OVERHEATING...HEEEEELP!!!

[drano]

Hi guys,

Ok. About a month ago i overheated, turned the car off refilled the radiator, checked fan fuses and relays, watched both fans run.

Replaced Radiator Cap just to make sure.

Kept doing it, but only every once and a while.

Replaced thermostat today.....got worse, does it everytime i drive now.

It will start to overheat, i hit the gas it goes up, let off it goes down. Hit it hard sometimes, it will come back down and stay down.

Any ideas?

Ive looked through the forums and had found the same issue but no solutions.



oh and im in a 97 BG (i love my outback)

[Plays_with_Toys]

If you get it to normal operating temperature you can turn the car off then unscrew a plastic screw on the passenger side of the radiator (on top). This will vent out any air. Once any fluid comes out, you're good and close it.

Now, this is supposing it is a fluke of overheating. For a 97 I imagine you're over 100K miles, which could mean you've blown your headgaskets (as is common with outbacks and GT's). How many miles are on your car, and have you had your headgaskets changed or had the coolant additive from the dealership added yet?

[drano]

i just rolled over 140000.

i bought the car with 133000. i dont think the HG have been replaced, and im almost positive the dealer hasnt seen this car in a few years.

ive only had it since last september, boo if it is HG

[Wiscon_Mark]

Look for oil in the coolant. My money is on headgaskets.

You bought the EJ25, now you have to pay the price ;)

[drano]

when i replaced the thermostat i had to drain the coolant, it was kinda brown but it didnt appear to be oily.

[LeeLee D]

My coolant sometimes has little bits of what look like headgasket floating in it. Mine arnt completely blown yet, I only overheat if I push the car hard. Im at 131000Km

[dodik]

And also check the inner diameter of the thermostat I noticed that some aftermarket thermostats have smaller opennings than OEM ones, but sounds like HG, you could also try HG repair liguids they sell them in almost every car parts store, it "may" post pone the due date on the HG.

[backpack09]

Ok, Car is still overheating but it took a long while. I drove it for about 5 hard miles before it started to creep up. And I lose heat. So I pull over throw on the AC fans and let er cool off. The needle creeps back down. I start the car, and make my way home. Half a mile later I am just about home and the needle levels back out and stabilizes.

I pull into the garage and pop the hood. The hoses are fully inflated, the top hose is hot. The bottom is cold. I pop the bleed screw but never get fluid, just hissing air.

I also have a RPM squealing from the pulley area that does not seem to be a belt (I cannot locate it and changing belt tension has no effect.

I am assuming that my waterpump has shit the bed, or the new thermostat the dipshit PO put in is FUBARerd.

I am going to swap both and the timing belt and hopefully that solves the problem.


Does anyone run an autozone type remanufactured Waterpump, or stay with Scooby? Same price, but I could get started with the waterpump while I wait for the Timing belt parts to come in.

Thanks,
Dan

[LeeLee D]

CHeck your Overflow Reservoir before and after you drive. Mine is super low when I start and near the top when I get to work. Then if I sit and watch the overflow, crap loads of bubbles will start coming up after a couple mins

[d1giPhux]

Maybe your radiator is plugged or something? Hmm, sounds very weird. Try running the hot air when you drive around.. i always run mine on full blast, just because.. i think its safe. Might help out a bit temporarily.

[backpack09]

CHeck your Overflow Reservoir before and after you drive. Mine is super low when I start and near the top when I get to work. Then if I sit and watch the overflow, crap loads of bubbles will start coming up after a couple mins

I did notice that it had alot of coolant in the reservoir after I got home, but figured that was where it had been pushed when it ran hot.


Maybe your radiator is plugged or something?

The radiator is brand new. Literally 15 miles on it :)


Try running the hot air when you drive around.. i always run mine on full blast,


. And I lose heat. I was running my heat. Which leads me to believe that it is either an air bubble waterpump or Tstat.

But since the car has 125k on it. I will be doing the Tbelt and might as well do the rest while I'm in there. Worse comes to worse I will pull the motor and do the HG's but I will start with the easy stuff. :)

Thanks

[blackgtbeauty]

My coolant sometimes has little bits of what look like headgasket floating in it.

I believe that is that paper coating on the gaskets coming off. So you're right, I think they're going.


You bought the EJ25, now you have to pay the price ;)

Shun the non-believer! Shuuuuunnnnnnnn....

[theboyo19]

i would lean towards the hgs.. also my car just shat on my this week.. driving home about a mile and a half from my house it started smoking an the heat went from normal temp to redline in less than a min.. got it home (towed) and took the thermastat (sp?) out and found aluminum shavings on it.. so i took out the waterpump and the bearings were shot and in pieces..

[backpack09]

Ok, I have been reading the FSM on replacing the waterpump. It says to remove the cam gears on the drivers side. Don't I have to worry about the valves slamming opening up into the piston tops without the cam gears locked together with a clamp?

Thanks,
Dan

[SLi_Toxic]

i can tell you from experiance that i had the same exact problem same syptoms and everything it is the water pump i changed it out and ran very cool

[drano]

ok, so i know i need to change the timing belt, it hasnt been done AFAIK, and i know you should change the water pump at the same time. I have read about the HG problem with my year so im gonna get all that replaced.

So besides the HGs, timing belt, water pump, another thermostat all replaced, and an oil change. Anything else i should replace at this time?

i just had the trans flushed, new plugs and wires.

[Svenerachi]

fuckit, just get a wrx engine swapped in and start anew

[Wiscon_Mark]

fuckit, just get a wrx engine swapped in and start anew

If it were that easy, we'd all have WRX engines.

[blackgtbeauty]

fuckit, just get a wrx engine swapped in and start anew

Call up Japan and order half a dozen will ya while your at it?

[backpack09]

Ill take 2 thank you.

[SICK-92-AWD]

hey mate, just read about your problem.. i had exactly the same issue.. And i managed to get rid of it.. may not be the most orthadox method of solving this problem but just piss off the thermostat completely.. as soon as i did this the car stopped overheating.. and still hasnt 6 months later and i push it hard all the time.. give it a go! - Phill

[backpack09]

Why would I piss on the Tstat?

[Wiscon_Mark]

hey mate, just read about your problem.. i had exactly the same issue.. And i managed to get rid of it.. may not be the most orthadox method of solving this problem but just piss off the thermostat completely.. as soon as i did this the car stopped overheating.. and still hasnt 6 months later and i push it hard all the time.. give it a go! - Phill

Are you sure it's not overheating? I mean, without a thermostat, your guage shouldn't read anything.

[SICK-92-AWD]

i dno what others thermos are like but mine was just aa metal thingo with a spring.. didnt have any sensors or anything.. it's not otherheating cause when it overheated the coolant would always start comin out.. it worked well for me but i dno, i might just be lucky.. cause before removing the thermo i got the whole system flushed twice and all the components checked and nothing was out of order so i dno why but the thermo being taken out did the trick,,

[backpack09]

Well, Waterpump and Tstat did not solve my problem.

Must be HG's

[ooberdoob]

Are you sure it's not overheating? I mean, without a thermostat, your guage shouldn't read anything.

Are you retarded?? PUT DOWN THE WRENCH>>PICK UP YOUR APRON. A thermostat opens and closes to regulate the temperature of the engine but it mainly aids in getting the engine up to operating temperature. With the thermostat removed, the engine will take a very long time to reach operating temperature if at all. The gauge, which gets a reading from a sensor installed in the coolant pipe under the intake manifold would still register some change in temperature. I'm sorry your Chilton's manual did not explain this to you in great detail but some things are just assumed as basic knowledge. I really hope you consider your technical knowledge before you give others advice which could potentially cost them great amounts of money in the future. But hey, if you know any people in my area, feel free to give them all your crappy advice, I'll always have work.

[blackgtbeauty]

Are you sure it's not overheating? I mean, without a thermostat, your guage shouldn't read anything.

Are you retarded?? PUT DOWN THE WRENCH>>PICK UP YOUR APRON. A thermostat opens and closes to regulate the temperature of the engine but it mainly aids in getting the engine up to operating temperature. With the thermostat removed, the engine will take a very long time to reach operating temperature if at all. The gauge, which gets a reading from a sensor installed in the coolant pipe under the intake manifold would still register some change in temperature. I'm sorry your Chilton's manual did not explain this to you in great detail but some things are just assumed as basic knowledge. I really hope you consider your technical knowledge before you give others advice which could potentially cost them great amounts of money in the future. But hey, if you know any people in my area, feel free to give them all your crappy advice, I'll always have work.

Oobie has laid down the LAW :grin:

[Legacygt_97]

::crickets chirping::

all quiet on the West Coast! :grin:

[Wiscon_Mark]

Are you retarded?? PUT DOWN THE WRENCH>>PICK UP YOUR APRON. A thermostat opens and closes to regulate the temperature of the engine but it mainly aids in getting the engine up to operating temperature. With the thermostat removed, the engine will take a very long time to reach operating temperature if at all. The gauge, which gets a reading from a sensor installed in the coolant pipe under the intake manifold would still register some change in temperature. I'm sorry your Chilton's manual did not explain this to you in great detail but some things are just assumed as basic knowledge. I really hope you consider your technical knowledge before you give others advice which could potentially cost them great amounts of money in the future. But hey, if you know any people in my area, feel free to give them all your crappy advice, I'll always have work.

wow...way to be a douche.
Having the engine taking a long time to get up to operating temp (if at all) is a bad idea. Hence why I was questioning the sanity of removing key components in the engine like that.
I didn't realize that the thermostat and the temp sensor were in a different location, big fucking deal. Yikes.

[Legacygt_97]

Have you checked your muffler bearing lately. I'm new here and have read some of your posts. You claim to know alot about Scoobies? The thermostat is a mechanical part in the lower radiator hose where it meets the water pump. The coolant temp sensor is on the right rear of the engine just under the PCV valve. So, how much do you actually know?

[Wiscon_Mark]

Have you checked your muffler bearing lately. I'm new here and have read some of your posts. You claim to know alot about Scoobies? The thermostat is a mechanical part in the lower radiator hose where it meets the water pump. The coolant temp sensor is on the right rear of the engine just under the PCV valve. So, how much do you actually know?

Please don't start with me.

I obviously don't know much about the cooling system, but I'm not a retard. Don't treat me as such.

btw- if you want muffler bearings: www.kalecoauto.com (http://www.kalecoauto.com) ;)

[Legacygt_97]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Auto-Repair-for-Dum ... dZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.com/Auto-Repair-for-Dummies-by-Deanna-Sclar_W0QQitemZ250085200032QQihZ015QQcategoryZ378QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

You should start here.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Fine.

Fuck it.

I quit.

I won't touch the tech section, whether I know the answer or not.

You guys can all suck it.

[Legacygt_97]

Can We?

Oh Wait,

Nevermind,

We already have that it writing.

Thanks.

[Huffer]

Can We?

Oh Wait,

Nevermind,

We already have that it writing.

Thanks.

No need to be an asshole. Mark's helped out quite a bit around here.
He's going to make mistakes, just like you will.

At least he's big enough to man up.