Over heating !! Need help

[01 gt]

I just did a tune up less than 200 miles ago and my car has 94,xxx miles . I also changed the water pump timing belt and thermostat at the same time. My car started to overheat last night . On freeways it good but once i stop to idle for a light it slowly creeps up. My 1st thought maybe it could be the radiator . I changed it and still overheat. Any ideas of what may cause it to over heat? I really dont want to change the headgasket. Also i notice that my lower radiator hose is pretty cool and not hot . Is that normal?

[decke48]

fans come on? what brand thermostat did you use?

[01 gt]

fans come on? what brand thermostat did you use?
Fan comes on and thermostat i used a aftermarket oem standard one

[01 gt]

how do i know if my thermostat is closed or open? Also my fan stay on constant . I know that not normal

[decke48]

aftermarket thermostat have a high failure rate on subarus for some reason, try a oem subaru one. also the fans might say on all the time if you have the a/c / defroster on

[01 gt]

aftermarket thermostat have a high failure rate on subarus for some reason, try a oem subaru one. also the fans might say on all the time if you have the a/c / defroster on
ac or heat was not on . not even the defroster

[subie/legacy]

there may still be air in the cooling system.
the lower rad hose will naturally be a little cooler then the upper hose but it should still be warm. if it seems cold when the car is at desired operating temp then it sounds like the thermostat isn't opening or there could be a clog in the system somewhere.
use an OEM Subaru thermostat as suggested before.

[httrdd]

You burped it well while the engine was warm right? Also you made sure the tstat went in the same way it came out?

[01 gt]

there may still be air in the cooling system.
the lower rad hose will naturally be a little cooler then the upper hose but it should still be warm. if it seems cold when the car is at desired operating temp then it sounds like the thermostat isn't opening or there could be a clog in the system somewhere.
use an OEM Subaru thermostat as suggested before.
Im going to do that 2morrow and install a oem one.

[01 gt]

You burped it well while the engine was warm right? Also you made sure the tstat went in the same way it came out?
yes i burpt it and it went in the same way it cam out

[lord flashheart]

did u put coolant in it?
sometimes if u dont put coolant in the car it will over heat.

[httrdd]

Are you getting heat through the vents? You are getting supply through the top hose, but no return on the bottom. Heater core?

[01 gt]

did u put coolant in it?
sometimes if u dont put coolant in the car it will over heat.
i did of course !!!!

[01 gt]

Are you getting heat through the vents? You are getting supply through the top hose, but no return on the bottom. Heater core?
Im getting good heat from the vent when it turned on.

[lord flashheart]

[quote="lord flashheart":crysfisq]did u put coolant in it?
sometimes if u dont put coolant in the car it will over heat.
i did of course !!!![/quote:crysfisq]
its ok if u did. i forget to put fluids in all the time. like oil, transfluid, coolant etc. then i get down the road and im like "OH YEAH!"

[01 gt]

problem solved ..... faulty thermostat . Bought an oem thermostat and car back to normal .