Coolant keeps overflowing!
 

Okay, here's the deal. I was driving around yesterday, and it was ROASTING outside, and my temp guage was getting sky high! So I went to Stereo Limited (car audio supplier) because I'm getting custom kick panels done, so I hang out there for about an hour and then leave.
So as I pull out, my coolant light goes on, and so I pull over and check my coolant level, and it's real low. So, lucky for me that I keep coolant with me at all times.
So I fill 'er up, and go on my way.. I go to the mall and meet a bunch of friends to see Autsin Powers. Movie ends, and I go back outside to my car, turn it on. Low coolant again. I fill it back up, and now I'm worried. We go to McDonalds. We eat. I go back outside after eating, turn on the car, no hazard lights. wait 5 seconds, hazzard light and buzzer come on. I get out, look under the car, coolant EVERYWHERE!!! I'm pissed. It's leaking from my over-flow tank.
So I go over to my friend's house, and I pull in his garage and I turn off the car, and start to take off the radiator cap and PSSSHHH... steam and coolant come out as if there was a bunch of built up pressure. So I take off the cap completely and as we look down into the radiator, the fluid will gradually come up, over flow, and then sink back down, and then it would gradually over flow again... So, I give my dad a call, and he says it's classic water pump faliure. So I say crap, and come home.
Today, my dad and I go out buy a new water pump and we worked on that, and he had to go to work, and I finished it. So when I was finished, I started the car up, and it seemed fine so I let it idle, with the cap off, and everything was going good. Turned off the car, filled up some more coolant, and started the car up again. And then, it starts again. The over flowing and then dropping back in, and over flowing again. So I'm pissed. Now I'm wondering what the hell is the matter. Any suggestions? It's an '88 TII. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

-Kanaida

Try changing your radiator cap. It may not be applying the right pressure to keep the water from boiling. It happened to me just recently that my car kept overheating and I kept having to top off the coolant. I got a new cap and now my car runs at 1/4 mark to 1/2 mark under SUPER heavy strain (racing uphill).

does your car seem to warm up faster than normal? if so
its most likely your thermostat is not opening properly....thats why your car is over heating.

Same here, does it it happen when the car is running?

Check temperature of upper radiator hose and lower radiator hoses, there should NOT be that big of a difference in temperatures. If there isnt a big temperature change, I would say
1. thermostat is working properly
2. water pump is circulating the water
3. radiator is not plugged

someone correct me if I am wrong, but I think that is accurate.

I agree with KNONFS and TRURX7. The same thing happened to me and my cousin's car.

If you think its the t-stat not opening, take it out and put it in boiling water.

Re: Coolant keeps overflowing!
 

where? like out the line that comes out? the top fill hole? how full is it? it should only be filled half way or so. there is a mark on it.

of course there is pressure. that is the point of the cap. it should never be opened when hot, or it'll all pour out like yours did.



sounds like you have air in your system, this is what happens when it trys to bleed it. since you are leaking somewhere. you would have air in the system.


you need to fully bleed the system first. turn the car on with the cap off. turn the heater on hot full blast, and let the car warm up. probably take 15 mins. durring that time the water will go up and down. just keep filling it up. rev the engine and squeze the rad hose to get the air out.

however since you were loosing coolant you probably still have a leak. so the light will come back on. you just have to find it. check the hoses and rad and see if you see where it's comming. and fix it.

all good
 

It was the thermostat.. replaced that and now everything is groovy. Thank you boys :)


-Kanaida