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Car Forum / Toyota / Camry / June 2008

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'87 Camry Overheating

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Al - 25 Jun 2008 02:43 GMT
12 miles from work to the house.  Noticed steam coming out from under
the hood.  The temp gage was right at the middle as usual so there was
no indication overheating.  The overflow reservoir was just about
empty and there was antifreeze all over.  I found no busted hoses.
After it cooled I popped the radiator cap and started the car.  W/ it
running I began to slowly pour anti-freeze in and it began to spit it
out of the inlet.  Is this an indication of a bad thermostat?  Or
water pump?

Also, is there any online sites that may show a diagram of the therm
housing and therm?

tks
johngdole@hotmail.com - 25 Jun 2008 05:52 GMT
Check the free repair guide on Autozone, Figure 5 (2.0L), 6 (2.2L) for
diagrams of the thermostat housing:

http://www.autozone.com/shopping/repairGuide.htm?pageId=0900c152800743a2

If you have no indication of overheating then it's a good sign. It may
simply be a coolant leak onto the hot exhaust manifold and giving off
steam.

If there is no leak then you should be able to see coolant circulation
through the radiator neck, or restrict/relax the radiator hose (be
careful of moving engine parts) and see if you can feel pressure
surges.

Or it may be blocked radiator (you'll have less working area of the
radiator) or the start of head gasket failure (compressed gas
pressurizing the cooling system).

So you should have it checked by a good mechanic.

> 12 miles from work to the house.  Noticed steam coming out from under
> the hood.  The temp gage was right at the middle as usual so there was
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> tks
Al - 25 Jun 2008 14:24 GMT
On Jun 24, 9:52 pm, johngd...@hotmail.com wrote:
> Check the free repair guide on Autozone, Figure 5 (2.0L), 6 (2.2L) for
> diagrams of the thermostat housing:
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> So you should have it checked by a good mechanic.

Thank you for the advice.  I suspected the same reason for the steam
and it was close to home when it appeared.  I failed to mention that
the fans were working fine as well and also this car only has a few
thousand over 100K.  It looks like from where the coolant went over
next to the battery and on the inside of the engine compartment on the
driver side that when it overheated it blew the liquid not into the
overflow but past it.  The overflow tank was almost empty. I squeezed
the top and bottom hoses - no pressure so I popped the cap and found
the radiator was low.  I didn't have to time to note the circulation
because before I could watch the liquid in the radiator as I said I
had begun pouring coolant into the radiator w/ the motor running and
it gushed it back.  I immediately shut the engine off.
johngdole@hotmail.com - 26 Jun 2008 06:37 GMT
Ok, I thought you waited until it's cooled first ("After it cooled I
popped the radiator cap and started the car."). Adding liquid to a
very hot radiator could do just what you observed (radiator spitting
it out). Besides, it's probably not good to chill very hot metal like
that.

So after it's cooled gradually and pressure tested fine, fill the
radiator and clear the air from the system (for example, fast idle
1500 RPMs until fan comes on twice, then refill *after* the system
cooled down -- does take a while).

You have a leak somewhere so do try to locate it. As I just wrote in
another thread, "You can borrow a pressure tester from Autozone, free
with deposit, refund after you return."

Free-loaner tool, cooling system pressure tester:
http://www.autozone.com/in_our_stores/loan_a_tool/heating_cooling/coolant_pressu
re_tester.htm


100K miles is always a good preventative time for all coolant hoses,
radiator, thermostat and radiator cap. I'd use: Gates hoses, Proliance
or Koyo radiators, OEM thermostat, and Stant cap.

> Thank you for the advice.  I suspected the same reason for the steam
> and it was close to home when it appeared.  I failed to mention that
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> had begun pouring coolant into the radiator w/ the motor running and
> it gushed it back.  I immediately shut the engine off.
Al - 27 Jun 2008 18:58 GMT
Thanks to all of your for replying.  I've duly noted all of the
advice.  I changed the thermostat, both hoses and radiator cap.  After
several days of 100° weather and driving the usual miles everything
seems to be well.  Also, thanks for the autzone link(s).  Now if I can
figure out how to get to the same repair sections you all did I'll be
doing good. LOL

For instance I'm advising a buddy on changing out his thermostat on
his '96 Ford Ranger but can't find the page(s) w/ the illustrations
etc.  I keep ending up at a page that shows nothing but the
thermostats.

-al
johngdole@hotmail.com - 28 Jun 2008 06:43 GMT
Al, how's this, for the 4cyl version:
http://www.autozone.com/addVehicleId,2176101/initialAction,repairGuide/shopping/
repairGuide.htm?pageId=0900c15280038dfc


On www.autozone.com, you need to click on the "Repair Info" on the
left side of the page. Then you'll see "Vehicle Repair Guides" with
the years of coverage offered for free. Since Autozone bought AllData,
you can also subscribe to the latest repair info for a fee. This is
the AllDataDIY.com on the right side of the page.

Hope this helps.

> Thanks to all of your for replying.  I've duly noted all of the
> advice.  I changed the thermostat, both hoses and radiator cap.  After
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> -al
ransley - 25 Jun 2008 21:58 GMT
> 12 miles from work to the house.  Noticed steam coming out from under
> the hood.  The temp gage was right at the middle as usual so there was
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> tks

Gushing out is likely air going out, Fill it run it a bit then shut it
off. Air gets trapped and there should be air bleed bolts or maybe air
can be run out. Run the heater and when it overheats running the
heater can lower motor Temp. You should get a new radiator cap and
dont run 100% antifreeze or it will overheat if its realy hot out.
Daniel - 26 Jun 2008 00:37 GMT
Check for a leak in the radiator.
If you were low on coolant, that could explain your symptoms, and at
this age the radiator should have been replaced.
 
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