Starlet randomly started over-heating?

[Skidz]

Hi.

Driving back from the gym this evening, at a very average/slow pace, I noticed steam coming from the engine bay and temperature guage was wayyyyyy up high, so I immediately turned the car off. I lifted the bonnet, topped the radiator up with water and continued to drive once the temperature came down.

It was then getting to the red every 30seconds or so, so I'd keep pulling over and topping up the radiator.

The water was not pissing out anywhere, so don't think it's that a pipe has come off. But I'd guess the water just keeps evaporating?

Fans not coming on either.

I know its a pretty classic break down scenario,but it's never happened to me before so I'd be really grateful if people could share some advice on how to approach this one.

First time I've had a problem with the car

 

[durmz]

if youve got steam theres ure water mate, sounds like theres either a leak from somewhere or maybe the headgasket? im no pro on this stuff though...like at all lol

 

[Zen]

if youve got steam theres ure water mate, sounds like theres either a leak from somewhere or maybe the headgasket? im no pro on this stuff though...like at all lol

defo sounds like your headgasket

 

[Skidz]

Not liking the head gasket idea :S :S

I don't really know what I'm talking about, but could it be a thermostat has gone? & that the car is not recognising that it's getting hot so it's not cooling??

 

[Zen]

Not liking the head gasket idea :S :S

I don't really know what I'm talking about, but could it be a thermostat has gone? & that the car is not recognising that it's getting hot so it's not cooling??

double check the thermostat if in doubt flush out old coolant put new coolant in and check

 

[Dan3SGTE]

overheating due to fan would only be linked if it happens on standstill or very very low speed and sitting in traffic for a duration of time.

It could be your water pump or even air in the cooling system. Bleed the system as that quick and easy, then take it from there.

 

[Jay]

Headgasket failure is the result of a fault in the cooling system.

If it's overheating then continuing to drive the car will effectively roast the engine and damage your headgasket. All too often people just get the gasket replaced without pinpointing the cause of it's failure.

You mention the fan was not coming on despite the engine temp being high. This would make me think that's your real issue - the fan keeps the engine temps down in slow moving traffic conditions so if it's not working the engine will overheat.

 

[stuarty1]

is the power dyin down wen you drivin sounds like a head gasket so it does

 

[Skidz]

When it's light tomorrow I'll go out and check for anything obvious, maybe a hose is kinked. Then I'll try flushing it, but its drained the radiators lots now.

Is there a way of testing the water pump and thermostat?

Cars only done 71500km, is that not a bit premature for a head gasket?

 

[Dan3SGTE]

The water pump bearing should be spinning freely and the thermostat just chuck it in some hot water and see if it opens. They are cheap enough so might be worth replacing anyway while your at it.

Head gasket failure could occur any time, depending on how its treated etc. Regular overboosting/knocking could cause it too.

 

[Jay]

If the cooling system isn't working a headgasket can go at any stage mate. Driving it on may have damaged the gasket but you need to know what part of the cooling system has failed.

Here's a few questions and ways to find the answers:


-Is there coolant in the system - top up all lost coolant.

-Is the cooling system watertight - check under the car for any leaks.

-Is the thermostat working - drop the stat into a bucket of boiling water, if it opens it is working.

-Is the fan coming on - remove the fan temp switch plug and it should come on. If it doesn't check the fuse and check there is power getting to the fan.

-Is the cooling system blocked somewhere - flush the system to remove any blockages.

-Is the waterpump working - make sure the belt is turning the waterpump pulley.

-Is the headgasket fried - Compression test required or sniffer test is best. Check for signs of oil in the coolant and coolant in the oil.

Just work through them one by one and see what you find.

Jay

 

[Skidz]

Kool. I don't think I can say anymore until I've tried these factors. Thanks for everyones help :beer:

Not nice at anytime, but I spent nearly 5 hours clay bar'ing and waxing it yesterday, gettin' her lookin goooood for the summer . Hope it's nothing too major.

Thanks again though peeps.

 

[corofin12345]

a hair line crack in the head gasket and it would drink water.. take out plugs and shine a light down on top of the pistons 2 see if they are wet and follow jays steps above also...

 

[The Last Streetfighter]

If your temp needle is over half way and your fan is not coming on, there is your problem right there. (Having said that, with no fan, and in 35dec C heat, my car won't overheat if I am doing over 60km/h)

My problem was that the plug for the thermofan had cracked and occasionally the wires in there would lose connection. Random overheat but only in traffic.

Once you get your fan coming on at the right time, if it still overheats, then you look at waterpump, fluid levels, thermostat working, hoses, heater core etc...

 

[Skidz]

Had a play earlier today, started by testing the thermostat, and sure enough is did'nt open when I put it in boiling water! I went for a little run without the thermostat in there, did'nt pick up hardly any temperature when moving (as you'd expect), and then when I sat still it got to operating temperature then the fan kicked in :rockon:

Out of curiosity, is the thermostat linked to the fan? Because the fan only did'nt come on when the thermostat was'nt working.

Got a new thermostat coming from camskill, so glad it was nothing too serious

Cheers guys :drive:

 

[corofin12345]

Had a play earlier today, started by testing the thermostat, and sure enough is did'nt open when I put it in boiling water! I went for a little run without the thermostat in there, did'nt pick up hardly any temperature when moving (as you'd expect), and then when I sat still it got to operating temperature then the fan kicked in :rockon:

Out of curiosity, is the thermostat linked to the fan? Because the fan only did'nt come on when the thermostat was'nt working.

Got a new thermostat coming from camskill, so glad it was nothing too serious

Cheers guys :drive:

with the thermostat not opening the temp sensor for the fan wouldnt work properly.. same thing happened me when i got the car first.. when it got hot the fan was cutting in and out like mad.. turned out the thermostat was opening a bit but closing again.. replaced and no problem since... glad 2 hear its ok mate:beer:

 

[dac69er]

were you just using water in the cooling system by any chance?

 

[Skidz]

were you just using water in the cooling system by any chance?

Hellz no! Proper coolant. Had to use just water when it happened though because I was nowhere near a shop that would sell it. No danger of temperature going near freezing tonight though so it will be fine for now, CBA to drive up to garage!

Cheers corofin, thats clears it all up :beer:

 

[dac69er]

just wondered. they often seize up when just water is used. alot of the time they fail open (like my 4wd starlet), but now and again fail closed

 

[Skidz]

just wondered. they often seize up when just water is used. alot of the time they fail open (like my 4wd starlet), but now and again fail closed

Bloody hell mate your not having much luck with that car! I suppose it's not really a big deal if they fail open, would just have to drive sensibly because obviously the temperature would'nt build up. Was really tricky getting the thermostat housing off, I think my car has been owned by an idiot at some point in it's life, because everytime I come to do a job, the nuts are rounded off! I always end up replacing the nuts with everything I do just to save the hassle next time.

Under the side skirt is bent up on 1 side aswell, where someones tried to jack it up on the wrong point :homer: