Another unexplainable problem UGH! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

jbruno101 · 04-02-2009, 12:06 AM

Well my 1992 camry v6 xle has officially ripped my heart out.

I had this car for 2 years now. For over a year and a half i did not have one problem with the cooling system, asides from a cracked radiator which was replaced by a new one a little over a year ago. Recently (the last 4/5 months) it was over heating. I would fill it up with antifreeze and 4 weeks later it would over heat. then 3 weeks. then 2 weeks. i finally saved up the money to replace the timing belt and water pump. When the mechanic pulled out the water pump it was somewhat corroded and all was fine for about a month. Tonight, i was driving it home and sure enough the temperature needle was breaking off the top of the gauge. I pulled over and bought antifreeze and filled up the coolant resivoir. It barely needed any. So i pulled the cap off the radiator. It used to get so low that i could pull it off and none would overflow. However tonight, it was full and some antifreeze overflowed.

After i filled the system back up the needle went back to the middle and all was fine for about 5 minutes. Then it went back up. But when i made a turn around a left curve, it went back to the middle. Back and forth the whole way home.

The belt is working, and the pump is pumping fluids.

The mechanic said the system was not leaking when he changed the belt and pump.

Any ideas what this could be?!

Im going to take it to a different, much pricier, but very reputable mechanic tomorrow morning.

***ASG14*** · 04-02-2009, 12:15 AM

Sounds liek your mechanic is a moron.

I'll put money you have a blown head gasket.

jbruno101 · 04-02-2009, 12:23 AM

What are the symptoms of a blown head gasket?

How would i tell if i have one?

How much to replace?

Edit - White smoke only comes out of the coolant resivoir overpour spot.

I have never seen it leak antifreeze or have never seen a puddle of antifreeze under the car in 2 years. And lately i have been checking often.

The car has just hit 74,000 miles and asides from this cooling problem, runs flawlessly

***ASG14*** · 04-02-2009, 12:27 AM

BHG

Loss of coolant. Temp always rising when everything else in the cooling system is fine.

Check your oil for coolant.

knfenimore · 04-02-2009, 08:29 AM

How about something as easy as a bad themostat. Get one that fails open, approx $7.
Keith

jbruno101 · 04-02-2009, 08:36 AM

Keith, the thermostat was replaced as well

RU2CHKN · 04-02-2009, 09:31 AM

Yep sounds like a BHG the 3VZ motors are notorious for having bad head gaskets

Luckynumber5 · 04-02-2009, 08:50 PM

the 3vz-es are notorious for having bad head gaskets, the 3vz-fes are not horribly unreliable, its just most are getting up there in age.

davemac2 · 04-02-2009, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luckynumber5

the 3vz-es are notorious for having bad head gaskets, the 3vz-fes are not horribly unreliable, its just most are getting up there in age.

Exactly.

dave mc

xtremeskier97 · 04-03-2009, 08:23 AM

I think more often than the HG being the culprit, it is the lack of knowledge on how to properly BLEED the cooling system. So many are so quick to jump to bad HG, when a lot of times it just air pockets in the system.

DFBonnett · 04-03-2009, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbruno101

After i filled the system back up the needle went back to the middle and all was fine for about 5 minutes. Then it went back up. But when i made a turn around a left curve, it went back to the middle. Back and forth the whole way home.

This sure seems like a bad stat, new or not. It is not unknown for a NIB part to fail prematurely.
FWIW
YMMV