Engine overheating

[rbeebe88]

I am out of ideas and my mechanical know how only goes so far, so if you can help or have any ideas I would appreciate it. On thursday while sitting in traffic my 2002 Camry with 136,000 miles started to overheat, I pulled over as soon as traffic started to move. Popped the hood and could smell coolant but could not find any signs of a leak. I let the car cool off and drove home slowly. Friday I flushed the radiator and added the proper level of coolant to radiator and overfill. Friday afternoon drove it to the store same thing happened except this time temp gauge redlined and I could see steam. Popped the hood and could see coolant dripping onto manifold. Got it back home replaced top and bottom heater hoses and small 5/8 hose from bottom heater hose. Refilled radiator let engine run for 15 minutes with heater on. No problems, took it for a drive today and after 20 minutes of driving my a/c was blowing warm air while stopped at a light and I could smell coolant again. Temp gauge was just below redline. As of now my car is parked outside and I have no idea what is wrong, no engine light on although I could swear I saw it blink on and then off on Friday. Thanks for any help you can offer.
Robert

I have searched the formus also, but only got to page 8 of the search before I stopped so if this has been discussed before, my apologies, a quick reply with a link and you will have made my day.

[TRD VVTi]

What engine do you have?

Instead of just doing things to your car you should probably trouble shoot it. That's the only way that makes sense.

Is is leaking? Did you pressure test it? Does the cooling fan(s) come on? Is the coolant completely filled and all the air pockets properly bled out? Did you four gas the cooling system? Is there coolant/water in the oil? Does it smoke? If so, what color?

Honestly, if you don't know enough to check these things before you just randomly work on your car, you should bring it to a professional.

[rbeebe88]

I have a 2.4l 4cyl, there was no coolant or water in the oil when I changed the oil last sunday, my car does not smoke except on a very cold morning. There was a leak which I stated in the first post, and I replaced that hose first, the fans do come on when the engine is idling and the a/c is on, I ran the engine 15 minutes after I flushed the radiator,and refilled the level according to the manual, and after the level dropped in the radiator I added more until it no longer dropped. As for the pressure test, no, four gas, no. Like I said I am looking for other causes for the engine to overheat. Flushing the radiator and replacing three hoses is what I did, hoping that was the cause. If I take it to a mechanic and no check engine light is on won't that be a waste of money waiting for them to diagnose the problem? If it is something I can check and feel confident I can replace I will, if not it will go to the Toyota dealer. I take care of my vehicle proper maintenance when due, required tune ups when required. I put alot of miles on my car for work being a home health nurse, so if I don't take care of it I don't work, honestly.

[BlackCamSe]

if your ac isn't on do the fans kick in? If not have that checked out. Maybe your head gasket or water pump might be going. Also, you said your ac was blowing hot air. So maybe your accessory belt is lose/broken.

[gdanaher]

The first time it overheated, it was sitting in traffic. This suggests that the electric fans are not coming on when they should. Double check these. Did it slowly inch up when you were stopped or did it spike suddenly? After you got free and could get some speed, did it cool off? Pull the dip stick again and look at the oil filler cap for moisture. It might not have had water in the oil before but might now. The overheating the first time might have popped the head gasket.

If, with the a/c turned OFF, the engine gets up to normal temperature and the fans cycle correctly, and it continues to overheat, I vote for a head gasket. Belt not slipping badly and not a lot of crap obstructing air flow on the radiator as a given.

[MDTRD]

Replace the thermostat. If that doesn't do it, take it to a mechanic.

[workerant]

Seem like the problem is beyond your "mechanical know how". Bring it into dealer.

[TRD VVTi]

Originally Posted by TTM77

Seem like the problem is beyond your "mechanical know how". Bring it into dealer.

+1

Without the ability to check it properly, you won't be able to diagnose and repair it properly.

If you knew what was leaking, why did you replace hoses? It's not likely that you had hoses leaking...