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Overheating


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kingjim9
User

Feb 28, 2008, 4:53 PM

Post #1 of 8 (2896 views)
Overheating Sign In

Ok well my car's at it again, its a 1994 Plymouth Acclaim 4cyl 2.5l 94,500 miles. Somethings causing it to overheat, the temperature gauge doesn't ever reach all the way to the H mark but somethings causing the coolant to flow back into the reserve bottle, in which case it flows out of this little valve like thing on the side, then the radiator takes fluid back from the reserve leaving the reserve practically empty.

Additional details:

The fan kicks on and off, I've felt the thermostat opening and closing normally. But theres something wrong with the heat in the car. It only works on the defrost setting and when the fan is on low, if i switch it to high it just blows air.

I'm not sure if i need a heater core or what?

Thanks,

Jim


Guest
Anonymous Poster

Feb 28, 2008, 6:31 PM

Post #2 of 8 (2891 views)
Re: Overheating Sign In

Heater core certainly could be a possibility.

What I do wonder is How can you tell when the thermostat opens or closes by feel? I'm curious for I've never heard that before.

Hope you take no offense.


kingjim9
User

Feb 28, 2008, 7:12 PM

Post #3 of 8 (2890 views)
Re: Overheating Sign In

well i was telling that by feeling the upper radiator hose after driving. It comes from the thermostat and it gets warm so i can tell that fluid is flowing through it.


dave284
Enthusiast / Moderator
dave284 profile image

Feb 29, 2008, 8:09 AM

Post #4 of 8 (2883 views)
Re: Overheating Sign In

It sound like a partialy stopped up heater core,if you can reach the core lines/hoses under the hood, feel the inlet and outlet both should be about same temp.


kingjim9
User

Feb 29, 2008, 10:14 AM

Post #5 of 8 (2882 views)
Re: Overheating Sign In

I'll take a look and see if I can find them. Then take it for a drive and feel them. I'll get back to u guys thanks.


kingjim9
User

Mar 1, 2008, 11:43 AM

Post #6 of 8 (2873 views)
Re: Overheating Sign In

I could only find one hose. It comes out right under the water pump & goes across the engine and goes right through the firewall in the center of the car.

Also I just drove it a mile & back and when i parked it in front of my house theres a large amount of steam rising up above the oil filter.


Double J
Veteran / Moderator
Double J profile image

Mar 1, 2008, 12:15 PM

Post #7 of 8 (2871 views)
Re: Overheating Sign In

Get the system pressure tested ...Autozone rents a cooling system pressure tester..
See if you can find the source of the steam...possibly this could be a headgasket problem...water pump problem...
Does this push coolant back into reservoir right away or after awhile ?
If your seeing steam,thats a good sign to assist in finding the problem BUT a bad sign as well ,depending on what the problem is..
Has the thermostat ever been changed?
Does the upper radiator hose get hot to the touch after the engine reaches operating temp?
Any work been done at all?..if so ,describe..


(This post was edited by JIM N on Mar 1, 2008, 12:16 PM)


kingjim9
User

Mar 1, 2008, 2:30 PM

Post #8 of 8 (2868 views)
Re: Overheating Sign In

Yes the upper radiator hose heats up. And the coolant backflows after a while. Within the last 2-1/2 years no work has been done on the cooling system. The only thing done recently was an oil change. It had been a while sinced I changed the oil last and when i started seeing steam coming from above the oil filter i assumed that it needed changed so i did. I put about 20 miles on it since that and it began showing steam above the filter again. The temperature gauge inside never goes up to the H side indicating its overheating. It stays within normal range once the vehicle reaches operating temp.

The head gasket did have to be replaced back in '05. The also did some tested to make sure there were no cracks with the engine or something. I don't suspect the head gasket just because the antifreeze is as green as green can be and the oil doesn't appear to have any water in it. I'll get the pressure test done soon.


(This post was edited by kingjim9 on Mar 1, 2008, 2:42 PM)






 
 
 






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