overheating problem

[tbirch]

I going to start by saying that I have already searched..ALOT... to try and find the answer to my problem, but still no luck.

Okay, so i finally got my 89 hatch going, bought it as a shell just put a single slammer ka in it, got it gunning, started to over heat the first time, checked it out, i had a hose loose and a crack in my thermo. housing, so i tightened the hose and JB welded the crack, and checked the thermostat to see if it was good, which it was.. that took care of that problem but it still over heats. just got done blooding the system with the front of the car elevated, took it for a drive and it went about 20 minutes with out over heating (longest its lasted) them it finally hit the "H" mark. got it home popped the hood. there was about half a qt. in the overflow tank and the rad cap was steaming...and i have electric fans...I have nooo idea why its doing this to me...should I re bleed the system and put a mechanical fan on and see how that treats me?!
Thanks.

[nismoracingsx]

you checked your thermo but did you pressure test your cooling system to make sure you're not leaking anywhere else?

also don't forget to pressure test your radiator cap as well..and inspect the rubber seal>>bad rad. cap had me chasing problems for 2 days once, though I just run w/o a t-stat now and I never overheat =p

[louisdaboois]

First, check to see if the cooling fans are coming on. Also, as nismoracingsx said, make sure your rad cap is good too, plus a pressure test isn't a bad idea maybe the motor has a bad head gasket (not enough to mix with oil or burn, but enough to not allow the system to properly pressurize.

[tbirch]

well the fans turn on via toggle so them come on for sure. I just re bled the system and then took it for a drive, if over heated again and this time i noticed that there is a TON of steam pouring out of the over flow hose going in the tank (the tank is just an old motor oil qt with a hole drilled into the lid with the hose going in)and the other end of the hose is going directly into the radiator spout threw a drilled hole cause the thing that is supposed to go on broke off. could it be the radiator it self is bad?

[carlos_spicyweiner]

coming from a guy who spent 4 years at performance radiator...

1. JB weld doesn't fix shit when it comes to extreme heat like what is produced in your cooling system (need a new thermostat)
2. If you have both cooling fans on one side might wanna think about moving one to the front of the radiator (all so know as a pusher and a puller)
3. If your 100% sure the radiator is good listen to these guys its gonna be time for a new cap.
4. could also have a junk water pump check for rust around that bad boy too!
this is performance radiators phone number nation wide it will direct you to one closest to you
Call Toll Free 1-877-723-4286

[tbirch]

no, i checked the thermostat and its good, and the JB did work cause it doesnt leak at all anymore. and thats the thing, i dont know for sure that the radiator is good...I just got it from some random guy selling s13 parts....could the radiator cap really be causing all of these troubles?...7.99 may not be alot but im pathetically broke so i dont want to spend money on a hunch when it could just as likely be the radiator it self which i can get used for 30 instead.

[95_S14]

What a cheap ass just get the cap and if it didn't work get the kit to see if your HG is gone 8 bucks to see if it works just try it and if that's not it say the cap didn't work lol fuck it good luck

[tbirch]

wtf?you dont know me or my money situation so dont call me a cheap ass, fuckin douche...what is this kit that checks if your HG is no good?

[tbirch]

should i just do a compression test first?

[tbirch]

also when i start the car it shoots a ton of white smoke but once it warms up it doenst shoot any smoke at all...does that just mean its cold blooded?and i just checked my dip stick for milky oil...it wasnt at all, it just looked like normal oil on a dip stick.

[chwks13]

Of course you're a cheap ass, trying to get by without needing to buy stuff like a cap, and jb welding the housing instead of putting another one on.

Just a new thermostat and cap. Total cost under 30 bucks. If they don't fix your issue, then at least you have two things you know you won't need to worry about for a long time. Yes the rad cap could be causing all your troubles. I had this same issue with my DE three weeks ago, rad cap fixed it. Of course afterwards I also flushed the cooling system, replaced the t-stat, and went from clutch fan to e-fan.



If your car is pumping out a lot of white smoke, your head gasket is gone. The coolant doesn't necessarily have to be in the oil as well, it could just be leaking into the cylinder. When the car is running, do you get tons of bubbles coming up through the system nonstop? This is compression being forced into you cooling system and indicates a bad head gasket.

But seriously, deal with the basics first. Replacing the rad cap and t-stat take almost no time and almost no money. Replace the t-stat housing, because a few months from now your jb weld job isn't going to hold anymore.

Check your rad. Make sure heat is evenly distributed over the rad (feel by hand, but be careful). Any cold spots indicate a plugged rad.

Last, fix your fan. Wiring up to a toggle switch is such a ghetto method that makes me want to torch every car I see it on. Use an adjustable electronic thermostat to turn your fan on, and you'll never have to worry about a thing.

[lou's40sx]

Try swapping out the Coolant temp sensor located in the front of your intake runners. Very common that they go bad. We fixed this issue last week when a friends engine overheated. Swapped it out with a spare one I had laying around and that was fixed.

The car wasn't overheating, just a bad sensor saying it was.

Go to the junk yard and get a few of these or by new ones for $10-15 bucks.
http://www.enjukuracing.com/images/oemsrcoolanttemp_full.jpg

[tbirch]

i talked to a friend today and he is just going to let me barrow is rad cap for a few hours to throw on mine to see if that is the problem, also i havnt checked to see if air bubbles are coming out of the radiator. also could the face that the over flow hose going into the radiator isnt air tight effect anything?

[tbirch]

also im pretty sure its not the coolant temp sensor becuase it really does get HOTTTT when its says its over heating. and im going to wire my fans to the fuel pump, i just did the shitty toggle way cause i didnt know how to run it to the fuel pumperrrr.

[tbirch]

sweeet, just did a compression test
1)90
2)93
3)95
4)40

new head gasket time..fml

[carlos_spicyweiner]

also im pretty sure its not the coolant temp sensor becuase it really does get HOTTTT when its says its over heating. and im going to wire my fans to the fuel pump, i just did the shitty toggle way cause i didnt know how to run it to the fuel pumperrrr.


this is a shit idea my friend e-fans pull alot of current and they are known to blow fuel pump fuses aka leaving you stuck on the side of the road unless you just so happen to carry 15amp fuses with you all the time!

[95_S14]

wtf?you dont know me or my money situation so dont call me a cheap ass, fuckin douche...what is this kit that checks if your HG is no good?

For one I was just trying to help you don't try acting like I big guy on the net and the kit you could of got at autozone it's like ten bucks and it's a blue fluid when you pull air into it If the gasket is bad the hydro carbons turn it green and you got the wrong car if your broke everyone knows 240's are money pits

[tbirch]

I will just stick with the toggle way then cause it hasnt failed me yet, and i dont wanna have to deal with the thermostat sensor kind or what ever..and im just going to sell my engine and get a new ka, and not have to deal with the HG headache.
and 95 s14, how does calling anyone a cheap ass "on the net" help answer my question?

mods, please lock, thread is done.

[justaKAiswear]

HG's really arent that bad to change... and a fraction of the price to refresh your motor. Plus you learn a hell of a lot in the process. dooooo eeettttttt!

[chwks13]

Quit your whining. I called you a cheap ass and answered your question.

Kids these days. Fuck.