Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

You are here: MacNN Forums > Community > MacNN Lounge > Pickup's overheating, any suggestions before I take it in?

Pickup's overheating, any suggestions before I take it in?
Thread Tools
olePigeon
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 1999
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 10, 2007, 10:10 PM
 
I have a 1994 Toyota Pickup. When I was coming up a pretty big hill in 3rd gear my radiator blew up (it was a plastic one.) Got a new radiator installed (aluminum). It worked for a little while, but then it started to overheat again. I took it into my mechanic and he ended up replacing the thermostat. Now it doesn't overheat as long as there's coolent in there (yeah, duh), but the problem is that if I drive for more than an hour, it fills the reservoir then spills out steaming coolent and water from the overflow.

I am not a car person, but I wanted to get some ideas before I take it back into the auto shop.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.
"…I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than
you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods,
you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F. Roberts
     
Mark Larr
Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Jun 2005
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 09:01 AM
 
The head gasket is blown.
Shut up and eat your paisley.
     
Gossamer
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: "Working"
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 09:13 AM
 
The blinker fluid is running low.
     
Sky Captain
Mac Elite
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Second star to the right, and straight on till morning
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 09:13 AM
 
I concour.
The head gasket is blown.
Hope the head isn't warped.

Also check to see is the electric cooling fan is switching on.(if it has one instead of the one attached to the water pump)
All men are created equal, but what they do after that point puts them on a sliding scale.
     
Buckaroo
Professional Poster
Join Date: Mar 2002
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 09:34 AM
 
Head gasket? Hold on. Check your oil for any radiator fluid in the oil pan first. I'm not sure, maybe you can check via the dip stick. There might be a better way.

It's possible that you keep topping off the radiator and the overflow is full.
     
zro
Mac Elite
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: The back of the room
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 10:18 AM
 
Don't shred so many hot licks on your Fender. Honestly, I thought this was about a guitar...

You'll likely see emulsified oil on the dipstick and oil film floating in the radiator if the two have mixed.
     
IceEnclosure
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 10:21 AM
 
Def. check the oil for coolant before gettin' crazy.

The radiator in my Saturn has a crack in the plastic, I gotta re-up the water eery few days. I should get around to changing that thing soon.
ice
     
Dakar²
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The Annals of MacNN History
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 10:22 AM
 
Originally Posted by Gossamer View Post
The blinker fluid is running low.
That shits expensive mang.
     
bstone
Mac Elite
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Boston, MA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 10:36 AM
 
Originally Posted by Gossamer View Post
The blinker fluid is running low.
Hah. Laughed when I saw this.
Emergency Medicine & Urgent Care.
     
Big Mac
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 10:40 AM
 
Originally Posted by IceEnclosure View Post
The radiator in my Saturn has a crack in the plastic, I gotta re-up the water eery few days. I should get around to changing that thing soon.
Interesting, I wouldn't have envisioned you as a Saturn driver.

"The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground." TJ
     
Gossamer
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: "Working"
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 10:44 AM
 
Originally Posted by Big Mac View Post
Interesting, I wouldn't have envisioned you as a Saturn driver.
I think it was a matter of convenience, not choice.
     
Dakar²
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The Annals of MacNN History
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 10:49 AM
 
Odd, I heard he prefers to drive around in Uranus.
     
Mark Larr
Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Jun 2005
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 11:32 AM
 
A head gasket can be leaking pressure into the water jacket without coolant or oil being transfered.

The BEST way to test this is to put a pump on the radiator to pressurize it and see if the pressure drops.

Do this with the engine warm so everything will be expanded.

I've seen this too many times and it always leads to the gasket burning away at the point of leakage.

You can NOT tighten down on the head to fix this, the gasket must be replaced if this is the problem.

I used to own a foreign auto repair shop back when I was in my 20's and I'm sure that 1994 Toyota engine is still made of steel and aluminum.
Shut up and eat your paisley.
     
olePigeon  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 1999
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 12:24 PM
 
Originally Posted by Mark Larr View Post
A head gasket can be leaking pressure into the water jacket without coolant or oil being transfered.

The BEST way to test this is to put a pump on the radiator to pressurize it and see if the pressure drops.

Do this with the engine warm so everything will be expanded.

I've seen this too many times and it always leads to the gasket burning away at the point of leakage.

You can NOT tighten down on the head to fix this, the gasket must be replaced if this is the problem.

I used to own a foreign auto repair shop back when I was in my 20's and I'm sure that 1994 Toyota engine is still made of steel and aluminum.
Thanks, guys. It was just serviced and the readiator isn't even a year old. The oil looks normal. I'm going to take it in ASAP. I really hope I haven't damaged/warped anything.

The engine is steel and aluminum. They're workhorses. It's weird when I bring my pickup in because the mechanics like to talk about it and inevitably have a story about a friend who has 300,000+ miles on the original engine.

I'll make sure they change the blinker oil.
"…I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than
you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods,
you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F. Roberts
     
olePigeon  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 1999
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 12:32 PM
 
Damn, I hope it's not warped or anything. Looking at prices and a new cylinder head is $300. Only $30 for a new head gasket.
"…I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than
you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods,
you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F. Roberts
     
Mark Larr
Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Jun 2005
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 01:03 PM
 
You'd have oil in the water and a white foamy gunk where the oil used to be if the head was warped.
Shut up and eat your paisley.
     
IceEnclosure
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 02:04 PM
 
Originally Posted by Gossamer View Post
I think it was a matter of convenience, not choice.
This is the story.
ice
     
olePigeon  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 1999
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 02:06 PM
 
OK, just dropped it off and let them know. Guess I'll see what they find out. Got a shuttle back to work.
"…I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than
you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods,
you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F. Roberts
     
Sky Captain
Mac Elite
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Second star to the right, and straight on till morning
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 02:26 PM
 
That sucks having to have someone else fix the car.
My dad beat fixing the car into my head.
In fact I try and fix most everything of ours that breaks, when I can.
All men are created equal, but what they do after that point puts them on a sliding scale.
     
Gossamer
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: "Working"
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 02:34 PM
 
Everything I write
Is separated by line breaks
As if it's poetry.
     
olePigeon  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 1999
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 02:35 PM
 
Originally Posted by Sky Captain View Post
That sucks having to have someone else fix the car.
My dad beat fixing the car into my head.
In fact I try and fix most everything of ours that breaks, when I can.
My dad was never around.
"…I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than
you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods,
you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F. Roberts
     
Dakar²
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The Annals of MacNN History
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 02:39 PM
 
Originally Posted by Gossamer View Post
Everything I write
Is separated by line breaks
As if it's poetry.
That's the worst haiku I've ever read.
     
IceEnclosure
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 02:40 PM
 
I do that too. Especially when I'm drunk.

I seperate them sometimes also, like this.

I find it works well.

I found that I only like fixing cars that I like. I want nothing to do with changing the rad in my Saturn, but I turned every single nut and bolt in my three previous Mustangs.
ice
     
IceEnclosure
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 02:41 PM
 
Originally Posted by Dakar² View Post
That's the worst haiku I've ever read.

As if.
It's poetry!
ice
     
Dakar²
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The Annals of MacNN History
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 02:42 PM
 
Floating asteroid.
Got to buy some school supplies.
You're soaking in it.
     
Sky Captain
Mac Elite
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Second star to the right, and straight on till morning
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 02:46 PM
 
Originally Posted by Dakar² View Post
That's the worst haiku I've ever read.
Maybe it's a ukiah?
All men are created equal, but what they do after that point puts them on a sliding scale.
     
design219
Professional Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 02:51 PM
 
a new head gasket.
your engine will be happy.
your wallet not so.
__________________________________________________

My stupid iPhone game: Nesen Probe, it's rather old, annoying and pointless, but it's free.
Was free. Now it's gone. Never to be seen again.
Off to join its brother and sister apps that could not
keep up with the ever updating iOS. RIP Nesen Probe.
     
centerchannel68
Baninated
Join Date: Dec 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 09:27 PM
 
Ice:
Get a honda.
Cheap to run.
Fun to drive.
The Lord loves double wishbone suspension.
Even with less than 100hp.

It's also possible that something or a chunk of something is blocking some major passage in yoru block, thus making the coolant barely move, and overheat. Who knows. Something is definitely funky though. G'luck, keep us updated.
     
Buckaroo
Professional Poster
Join Date: Mar 2002
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 09:46 PM
 
Originally Posted by Sky Captain View Post
That sucks having to have someone else fix the car.
My dad beat fixing the car into my head.
In fact I try and fix most everything of ours that breaks, when I can.
I was just too cheap to pay someone else to fix my car. Besides, the mechanic most of the time means well, and wants to do a good job, but occasionally he might fix the problem and break something else by accident that I have to find and get fixed in the future.

The only 2 things I haven't fixed on my own is the transmission overhaul, and the engine overhaul. I paid AAMCO to overhaul the transmission once, and they did the following 2 or 3 overhauls for free (lifetime warranty). I paid $1000 for the engine overhaul and had them replace almost everything that I could bring back to PepBoys and swap for new parts (part warranties).

Oh, one time on vacation I did have to pay for a fuel pump replacement. The next 2 times I changed it on my own.
     
Gossamer
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: "Working"
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 09:53 PM
 
Originally Posted by Dakar² View Post
That's the worst haiku I've ever read.
Worse than this one?

Originally Posted by centerchannel68 View Post
Ice:
Get a honda.
Cheap to run.
Fun to drive.
The Lord loves double wishbone suspension.
Even with less than 100hp.
     
Kevin Moon
Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Apr 2002
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 11, 2007, 10:04 PM
 
Originally Posted by Gossamer View Post
The blinker fluid is running low.
I hope you remembered to have them check that fluid. If you run out of blinker fluid all hell breaks loose.
     
Dakar²
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The Annals of MacNN History
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 12, 2007, 09:44 AM
 
Originally Posted by Gossamer View Post
Worse than this one?
I didn't read that one, and refuse, so you get to keep that distinction.
     
hickey
Mac Elite
Join Date: May 2005
Location: West LA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 12, 2007, 05:05 PM
 
Best haikus evar: naught (def NSFW, just to warn ya)
( Last edited by hickey; Apr 12, 2007 at 05:21 PM. Reason: dirty link)
     
Gossamer
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: "Working"
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 12, 2007, 05:08 PM
 
Originally Posted by hickey View Post
Best haikus evar: Blowjobs on Flickr, Haiku style. (def NSFW, just to warn ya)
I'm pretty sure the mods don't like links to boobies, NSFW warning or not.
( Last edited by Gossamer; Apr 12, 2007 at 05:29 PM. )
     
hickey
Mac Elite
Join Date: May 2005
Location: West LA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 12, 2007, 05:21 PM
 
ah, my bad.

fixed
     
Gossamer
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: "Working"
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 12, 2007, 05:29 PM
 
Except I quoted it so it's still there.
     
hickey
Mac Elite
Join Date: May 2005
Location: West LA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 12, 2007, 05:40 PM
 
AHH

solution to problem?
     
Gossamer
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: "Working"
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 12, 2007, 05:41 PM
 
Originally Posted by hickey View Post
AHH

solution to problem?
Well I could remove the link myself.
     
hickey
Mac Elite
Join Date: May 2005
Location: West LA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 12, 2007, 05:57 PM
 
if you would be so kind. I would forever in debt to you.
     
Gossamer
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: "Working"
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 12, 2007, 06:05 PM
 
Nah, I think I'll leave it.
     
olePigeon  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 1999
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 12, 2007, 06:07 PM
 
Wow. $40 for head gasket, $1500 in labor. I guess I'm screwed. Maybe the high school autoshop will fix it.
"…I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than
you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods,
you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F. Roberts
     
centerchannel68
Baninated
Join Date: Dec 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 12, 2007, 06:22 PM
 
Shop around. Many places that are IN the city pay a lot more for property taxes, and a lot more for wages. A few miles out of town, however, things are drastically differnet. I paid $470 to replace one wheel bearing in my SVX, at a local shop in downtown Madison. I paid $260 to replace the other one, and install two new struts, and cut off all the heatshielding from my exhaust, at a shop about 45 minutes north of Madison.

It's definitely worth checking lots of places, and getting quotes.
     
imitchellg5
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Colorado
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 12, 2007, 06:27 PM
 
Originally Posted by centerchannel68 View Post
The Lord loves double wishbone suspension.
Wait. Wait. Wait. Did he just say "The Lord loves...?" What is happening to Rob?
     
centerchannel68
Baninated
Join Date: Dec 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 12, 2007, 06:51 PM
 
     
Mark Larr
Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Jun 2005
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 13, 2007, 09:11 AM
 
Originally Posted by olePigeon View Post
Wow. $40 for head gasket, $1500 in labor. I guess I'm screwed. Maybe the high school autoshop will fix it.
If you were in Atlanta, I'd fix it for a beer if you supplied the parts.
Shut up and eat your paisley.
     
residentEvil
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Detroit
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 13, 2007, 10:12 AM
 
Originally Posted by centerchannel68 View Post
is that from the Fastest Indian?
     
Gossamer
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: "Working"
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 13, 2007, 10:25 AM
 
Originally Posted by residentEvil View Post
is that from the Fastest Indian?
Great movie!
     
residentEvil
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Detroit
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 13, 2007, 10:36 AM
 
i liked the story...i had a hard time with dialogue at times with Hopkins as he interacted with others. i can't describe what i mean, i don't think. the scenes with any possible conflicts (crate damaged from the container ship, found sleeping in his car, etc) were just difficult to watch. i kept waiting for something more maybe? his words and the responses seemed too "nice and neat".
     
olePigeon  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 1999
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 13, 2007, 11:59 AM
 
Made a new thread because this one has be derailed.
( Last edited by olePigeon; Apr 13, 2007 at 12:19 PM. )
"…I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than
you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods,
you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F. Roberts
     
Kevin Moon
Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Apr 2002
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 13, 2007, 01:52 PM
 
I will conspire with gossamer on a way to derail that thread.
     
 
Thread Tools
 
Forum Links
Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Top
Privacy Policy
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:37 AM.
All contents of these forums © 1995-2017 MacNN. All rights reserved.
Branding + Design: www.gesamtbild.com
vBulletin v.3.8.8 © 2000-2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.,