help!!!! overheating

[TdotTercel]

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im coming home from work, my engine temp is way up into the red...... my heater is blowing cold air, when its on the hot side.......

i pull over and pop the hood, im getting steam from somewhere, cant exactly tell where, not a big cloud, just some steam....


whats wrong... help.... i need to go to work in the morning.....

[dexter_5000]

sounds like it could be your water pump has quit.

[fredk]

fill it up and look for water pouring out from somewhere

[karugs]

If your heater is blowing cold air it could mean the thermostat is blown because it regulates the flow of water. If that's the same mechanism as my car's (300D) then it should be the case. Yes check the waterpump too to be sure.

Is your car modified?

[TdotTercel]

oh its definately leaking, i filled up the rad to get home and left a nice little trail of coolant while i was at it......

when it was full (breifly) it was blowing hot air like normal....

This happened VERY all-of-a-sudden.... its not a gradual problem that finally broke, everything was fine, then WHAM! into the red ! NO COOLANT !

i already booked off work tomorrow so i can try and find the leak, now i just hope it doesnt rain

[karugs]

Glad to hear you found the culprit.

If it's leaking it won't happen all of a sudden unless it's a RUPTURE. Chances are it looks like it's leaking because the water/coolant is gone and there is no sufficient pressure to give it that gushing coolant look. My Corolla's OEM radiator cracked because it was plastic and I was running with high revs. The temp was stuck 0.5cm from the red zone. When I stopped the car died and fortunately it stopped in front of our house.

Anyway, have it fixed. Check the water pump and thermostat as well just to be sure everything is OK in there. Goodluck.

EDIT: The crack on my car's radiator was almost the length of my handspan, and was an inch across. Looked like somebody slashed the guts out. (Just adding some humor )