fluctuating temp?
12-03-03, 06:49 PM
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fluctuating temp?
My cars temp keeps jumping up and down. I'll be driving one second and its at a good temp, and then it sky-rockets up. It still has the high idle (but it is down to around 1k right now) Could my thermostat be going out on me? Also, I noticed there is a loose green wire up by my throttle body with a black connector on the end of it. Is there a specific place that is supposed to go, or is it just a tester type plug like up in the front of the engine bay?
andrew
andrew
12-03-03, 08:00 PM
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Just below the "H". I actually am at my shop right now (machine shop...not car shop..) and It did the HOT thing to me again. I turned off the car, and I heard radiator fluid bubbling and stuff, and saw\felt that the main radiator hose that runs from the radiator to the engine is like super big and bulging throught its entirety. This has only been happening the past 2 days. I think i might have air in my radiator. I am going to let it cool and see what happens on the way home (6 mile drive....35 mph speed limit which = like 90 mph or so) I will see if going faster drops the temp or if it raises it. I should also note that it is like 20 degrees outside.
12-03-03, 08:10 PM
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That would suck. I am wondering if i got air in it the other day. I was messing with the idle and whatnot, and forgot that the engine was warm and i went to check the radiator level. needless to say, my driveway had a little bit of fluid on it. That mighta gotten air in it
andrew
edit: Just smelled it before I left the shop, smelled fine and the level seemed high. Now on my way home, The engine heated up to around the line that is below the H (the big ark line thing) me = very confused
andrew
edit: Just smelled it before I left the shop, smelled fine and the level seemed high. Now on my way home, The engine heated up to around the line that is below the H (the big ark line thing) me = very confused
Last edited by infinitezero; 12-03-03 at 08:33 PM.
12-03-03, 08:38 PM
#6
Okay, when you got home, was the upper hose pressurized again? Where are you checking the coolant level? Was water spewing into the overflow? Dont trust the overflow to maintain your level, always check it in the water neck.
Now would be a good time to do the coolant seal check. Unfortunately, I am forced to type it AGAIN because our slacker moderator wont add it to the FAQ!
Here is what you do:
Fill your car, cold. Leave the cap off. Remove your EGI fuse. Crank motor. Big geyeser? Bad seals.
No geyser? You = lucky. Get a Mazda thermostat/cap, and buy a lotto ticket.
Now would be a good time to do the coolant seal check. Unfortunately, I am forced to type it AGAIN because our slacker moderator wont add it to the FAQ!
Here is what you do:
Fill your car, cold. Leave the cap off. Remove your EGI fuse. Crank motor. Big geyeser? Bad seals.
No geyser? You = lucky. Get a Mazda thermostat/cap, and buy a lotto ticket.
12-03-03, 09:19 PM
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looks like i need to be buying a lotto ticket (luckily). Anywho, i have pics here for maybe helping you guys out on the situation. Link here:
Maybe that helps?
(sorry about the size of the pics)\
andrew
Maybe that helps?
(sorry about the size of the pics)\
andrew
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12-03-03, 09:43 PM
#10
Since your water seals have survived, now its on to the more mundane stuff.
You have a stock clutch fan, I assume? Is it pulling air cold and hot? It should pull more air, the hotter it gets.
If it is, then I would flush the system and replace the Thermostat with a MAZDA THERMOSTAT ONLY!!! If that doesnt work, then I would look at the water pump.
What you might have killed, I have no idea. But I like trying the cheap stuff first. I would be more then willing to bet the thermostat went south.
You have a stock clutch fan, I assume? Is it pulling air cold and hot? It should pull more air, the hotter it gets.
If it is, then I would flush the system and replace the Thermostat with a MAZDA THERMOSTAT ONLY!!! If that doesnt work, then I would look at the water pump.
What you might have killed, I have no idea. But I like trying the cheap stuff first. I would be more then willing to bet the thermostat went south.
12-03-03, 09:53 PM
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it does seem as though my fan spins at the same speed no matter what. I am going to do the electric fan conversion as soon as i get some money. I will check thermostat tomrrow. Thanks
Andrew
Andrew
12-03-03, 10:09 PM
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I'm not 100% sure off hand. i can get better details in the morning
and one thing. The guy I got it from had just recently put a new water pump in it (i believe, he said something about it when i bought it, but the looks of the FC were overwhelming me
) So that shouldnt be any problem
and one thing. The guy I got it from had just recently put a new water pump in it (i believe, he said something about it when i bought it, but the looks of the FC were overwhelming me
) So that shouldnt be any problem
Last edited by infinitezero; 12-03-03 at 10:11 PM.
12-03-03, 10:40 PM
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ok so i did go out tonight and checked it out.
i also pulled out my thermostat....that thing was bojed up beyond belief. So, I will get one tomrrow (there goes a few of my moneys.) anywho, The fan also pulls hot air away from the radiator, so im assuming it is doing its job.
andrew
i also pulled out my thermostat....that thing was bojed up beyond belief. So, I will get one tomrrow (there goes a few of my moneys.) anywho, The fan also pulls hot air away from the radiator, so im assuming it is doing its job.
andrew
12-03-03, 11:24 PM
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haha ok, hopefully I dont have to go to a mazda dealer, I just love how my local autozone\pep boys always gives me the wrong parts (happened to both me and my brother on multiple occasions)
12-04-03, 01:00 PM
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Got a question. I was heading towards BK for a little lunch today (thermostat out) and as I pulled away from a stop light, the engine like cut out. I thought I just killed my engine or osmething, but had enough speed to pull into a neighborhood. Now, I found that if i turn the car off and then turn it back on, i regain power, but then shortly thereafter, i lose it once again (it will bobble around 1100-1200rpm) is this because of the engine being too cold?
andrew
andrew
12-05-03, 07:34 PM
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Got the new thermostat in, temp is good. I am still idling high. If someone could point me in the direction of the thermowax that would be great. Thanks
andrew
(i am gonig to try checking out my BAC sometime this weekend probably)
andrew
(i am gonig to try checking out my BAC sometime this weekend probably)
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