1994 Camry V6 Overheating Issue

[andyfq]

Hi,

The car's been driving fine for months, however in the last few days it's started reading overheating after about 30miles of driving to the point that the temperature gauge will sit at about 3/4.

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/7...mpgaugeiy6.jpg

It stays like this when the car is sitting idle after I have parked up. However I've noticed that it also appears to be making a kind of whining/droning noise as well, almost as though something is grating on something else. It seems to be coming from the side of the engine where the plastic cover is for the belt, at least that's where it sounds most prominent.

http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/829...plasticvz7.jpg

Not an expert mechanic by any stretch of the imagination, but the coolant is sitting just under full with Toyota's own coolant, I watched underneath the car for ten minutes or so after I drove home one night and there's no evidence of anything leaking to the ground, nor can I see any sign of leakage in the engine bay itself, everything looks pretty clean.

To be honest, I'm worried it might be a head gasket issue, or something else I don't know enough about. The main fan on the radiator seems to be spinning ok at what I presume to be the right sort of speed.

Apart from all this the car runs perfectly well with steering, power and everything else normal. The engine is a 3vz-fe.

Does anyone have any ideas I can check before I take it be looked at? The noise in particular is worrying..

Thanks for any advice.


Andrew

[v-cam]

If its a head gasket issue:

oily deposits will be in your coolant.
engine oil will be "mikly" on the dipstick, you will notice an increase in oil amount and a decrease in coolant.

It sounds more like a water pump issue to me, the noise you describe is coming from right where the water pump is. If the water pump isnt working properly, you engine will heat up like you have said. Could also be a stuffed thermostat.

My advice:

Replace water pump, replace thermostat, and see what happens. might as well do timing belt while you are there, you have to take it off to get to the water pump!

Cheers.

[ASG14]

^ Exactly, I'd sayt he same thing. The sound is either the timing belt or water pump, but because the temp is going up, my guess is the water pump. As v-cam said, replace both at the same time.

ALSO change the thermostate while your at it as it's not much money.

But to be honest, I think the sound is actually DIFFERENT from the temp issue. My guess is both the thermostate AND water pump/timing belt are going, which are both normal wear items.

One other point of interest, do your cooling fans in front of the radiator come on? Thats OFTEN overlooked.

[v-cam]

^yeah the fans working, re-read his thread adam!!

possible radiator block??

[ASG14]

Originally Posted by v-cam

^yeah the fans working, re-read his thread adam!!

possible radiator block??

You suck.

Take pitty on a person needing sleep.

[andyfq]

Thanks for the advice guys, I'll check the fan issue after work, coolant looks fine and oil's normal when it comes off the dipstick.

Is water pump/timing belt job easy to do and would it be better to get Toyota original (cringing at the cost of the thought already!!!) parts for the job?

Just out of interest, where on the engine is the thermostat located?

Thanks again.



Andrew

[v-cam]

Typically your fans shouldnt come on very often, in fact I have only ever heard my fan come on for a/c purposes, never for a hot engine. So it is sounding more and more like the water pump not flowing coolant.

Timing belt/water pump isnt easy if you havnt done it before. I had my mechanic do it, cost money but was worth it since i didnt have to worry about if i had stuffed it up etc. No you dont need OEM parts, but make sure you get a reliable brand.

Not to certain from memory where exactly the thermo is, but its on the inlet hose from the radiator? (adam, o wise one, help me out here! )

oh, and get this fixed asap! dont drive around with a hot engine or you will be replacing head gaskets and a host of other parts!

BTW, how many kms are on your car?

[ASG14]

I don't know where it is, haha. I'm useless this time!

I have been told to get a Toyota Brand Timing Belt due to quality. I've also been finiding out that many aftermarket replacement parts cost the same as the dealer, but are not as good.

Timing Belt and Water pump chane may cost you around $700USD (370GBP).

[andyfq]

Still at work, but normally they just substitue the $ for the £ and leave the number the same!!

[andyfq]

Coolant levels are still fine, fans appear to be coming on in good fashion, friend suggested testing the tension on the belts, they seem firm enough.

Gonna be brave and head in to Toyota to see about getting the bits, maybe see how much they charge for diagnosing the issue.

Push comes to shove the folks will take the £400 hit or so on the credit card, but it's not something I want to go to unless I have to.

Does anyone know where there's diagrams or section pictures of the engine on the internet? Everything else is still the same at the minute.

[andyfq]

Alternatively an engine manual of some kind would be good. all the advice is appreciate at the minute people, I'll certainl mention if I get any further.

[DFBonnett]

Go to the top of general Camry discussion. Manual download is posted there.

[andyfq]

Thanks for the link, but it doesn't seem to cover the 1994 V6 3VZ-FE. Unless the 1mz-fe is gonna be compatible to a certain degree

[v-cam]

^not sure... i have the 3vzfe aswell, I helped my mechanic change the belt and water pump, and there was no way i could have done it myself, and i am mechanically minded! Without a manual, dont attempt it.

[ASG14]

You may also be better off buying the parts yourself and having a shop (not Toyota) do it.