I did a search and found most people recommend replacing the thermostat, which I just did. I also read that while replacing the thermostat you might leak a "little" coolant, well when I pulled my thermostat off I emptied the **** resivoir! Is that normal?

Anyway, I put the new thermostat on, filled the resivoir back to the "cold fill" level, left the cap off and started the car with the heat/defrost on full blast. No problems yet..except for the low fuel light. I let the car get up to operating temps (192'F) and while the cars still running put the coolant cap back on.

Now, I'm watching the temps continue to rise! Once it hit 235'F the fans kicked into high speed, overdrive or w/e they do....that kept the car at 235'F for about 2mins, then it continued to rise. I let it get up to 245'F before shutting it off and coming online to post this thread.

Info:
The top radiator hose was COLD and the bottom hose was slightly WARM. The defrost was blowing COOL air out the vents.

I remember seeing somewhere about lifting the front of the car as high as possible and starting it with the cap removed to look for air bubbles in the resivoir...is that fact or fiction?

Lets hear what you tech guru's have to say before I resort to the stealership!

Thanks in advance!
-Nick

 

Sounds like the pump is either not working or your plugged up somewhere.

 

I take it you either do not have a service manual, or did not read the numerous coolant fill procedures floating around in threads.....because you certainly did not follow the correct procedure.....and might still have air entrapped. And no, jacking the car up will not make the air bubbles move out.

To add to the confusion, we have no idea what your original problems was.....so there is not way to determine if this is a continuation ......or you in fact fixed the problem with the t-stat, but still have air entrapped....resulting in the high temps.

 

Lucky. I did what my manual says to do:

1.Park on level surface. Twist cap slowly.
2.Keep turning cap till it comes off.
3.Fill surge tank to full cold mark.
4.With cap off start engine until upper radiator hose is getting hot.
5.Replace cap.

Thats the extent of the manual...

The only thing I did different was, my upper radiator hose never even got warm and I had the defrost on.

The ORIGINAL problem was...you got it...overheating.

The car overheated one night. I got in it the next day and it ran fine. Now everytime I start the car it overheats.

 

Yep, still air in the system. Will make the guage jump quick as no coolant is in there just air, and also why your heat is cold, no water in heater core. I have not done this on my Vette yet so I cannot tell you how to bleed the air, but new cars have a little valve in the cooling hoses or intake that you can crack open ( 5/16 screw) and steam will come out for awhile followed by fluid. Once the fluid hits you are pretty much air free. If the WATER PUMP has no water you will not pump anything but air. Once the vanes in the pump get enough water it will begin the pumping effect.
Here's what I found for ya! Try this!
Fill the cooling system through the surge tank.
Fill the cooling system with a 50/50 mixture of DEX-COOL® coolant and deionized water.
Start the engine.
Allow the engine to idle for 1 minute.
Install surge tank cap.
Cycle the engine RPMs from idle to 3000 in 30 second intervals until the coolant temperature reaches 99°C (210°F).
Shut off the engine.
Remove the surge tank cap.
Start the engine.
Allow the engine to Idle for 1 minute. Fill the surge tank to 12.7 mm (0.5 in) above the COLD FULL mark on the surge tank.
Install the surge tank cap.
Cycle the engine RPMs from idle to 3000 in 30 second intervals until the coolant reaches 99°C (210°F).
Shut off the engine.
Remove the surge tank cap.
Top off the coolant as necessary, 12.7 mm (0.5 in) above FULL COLD mark on the surge tank.
Rinse away any excess coolant from the engine and the engine compartment.
Inspect the concentration of the engine coolant.
Install the surge tank cap.

 

What manual are you using?

 

The owners manual! Page 5-13 I believe.

Thanks Venomous!

I didn't get a "cooler" thermostat. My car has 130000+ miles so I figured maybe there was trash on my thermostat!

 

No wonder... There is a difference between "topping off the reservoir"(using the owners manual), and purging the air from the system...after replacing a t-stat(using the service manual. ).

What Venomous has posted is the correct method for the work you have done.

 

Why do you insist on having a pissing contest? You haven't provided one piece of useful information!

I followed the procedure for "refilling an empty" coolant tank that was in my available manual...

Thanks to the other guys for the help!

 

good luck..

 

what a punk. Lucky knows his **** and just wants to help, but you have to be able to accept the help that YOU asked for