Overheating after timing belt job
 

back in march (12,000 mile ago) I had my TB maintenance done using all GATES parts (WP, Thermo, belts, gaskets, pulleys) about 4 months ago while driving to work (75 degree morning) i notived that my temp gauge was runnign slightly warmer than before. I got the office and it was up several ticks past the pre-TB job level (i call it level but pretty much half way between C and H in the hot) also both fans were on and it was dripping coolant from where the lower Rad hose connects to the WP.

I was going on a business trip so the car sat for 5 days whiel gone. Once i got back i took the cap off and noticed that the coolant was way down and the overflow tanks was empty. I assumed the shop didnt fill it back up all the way and the summer temps caused it to heat. I added 3/4 gal. of purified water (there was no parts store nearby) to the existing coolant and it ran fine until this morning when i noticed it heating to the same temp level. I pulled into the garage at the office and there was coolant dripping out from under my car again.

The lower rad hose is HOT the top rad hose is cooler much cooler than I would think it to be after a 26.5 mile drive. There are no obvious leaks, no odd smelling or colored smoke out the tail pipes indicating a HG leak either. This time the overflow tank is still full (from the previous fill up I filled the radiator to the top and put the rest in the overflow as insurance)

I am going to replace the Thermo first to see if that helps. Where should I burp the system after the install?

Any suggestion are greatly appreciated :)

Update***

Drove home today sat in stop-n-go traffic and temp held fine, no fluctuations and my fans didnt even come on. I am going to pick up a thermostat today to install it tomorrow when I have more daylight.

Installed new thermostat this morning not too difficult a task:

First you take your radiator cap off, then loosen the lower radiator hose clamp, then remove the two 10mm bolts holding the housing on (you dont need to loosen the housing hose clamp in order to get it off)
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Have a pan ready to catch the coolant! Allow it all to drain then replace your defective thermo with the new one.

thanks for the pics... good to hear it is ok now

How safe was that floor jack? :lol:

It looks odd but i used that jack to lift the passenger side up slightly so the coolant drained out faster (outlet on the driver side) My parking lot dips off at the edge so i dont have to lack it up to get under it.

Ok good, want you to be safe than sorry. ;)

Yeah I saw a guy over on rs25.com that was using one for a clutch change and it tipover or something and pushed the blunt end of a set of pliers through his hand :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

After that i only use it for things that dont require going under the car (tire change, brakes, inpecting things). I typically use two 5 ton stands with pins!! and a fluid jack to lift.

Hey did you fix the problem? I'll be doing my TB with all Gates products as well. But if your Gates Thermostat wasn't good I might try to find a different one?

You need to make sure you burp the cooling system and let it run till the fans cycle and make sure there is no more sir in the system.

You may need to burp the system a few times. Carry some coolant with you for the first week use in case you need to top it off.

Yep burped it in the lot for about 20 mins, left with a full system and drove 5 miles, was down by half :lol: I had a gallon of premix in the trunk added it and havent had a problem since. Ive been in stop-n-go and never budged on the temp.

I just chalk it up to that one dud thermo Gates made out of the 1000's that work reliably everyday.