Ihave been drving the car for a week without heat and it seems like it is the Thermostat. So i get a thermostat and a pressurized radiator cap and now it overheats and spews all over the place when i turn it off. I am not sure if the problem existed before and i just didn't notice it or what. The heat wors now, but i obviously have bigger issues. I do not have an aftermarket temp guage yet so i was not aware until i parked. Thoughts?
1-change the thermostat and drain the antifreeze can be - pump water -check the fan air from the fan is cold or hot?
Sometimes when the system is opened you can get air pockets in it. Be sure to try and bleed the air out before you go too far.
It could be several things or a combination of them.First and foremost: when you installed the T-stat.Did you install it properly?? the short pointy end should face the front of the car when placed on the intake or housing.Did you fill the system completely.air gets trapped in the cooling system when you drain/fill it up.You may have to simply "burp" the air out to solve your problem.if the car has been sitting for quite a few years the impeller on the water pump may have rusted to nothing causing a lack of coolant flow and your lack of heat and the over heating.The radiator may also be plugged up with lime/scale or rust.Sometimes a good professional cleaning will do the trick sometimes the rad has to be opened up and rodded to clean the coolant tubes.(they run a steel rod through the tubes to remove the gunk)This requires removal of the tanks on the top and bottom of your rad.Your lack of heat in the car may be due to the affore mentioned air in the system or the heater core is also plugged up.If your car is an air conditioned car... there is a coolant flow valve on the Top? heater hose under the hood.It is vacuum operated and may be stuck closed not allowing hot coolant into the core to heat the cars interrior.If the ignition timeing is incorrect this can also cause your car to run hot.You may have a lower radiator hose that is collapsing under full flow conditions as well.With the car cold grab it and squeeze it.If you can squeeze it flat the spring that should be in it may have rotted away or was non exhistant to begin with.Get a hose with a spring in it.Now...did the car have a T-stat in it when you pulled it apart to replace it??? if not that may be a signe of an old pre-existing condition.Start by making sure the system is properly filled and no air is in it.With the car cold and the heat on...take the radiator cap off and start it.let it run till the T-stat opens(the coolant level will drop noticably when it opens)At that point add some more coolant(dont top it off)put enough in to cover the core tubes.You may have to do this several times till it stops takeing in coolant.then you can top it off.If all is well you will have heat and no air in the system at this point.Take it for a ride...Dont go too far incase it still overheats.Park it and shut it off.Open the hood and listen for that chugging boiling sound.If you dont hear it and the rad overflow hose isnt barfing coolant on the ground...your good to go.while you are doing this check to see if the water pump is working by pinching the top hose shut(careful it will be hot!) hold it for 5 seconds and release the pinch.If the coolant flowes the pump is doing its job if no coolant flowes at all during the procedure its time for a pump.I can go on but i have given you plenty to read/do so start with this and see what you find. Good luck!!
When I stopped, the overflow hose is where is started spraying out. How do i burp it? It was gurgling and working correctly untill i messed with the thermostat
Thermostat is in correctly and i did have heat. The air in the system sounds interesting. I am trying to burp it, I am waiting to see if the fluid level drops in the radiator when the t-stata opens up
i don't know if this is a testament to how dumb i am or smart you guys are! :bananaman But i have heat, although I will not be boiling soup inside anytime soon, it is warm. I ran the car for a while, went on two trips around the block, got it home and stopped the car, no gurgling and no "spewtum!" I think the burping worked. I am going to let it sit over night and run it tomorrow for a few miles and see how it does. I was able to hear the coolant flow when i squeezed the top radiator hose. i know of enough about cars just to make me dangerous! Thanks for all of the inputand I will let you know what happens tomorrow!
check your coolant level before you run it and go any where tomorrow.If its low add some.I am glad its working for you so far...good luck. Also be sure to run a 50/50 mix of coolant/water.coolant alone doesnt reject heat well.
i always drill a small hole around 1/8 in. in the t-stat in the flat section. then install it with the hole clocked in the highest postion so air can bleed through the hole. this helps ensure that the coolant gets to the t-stat and you end up with a air bubble there.
one more stupid question. I took for a nice long ride and it is not spewing anything at all and the heat is working well, but when I release the pressure on the cap, i get a little spray out of the over flow tube, is this normal?
Be careful when relieving pressure on a cooling system. The boiling point of coolant/water is increased by about 3 degrees per pound of pressure within the system. A sudden drop in pressure can cause the coolant/water to boil instantly and spray out of the system resulting in possible injury.
