Weird Overheating?

[Ernzo]

My wag runs a little hot, not too bad considering it is 95 degrees and the AC is on. Needle gets a little past half, not in the red.

When I stop and go inside, she proceeds to start to churn and barfs out a bunch of coolant.

Now, before I turn her off, I check the top hose and while hot, it does not seem to have any water in it!! I mean it colapses to the touch.

Thermostat is stuck, says I. I replace the thermostat.

No change.

Fan belt is on, pulley is turning, water pump weep hole is not weeping, no noise from pump.

Hmmmmmmm....??????? :( :( :(

[joe]

I'd start with the easy stuff. Coolant level full?. Proper coolant/water mix? How old(many miles) on the rad? Fan clutch working? Try a lower temp thermostat?

[ August 06, 2002, 07:27 AM: Message edited by: -joe ]

[Bob Barry]

If you can compress the top tube, then your system is not pressurizing and your coolant is starting to boil at 212ºF. You can test your radiator-cap with a pressure-tester from a place like Autozone, and if it tests good, then pressure-test the rest of the system. You might have a leak somewhere (or a blown headgasket) that is not allowing the system to build up pressure to keep the fluid from boiling.

[Ernzo]

Thanks Joe.

Yep, coolant level good, mixture good. Rad is not good, new thermostst is 180. Clutch a little old. BUt it is not really getting hot, even if I idle in the driveway. THat's whats weird. IT only happens when I shut it off. Then it sits for a minute, starts to churn and barfs. I though that maybe the temp guage was off, it was really hot (very). However, it does not really seem like that. Plus the upper hose is too soft. I *think* that the water pump is really failed, even though the weep hole is not showing any signs etc. Maybe the impellers just rusted off??? I gues I could take off the upper hose and see if anything is pumping out....

[Don S]

Ernzo.. Sure sorry to hear about louise having a heating problem. I fought the problem with Elvira the first 12 years of the 18 years of our association. Not wanting to blow high dollar bucks I finely had the radiator serviced and that helped a little. What I learned in those years about overheating and vapor-lock I put in the link below. Except for anti-freeze I have not touched my cooling system the last 5 or 6 years so please don’t laff if I overheat going to Ouray.. Good luck.. ;) .. ds..

OVERHEATING & AIR FLOW
http://groups.msn.com/ATexasOklahomaJeepClub/ouraycotopic.msnw

[chrism]

I had a similar problem that started out this way and eventually developed into a full fledged overheating problem.
A new radiator was the solution. Although I replaced just about everything in the cooling system before I got to the rad.

[jode]

Sh'es barfing cuz it is almost at boilover when you turn it off. THen when it is off, the pumps stop working and the temp goes up for a bit....that's when she barfs...in other words, halfway up your gauge is apparently too far. Take out your rad (after the above mentioned pressure testing and other solutions) and take it in to a shop, htey can tank, it pressure test it and restore it to like new for around $40. That's lots cheaper than a new one! tongue.gif

[Tourettes]

take the cap off the rad, start the motor and look inside. does the water flow?? no = bad pump

[Ernzo]

Thanks, I know my radiator is not good. After reading here and looking into it, I believe that my *new* radiator cap is toast!! Anyway, I hope that is the case, not a head gasket, thanks Bob. I Believe that the specs are 15-16 lbs? Anyway, I am going to get a new one on this AM and look into a radiator r&r later this week. Had a used one lined up but it went away, too bad!!

Don, your Ouray tips are terrific! Anybody who has not looked at your message board and read the lionks on overheating, driving tips, safety etc. ought to. Great stuff, thaanks! I am going to adjust my ebrake before I get to Ouray on your suggestion!

E

[ August 07, 2002, 08:22 AM: Message edited by: Ernzo ]

[jeepjake]

Originally posted by Ernzo:
Thanks, I know my radiator is not good. After reading here and looking into it, I believe that my *new* radiator cap is toast!! Anyway, I hope that is the case, not a head gasket, thanks Bob. I Believe that the specs are 15-16 lbs?......... The specs may be 15-16lbs, but I wouldn't go over 13 and DEFINITELY get a Lever-Vent cap.

Originally posted by Ernzo:
..........
Anyway, I am going to get a new one on this AM and look into a radiator r&r later this week. Had a used one lined up but it went away, too bad!!.......If you're referring to the one I offered, it's still here sitting in a box, sorry. Have been teaching classes last few days and am building 3 computers today, but will be heading to Denver tomorrow eve for a board meeting so I could maybe meet you with it? LMK.

Originally posted by Ernzo:
..........
Don, your Ouray tips are terrific! Anybody who has not looked at your message board and read the lionks on overheating, driving tips, safety etc. ought to. Great stuff, thaanks! I am going to adjust my ebrake before I get to Ouray on your suggestion!

EEmail me about the rad.

[Ernzo]

Great, Jake!! Sent you an email!! Thanks!

[Coley]

Ernzo,
My '84 was running hot- new 3-core rad, 16 lb cap, HD fan clutch. Would climb up to about 230 (mid gauge)Couldn't figure it out. Checked the vac lines, and the line that hooks to the back of the air cleaner housing, and subsequently to the EGR was off. Plugged it back up and she's been running fine here in 110 degree Louisiana.

[RdHawg]

IMHO - SCRAP THE FAN CLUTCH! :D
Next to buyin' the AL rad. was the best heat defeat ever.

[Ernzo]

Well, turns out that the ding dang, 2 month old, CAP was out. I could'nt figure it out until Bob (thanks) mentioned it. I realized that YES, no pressure, low boiling point, big bam boom. Lights went on.

New Cap, no boil over. However, I am getting the new (used) radiator and I will replace the clutch with a heavy duty, 2 way, AutoZone unit while the Radiator is out. plus, I may paint the Fan so that Louise has at least something the show off to all the Big Jeeps.

I am checking the vacume hoses this weekend as well, and will pay close attention that the one mentioned as well as a new PCV Valve.

It's interesting. We had BIG fires here in COlorado this summer, and Denver was real, real smokey for days. I mean there was drifting smoke in the street. Looked like Armagedon. Anyway, For kicks I checked my Air Cleaner (about 4-5 months old) and she was real bad. I mean REAL BAD! I assume the smoke!! Anyway, new cleaner for the Ouray trip is $ well spent as the air up there is a rare as a 16 MPG GW.