Help! Overheating!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 782
Likes: 0
From: Elizabeth New Jersey
Help! Overheating!
Ok this is strange! When I bought the car from the previous owner I NEVER had a problem overheating, but when I did the tune up I did.
I was with my mechanic threw everystep of the tune up.
Here's what we did :
Change distrebutor
Change cables
Change spark plugs
Change oil/oil filter
Change air filter
Change tranny fluid
Besides that we didn't change anything else, now I verheat even if I drive it for just 10 minutes, while before tune up I could drive it for like 1 hour with temp staying at 200-220.
I was with my mechanic threw everystep of the tune up.
Here's what we did :
Change distrebutor
Change cables
Change spark plugs
Change oil/oil filter
Change air filter
Change tranny fluid
Besides that we didn't change anything else, now I verheat even if I drive it for just 10 minutes, while before tune up I could drive it for like 1 hour with temp staying at 200-220.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 400
Likes: 1
From: California
check your timing? too much i think can cause it to overheat in some cases, so ive heard. have u checked ur radiator? if u see even the slightest junk at the top of it, multiply that by 3 and thats what is at the bottom 
i hope that helps...my vette overheated after i put a new EGR on and now i think i scoured the valve stems cause it runs like total ****! rumbles all over the place like a friggin dragster motor...i only got 195hp too! LOL feels cool but i know its pretty messed up. Lesson Here: dont let your car hit 270 3 or more times, it WILL f*** your heads up...royally...i wouldnt know anything about that though. 
i hope that helps...my vette overheated after i put a new EGR on and now i think i scoured the valve stems cause it runs like total ****! rumbles all over the place like a friggin dragster motor...i only got 195hp too! LOL feels cool but i know its pretty messed up. Lesson Here: dont let your car hit 270 3 or more times, it WILL f*** your heads up...royally...i wouldnt know anything about that though.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: Tecumseh, OK USA
I know this sounds stupid.....but
I know this sounds stupid...... but have you checked the fluid level in the radiator?? I only ask because I was having problems with heating up, not overheating, and when I finally got around to inspecting the dang thing it was about 1/2 gallon or more low!? Have NO CLUE where it went or when, but after filling it back to the top it has yet to get passed 180 degrees! Now grated I am running water + wetter water additive, no thermostat and a flexfan. I also have a shut-off valve in the heater core line. Seems to work for me! 
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 301
Likes: 2
From: Boca Raton Fl
My thermostat was stuck closed
Since I live in Florida I went with the restrictor plate instead of a thermostat.
I used the medium and it runs at 180 on good days and 200 on traffic jams. and that is a BB with stock radiator
Since I live in Florida I went with the restrictor plate instead of a thermostat.
I used the medium and it runs at 180 on good days and 200 on traffic jams. and that is a BB with stock radiator
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,896
Likes: 2
From: CO
I would start by checking fluid. Then check the hose pressure and ensure the water pump is doing its thing.
Replace thermostat (cheap and easy).
If all else fails do what I did. Take everything out. Get the radiator cleaned/repaired (70 bucks). All new hoses, new water pump and new thermostat. Stays under 200 even on a hot summers day and should stay that way for years to come. I am a rookie at this stuff but I did the whole project with no problems. Just pipes and fluid.
I think the work that was done to the car didn't have anything to do with it, but like I said im a rookie and there may be something there that I don't "see".
Replace thermostat (cheap and easy).
If all else fails do what I did. Take everything out. Get the radiator cleaned/repaired (70 bucks). All new hoses, new water pump and new thermostat. Stays under 200 even on a hot summers day and should stay that way for years to come. I am a rookie at this stuff but I did the whole project with no problems. Just pipes and fluid.
I think the work that was done to the car didn't have anything to do with it, but like I said im a rookie and there may be something there that I don't "see".
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,665
Likes: 1
From: Ontario
As others have said check coolant system for sure. Also look for anything else out of the ordinary like loose belts, worn fan clutch.
You never mentioned anything about how the eninge runs now but if it is running wierd I would suspect a non firing plug (could be a bad plug, bad wire, wire not plugged in all the way, etc...). Since you changed your distributor I assume you would have checked your timing already but if not you definitely should!
Good Luck and let us know what you eventually find!
You never mentioned anything about how the eninge runs now but if it is running wierd I would suspect a non firing plug (could be a bad plug, bad wire, wire not plugged in all the way, etc...). Since you changed your distributor I assume you would have checked your timing already but if not you definitely should!
Good Luck and let us know what you eventually find!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 769
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
If you put in a new thermostat. Do this take a 1/8" drill bit and drill 4 holes in the thermostat just inside the gasket sealing area. This well allow water to pass through even if the thermostat stick in the close position. You won't lose the heads. Besides this is a GM teck tip! 
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,165
Likes: 950
From: Keizer Oregon
I know this may seem repetitive.....but if an air pocket gets trapped in the system, sometimes it take a few heating cooling cycles (and topping it off in between) to get rid of it ( and the overheating problem).....also, I have had a timing change cause my car to overheat before........but that is probably a bad sign about the overall condition of the cooling system.................good luck.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
Any car with the timing set "too retarded" will run hot. I'd check the timing first, since you changed the distributor. Also, cars with the timing too retarded will have a louder deep exhaust "note". Chuck
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 782
Likes: 0
From: Elizabeth New Jersey
Originally Posted by Chuck Gongloff
Any car with the timing set "too retarded" will run hot. I'd check the timing first, since you changed the distributor. Also, cars with the timing too retarded will have a louder deep exhaust "note". Chuck
Yup, I'm pretty sure that's the problem
