How much would you estimate a vacuum bleed to cost? Can any radiator shop do it, or should I stick to a rover shop? If my attempt at bleeding doesn't work, I think I'll try a new expansion tank/cap, rad fill plug and a vacuum bleed.
Intermittent Overheating
- Thread starter ep3w
- Start date
How much would you estimate a vacuum bleed to cost? Can any radiator shop do it, or should I stick to a rover shop? If my attempt at bleeding doesn't work, I think I'll try a new expansion tank/cap, rad fill plug and a vacuum bleed.
Thanks I appreciate it. AB does sell them too. I was hoping to take it out this weekend hence trying to find it local.
My 97 was overheating. One problem was the two fans in front of the radiator were not getting power on a consistent basis & were not running when needed.
The same thing happened to my 95 RR. Both fans quit & I had to replace them. No problem since.
Good luck
The same thing happened to my 95 RR. Both fans quit & I had to replace them. No problem since.
Good luck
Update: I replaced the thermostat and bled the coolant. I have only driven it about 7 miles but temps were staying around 175F-185F. During the bleeding, the temp crept up to about 210F, I gave the top rad hose some good squeezes/shakes, a ton of air came out and the temp dropped to about 170F. At this point I'm fairly convinced it has to do with air in the system. Maybe the thermostat can't operate properly with air in the top hose? I'll clean between the rads next just in case.
yes.
And for some reason, jiggle pin hole (that is supposed to fix that) doesn't seem to do its job.
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Another update:
It overheated again. It was probably 75f/80f outside, there were two people and two mountain bikes in the rover. It's about a 25mi/40 min drive. I hit about max 190f or so driving through traffic around town. Once I was on the freeway for a bit and started to climb, so did the temps. There is a short steep climb right when you get off the freeway, I hit high 220fs. Let it sit for an hour or so in the parking lot while I rode, squeezed the hose, a couple air bubbles come out in the tank and it drove home hitting a max of around 194f (mostly downhill on the way back).
I tried the drive again today, about 70f out (didn't change anything with the truck). I hit max 190f on the freeway on the way there, then about 208f on the short climb. I shut the truck off for about 2 minutes max, then drove straight home. I probably averaged about 196/198f on the way home (mostly downhill again).
How far is this from "normal"? 208f seems high for a short, 35mph pavement climb after freeway. I did notice one of the electric fans does not work, the other spins very slowly so I have two new motors on the way. It seems like I shouldn't have to be relying on those for much cooling unless I'm doing heavy towing or something.
Edit: Also here is a quick vid of me spinning the fan clutch with the engine warm. Does it appear to be going bad? https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2343233/20140604_202551.mp4
I have a trip to Oregon in two weeks I'm trying to get the rover ready for.
It overheated again. It was probably 75f/80f outside, there were two people and two mountain bikes in the rover. It's about a 25mi/40 min drive. I hit about max 190f or so driving through traffic around town. Once I was on the freeway for a bit and started to climb, so did the temps. There is a short steep climb right when you get off the freeway, I hit high 220fs. Let it sit for an hour or so in the parking lot while I rode, squeezed the hose, a couple air bubbles come out in the tank and it drove home hitting a max of around 194f (mostly downhill on the way back).
I tried the drive again today, about 70f out (didn't change anything with the truck). I hit max 190f on the freeway on the way there, then about 208f on the short climb. I shut the truck off for about 2 minutes max, then drove straight home. I probably averaged about 196/198f on the way home (mostly downhill again).
How far is this from "normal"? 208f seems high for a short, 35mph pavement climb after freeway. I did notice one of the electric fans does not work, the other spins very slowly so I have two new motors on the way. It seems like I shouldn't have to be relying on those for much cooling unless I'm doing heavy towing or something.
Edit: Also here is a quick vid of me spinning the fan clutch with the engine warm. Does it appear to be going bad? https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2343233/20140604_202551.mp4
I have a trip to Oregon in two weeks I'm trying to get the rover ready for.
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Electric fans are important, might be your issue. Fan clutch seems a bit loose for being at temp as well. I'd replace the fan clutch and take care of your electric fans.
208F is on the higher side but not a big deal. 220F is also not a killer - but it's getting there.
Capri_auto - let me make a blanket statement, once in a blue moon. Electric fans are NOT important. A properly-functioning cooling system in a D1 can take care of very harsh conditions.
Fan clutch is dead. A normal fan clutch would not allow the fan to rotate by inertia.
Capri_auto - let me make a blanket statement, once in a blue moon. Electric fans are NOT important. A properly-functioning cooling system in a D1 can take care of very harsh conditions.
Fan clutch is dead. A normal fan clutch would not allow the fan to rotate by inertia.
I am also curious - I have never seen that fan on any year of D1. Has somebody swapped in a D2 fan?
The PO did swap out the fan... is that what it is from? Will I have any issue using that fan on a new D1 clutch?
I'll pick up a new clutch today, maybe a Chevy one as a temporary measure for my trip since I can get it local. I'll get the electric fans installed once I get the motors in. Important or not, they should be working especially for the a/c.
in a D1 you should be able to pull an empty trailer at highway speed with absolutely no fan attached at all.
Lovely in cool Oregon
It may be true, but you'll overheat as soon as you come to a stop.
ep3w -
A Chevy fan clutch is fine - it'll be spinning most of the time, but it is better than a cooked motor. And you are correct, electric fans should be working even if engine cooling doesn't - or shouldn't - depend on them.
As for the D2 (?) fan - I don't know much about it.
I thought I'd update this for future reference.
New electric Corolla motor installed, bolted right in and both electric fans work now. Installed a new chevy fan cluth (actually 3, first one had broken fins in the box, second was a dud, third works great) and everything is running good now. Took it on about 5 hour drive into the mountains including ~30 miles of fire roads and the highest temp I hit was about 186f (it was about 60f outside). Also, it was a D2 fan on there and in order to fit the chevy clutch I had to get the chevy fan as well (a D1 fan would work also).
It does do this thing now that when you first start it, the temp will climb to about ~195 then immediately drop to about 170 and then run normal. My theory is the thermostat is fully closed until ~195, then opens which lets cold coolant in dropping the temp, then stays partially open from there on (its a 190f genuine thermostat).
Overall, I'd say it was the fan clutch and maybe some air in the coolant causing the overheating. Electric fans not working just made it worse with the a/c on. Thanks everyone for the help.
New electric Corolla motor installed, bolted right in and both electric fans work now. Installed a new chevy fan cluth (actually 3, first one had broken fins in the box, second was a dud, third works great) and everything is running good now. Took it on about 5 hour drive into the mountains including ~30 miles of fire roads and the highest temp I hit was about 186f (it was about 60f outside). Also, it was a D2 fan on there and in order to fit the chevy clutch I had to get the chevy fan as well (a D1 fan would work also).
It does do this thing now that when you first start it, the temp will climb to about ~195 then immediately drop to about 170 and then run normal. My theory is the thermostat is fully closed until ~195, then opens which lets cold coolant in dropping the temp, then stays partially open from there on (its a 190f genuine thermostat).
Overall, I'd say it was the fan clutch and maybe some air in the coolant causing the overheating. Electric fans not working just made it worse with the a/c on. Thanks everyone for the help.
Awesome, you bought yourself several years more before the next head gasket job!
The temp climb before the t-stat opens up drove me nuts - on my brother's truck it went up to 220F+. Drilling a 1/8" hole in the t-stat allowed just enough of coolant flow through it to warm it up faster, and it isn't a problem anymore. I can feel the top hose warm up gradually, instead of nothing and then hot as hell. Thanks for the tip about Corolla motor (I assume it's for the electric fans)!
The temp climb before the t-stat opens up drove me nuts - on my brother's truck it went up to 220F+. Drilling a 1/8" hole in the t-stat allowed just enough of coolant flow through it to warm it up faster, and it isn't a problem anymore. I can feel the top hose warm up gradually, instead of nothing and then hot as hell. Thanks for the tip about Corolla motor (I assume it's for the electric fans)!