overheating

[crazydonna5]

the car is getting very hot, put heater on and it comes out cold, then hot then cold etc. the temp goes up and down, steam is coming out from under bonnet help please!

[slim]

hi donna and welcome,

firstly what vehicle/model do you have?
second where is the steam coming from under the bonnet can you locate it?

from your basic question i would say you have an air lock, and also your rad cap may be gone..

i would say get a new rad cap first! then you need to get all the air out of the system!!

[BUSHWHACKER]

You've probably got a leak in the cooling system somewhere, either the hoses or the top of the radiator. When the engine cools down, air is drawn into the cooling system creating air locks. That would explain the hot and cold fluctuations.


Which modle Surf do you have, engine size etc...

[TonyN]

Sounds like it low on coolant, or the bottem pulley is slipping and its not driving the water pump properly, or the viscous fan isn't working properly, or the water pump is foobarred, or the belts are loose, or the head is cracked, etc, etc.



Start with the cheaper/easier fixes and work you way up.

A few more details would make life easier, what truck, when it does it, etc.......

[crazydonna5]

i have a 1992 2.4 ssrx or something or other, not mine is partners
he said the steam is coming from rad, he took cap off and i could see the steam coming from bonnet from indoors,there doesnt appear to be a leak, no water on ground or around areas in engine so am at a loss. hope this helps

[slim]

tony might be right it might be low on coolant!! wait till it cools down the fill it up to the top with coolant then start the engine with cap off and front and rear heaters on full hot and let it run to temp keep topping up as you go then see how it goes!!

[crazydonna5]

hiya, thanks will give it a try, will keep ya informed

[crazydonna5]

ok now it is still overheating but not showing on the gauge, it is also filling the exspansion tank up.tried the airlock thing and this was the result. hope you can help

[slim]

ok!! i would go for cheapest option first!!
try a new rad cap! and also check the pipe that goes from the thermostat housing to the expansion bottle for rips/tares and that it is connected to both sides correctly!!

if this fails to cure it i would suggest taking it to a garage to get the head/head gasket pressure tested!!

dont want to scare you into thinking that it could be a cracked cylinder head but just be prepared!!!!!

[marky]

ok now it is still overheating but not showing on the gauge, it is also filling the exspansion tank up.tried the airlock thing and this was the result. hope you can help

Also fill it up through the rad cap & not the expansion bottle, The expansion bottle should be about an inch deep upto the mark on the side.
Theres more help on here than on PRELOVED site.

[BUSHWHACKER]

A new rad cap is needed I reckon. The pressure is not being contained in the cooling system and is pushing past the rad cap and into the expansion tank.

[crazydonna5]

would it help keep the engine temp down if i get an air scoop fitted in the bonnet?

[BUSHWHACKER]

Hell yeah! best mod I done to my truck.
Fit the scoop facing backwards though (opening facing the windscreen) so air that rushes in through the front grille can push the hot air from the engine bay out through the vent.
Loads of bonnet vents on Ebay at the moment.

[Sancho]

would it help keep the engine temp down if i get an air scoop fitted in the bonnet?

Old '3 scoops' here being a bit of a hypocrite, but scoops are no substitute for a properly working cooling system. Unless you're going 'very fast' (80+ in a 2.4), towing, sitting in huge traffic jam or driving up a mountain your temperature gauge shouldn't be moving and there shouldn't be any steam anywhere.

[crazydonna5]

ok next question. will any fit my car or are they car specific?