Car overheating, need advice

[Dipstick]

Hi bro, I just went down to check but the radiator cap seems stuck, I couldn't pull it off. The coolant reservoir is reading a little above the full mark when the engine is cold, but i noticed something strange, of the 2 tubes leading from the radiator to the reservoir, only 1 is connected. I've looked but there doesnt seem to be anywhere on the radiator to connect the other one. Should it even be connected?

 

Therein might lie the problem. Before you go to the mechanic again, replace the radiator cap with one suitable for your car.... might solve your prob for a few dollars. Take extra care not to get yourself scalded....open the cap only when radiator is cool//cold. Hope this helps you.

[Mivec9]

yes for the two tubes connected to excess reservoir..only 1 is connected..try this simple experiment...on the car...let it run for a while/...when the temp hit around 3/4 mark on the gauge..the radiator fan shd turn on..and if on..the fan shd be strong..

 

at same time dun close the cap..notice whether the coolant is "running" in the radiator from the cap opening

[Decibel]

I will do that, anyone can confirm that a 0.9bar rad cap will be more suitable for my car? What I thought was that higher pressure cap would allow the water to boil at a higher temp, but maybe it doesn't really matter in my car?

[Decibel]

Yep as previously mentioned the fan did turn on and spin at high speed when I parked my car after noticing temperature spiking. Will try the coolant experiment if I can manage to pry the damn radiator cap off

[Mivec9]

cos the thing is if the fan work and spin...the temp shd go down..if not...probably need to check ur radiator/cap liao

[Decibel]

Is yours 0.9 or 1.1bar?

Edited June 18, 2006 by Decibel

[Jusnel]

i thought jap cars, rad cap is 1:1?

 

my is honda civic 1992, and the stock rad cap is 1:1.. i just bought it from the honda stockist. $13 bucks.

[Mivec9]

i used the one from shell...around 5 bucks...not sure is 0.9 or 1.1....I found it is better than some of those from autobacs

 

maybe i checked tmorw and post again

[Mivec9]

if i'm not wrong it is 1:1....need to reconfirm again

[Turbonetics]

Hey guys, my 92' Swift has started to overheat recently. Thus far the needle hasn't hit the H mark yet, but as my usual temp is about 1/3 of the way past the Cold mark, this worries me. Yesterday evening in bad start-stop traffic in town, I saw the needle spike up several times to almost the H zone. Luckily it behaved itself later the entire way home on the CTE, maintaining its usual 1/3 reading.

 

Less than 1hr ago though, I drove to the Library in my neighborhood and when I'd almost reached my home carpark after, I saw the needle spike up again to almost 3/4 mark or so, then it went back to normal.

 

I'm quite worried, does anyone have any idea what could be wrong? I recently changed my water pump and flushed/replaced coolant when i did my timing belt, oil change. I left the upper and lower radiator hoses unchanged though, and they do seem a bit worn out to me when I check now. Could this be the case? Or could it possibly be the quality of coolant that the mech suppplied me with?

 

Finally I have a spare radiator with me, should I just get it changed? Really appreciate all advise, cheers!

 

bro,when the needle goes above half mark,u shd start worrying...not until it rches the redzone...

maybe u can check if ur radiator fan is working or not...

maybe the motor is spoil....

check early before u have to overhaul ur engine....

[Jusnel]

those from shell ah? confirm it's 0.9 or 1.3. coz i went around to check. and you never know can fit onto yr radiator or not...

 

so in the end, i just bought mine from stockist. confirm can use!

[Oneshot1kill]

Send to workshop la ... You wan to take the risk that your temp needle is accurate ? What happens if its not & the engine temp. gets higher than what the your 14yr old needle is indicating

[Decibel]

Hehe I am worried liao, but so far heng heng its never touched the red zone before. I will be changing the radiator cap first tmr to see if theres any improvement, then will send to my mech. Thanks for your advice

[Decibel]

What made you decide to change your radiator cap bro? Also shouldn't they all be of standard size?

[Turbonetics]

i dun think radiator cap will help much...

before i had my water temp meter installed,my needle was alwats below the 1/2 mark slightly above 1/4....

and i always think its fine...

when i installed my water temp meter,it shows more than 100 degrees....ard 105-105 degrees....

then i had my radiator changed and it helps alot....nvr exceed 100 degrees anymore...

well,the problem might now be same for every cars....just sharing my experience...

sometimes old car is like that one...

[Mroonws]

There many things that contributes to the over-heating. Check for those minor things 1st. like water level in the radiator, leaking, fan cut-in timing, fan blowing direction, radiator cap( since you said you can't pry the cap off) and your radiator for rust that chokes the bugger and repllace it since you have got a spare. but you must flush it b4 you replace it. Or even your temperature sensor faulty? Other things are more costly...

[Limws1]

Check if water pump is working or not. If it's working, it may be just a simple case of coolant-water ratio wrong. Read my experience with radiator flushing:

 

http://www.mycarforum.com/forum/gforum.cgi...ew&post=1407322

 

Check also if the cooling system is choked. Sometimes, flushing released debris that may choke the system causing more harm than not flushing.

[Jusnel]

i having some leakage somewhere.... so the first cheapo solution is to change new rad cap. then see how. but still having this same problem. so it's not rad cap problem. anyway, i found out where the problem located already.

 

different car brand got diff rad cap.

 

toyota cant fit in to honda or other brands. so better make sure you get back yr own car brand and model's rad cap.

 

you can call yr car brand stockist and ask. cheap la! about $10 only!