Hello everyone,

Here's the issue. I was driving back from the store today and all of a sudden the temp spiked all the way to H. I pulled off the road, there was radiator fluid all around the top of the radiator and splattered around the cap. There was fluid in the reservoir (half full). I popped the hood, let the car cool for 45 minutes and attempted to drive the car again.

Every time i turned left or right the temp spiked immediately to H. If I drive straight it takes longer for it to get to the H. Longer = a few minutes very slowly.

When I stopped and shut off the engine, the temp immediately dropped fast. So it would skyrocket to H very fast and cool down very fast when i shut down the car. The engine would also make a clicking sound, as soon as the temp would get towards the H. It would also start sputtering and shutting off, if i didn't pull over. I figured the problem is either the radiator,water pump or temp sensor.

Any ideas to what the heck could be? Thanks much

 

This is strange, there shouldn't be fluid around the cap. Is the hose to your recovery tank connected? Check your hoses and replace your radiator cap. Don't believe it's an issue with your fan/fans other wise it wouldn't have cooled down that soon. Over heating problems can come from so many areas, water pump/hoses/clogged radiator/caps/fans and my favorite thermostats. They don't open and you overheat, they open half way and you're good around town and the minute you go fast your ride overheats....they stay open and your ride takes forever to warm up. Thermostats can be a PIA but don't believe that's your problem. Sorry bout the history lesson....
Gary

 

Have you changed the coolant recently? New radiator, or any other engine coolant component? If so, have you bled the air out of your system? This is a pressurized system and if there is air in it, can lead to bubbles accumulating in the head unable to escape under normal driving causing over heating, until you crack the bleeder screw open.

 

If you want to know how to bleed the system properly let me know if you dont know already

 

How do you do it?
I got a airbubble(I think)because my heat is out at idle and it occasionally overheats.
Btw I'm getting one of those Lesle bleeder funnels.

 

I have not replaced the radiator and already bought a KOYO 36MM radiator to put in next week. I have tried two different radiator caps and it still leaking, so i assume its the radiator.
Although, xXHotel i would like to know. thx!

I attached some pics of the area

 

Start the engine. There is a black plastic bleeder screw between the back of the engine and the firewall on the passenger side that uses a phillips head screwdriver. After the engine has reached operating temperature have someone rev the engine to 3k RPM and hold it there while you crack the bleeder screw open slowly to purge the air out of the system. There will be some coolant that will come out also, be careful so you dont scold yourself. Close it off and dont over torque it. Do this several times while holding the engine at 3k RPMS

 

You are not suppose to do that while the engine is running or while the coolant is hot. You are just asking for trouble. You are suppose to do it while everything is cold you open the bleeder screw and then fill the radiator until it overflows out of the bleeder.

I bet you have a crack in your radiator. I just helped a friend change his and that is exactly where his was cracked and leaking fluid. We could not figure it out until we got the radiator out and pressurized it with a hose and noticed a really thin crack up near the filler cap that you could barely see.

 

^Not sure if serious....It's a pressureized system. Like your brake system or a hydraulic system, you must bleed it when it is pressurized....

 

No im serious. Go read the factory service manual. I have done it many times now.

 

 

Same thing happened to me, it was the FANS! There is a TSB on this. They replaced them under warrenty and all is good now.

 

There is nothing wrong with the method I listed. Its the common way to bleed a coolant system. Nothing wrong with it. I find it to be the best method once the system is hot and pressurized to make sure you get every last bubble out. There are many ways to skin a cat...

 

The fans are working perfect. I tested with A/C and all. They function fine.

 

How does it no blow water out like if you opened the radiator cap when the engine is hot and getting burning water everywhere.