been overheating. As some of you may have read, I tried the Headgasket in > a bottle trick. It seemed to be working but when I took it out for a [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > Open to all suggestions... There is a small heater hose under the throttle on the drivers side remove this small hose so it can bleed air remove the upper radiator hose from the rad & fill with coolant until coolant comes out of small hose then reinstall small hose & upper rad hose start engine up slowly add coolant this should remove any air bubble you might have Glenn K Signature" Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new" -- Albert Einstein > Been overheating. As some of you may have read, I tried the Headgasket > in a bottle trick. It seemed to be working but when I took it out for a [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > > Open to all suggestions... Have you replaced the thermostat? Sounds like a problem I had many moons ago. Simple fix, if that's what it is. >> Been overheating. As some of you may have read, I tried the Headgasket >> in a bottle trick. It seemed to be working but when I took it out for a [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > Have you replaced the thermostat? Sounds like a problem I had many moons > ago. Simple fix, if that's what it is. I ain't that lucky... What it appears to be is, not only do I have a blown headgasket, but perhaps the radiator is blocked, too... >>> Been overheating. As some of you may have read, I tried the Headgasket >>> in a bottle trick. It seemed to be working but when I took it out for [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] > What it appears to be is, not only do I have a blown headgasket, but > perhaps the radiator is blocked, too... Try flushing the radiator with sufficient pressure to unblock. >I ain't that lucky... > >What it appears to be is, not only do I have a blown headgasket, but >perhaps the radiator is blocked, too... I am surprised that nobody has pointed out that one of the side effects of those nifty sealing powders is the occasional radiator blockage. --scott Signature"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." >>I ain't that lucky... >> [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > those nifty sealing powders is the occasional radiator blockage. > --scott Right on target there Scott.... "Bar's Stop-leak" is a known radiator destroyer :) >>I ain't that lucky... >> [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > those nifty sealing powders is the occasional radiator blockage. > --scott I didn't use a powder, I used this: http://www.barsproducts.com/1100.htm I called them beofre I even cracked the bottle with the same concern. The woman who asnswered the phone said get ALL the antifreeze out. Flush it, and drain it and flush it again. It has to be absolutely clear water coming out of the cooling system. I used it with much success on another Subaru, but I guess this one must be too far gone... |
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