Camry is Overheating - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

acojosh · 09-16-2005, 11:55 PM

Ok i have a 96 camry LE with 110,000 miles. While driving today i noticed my temp gauge going into the red. I pulled over and look at my coolant, it was virtually bone dry. I put some more coolant in and let the car cool down. I drove it again that same day, this time at night hoping it would not overheat. When I got home smoke was eminating from my hood. I opened the hood and my engine was smoking pretty bad. The coolant was still in the reservoir. Under the car it looks like coolant is leaking from the radiator or somewhere from that area. My car was smoking though without my temp gauge in the red at all, it was virtually normal. What's wrong with this thing? Thanks. Josh.

vsixcamry · 09-17-2005, 12:03 AM

wherever it is looking could be falling on something realllly hot.. this will cause the smoke you see. Find out where it is leaking and stop it. replace the hose or you some kind of sealant

nodrogkam · 09-17-2005, 12:21 AM

Radiator leak or crack. if its a leak you can repair it, but if its really cracked then ur looking for something a bit more expensive....

least yours didnt blow on ya like an old volvo in our family did....that made a mess for sure.

Good Luck!

V6LE_CAMRY · 09-17-2005, 01:28 AM

Replace the thermostat. and check your oil level and condition because the overheat could of frye d the oil, but that just IMO.

***eyeball96*** · 09-17-2005, 07:09 AM

My 96 did the same! Had a hairline crack at the top of the rad, I tried to patch it but it didn't work ended up getting a new radiator. cost about 350 installed, Ebay has lots of radiators if you can do it yourself!

leasaunce · 09-17-2005, 07:20 AM

sounds like you need a new water pump. if that still doesnt solve the problem then get it check by a mechanic!

88 LE · 09-17-2005, 08:04 AM

Those of you that said the thermostat or water pump are wrong. He said its leaking from the radiator or somewhere around that area.

My bet is on the radiator or a hose.

Get ahold of a cooling system pressure tester. Some autoparts stores rent them out. Fill your radiator with water and use the tester to pressurize the cooling system.

If theres any leaks, you'll see them.

Kep · 09-17-2005, 10:13 AM

I am kind of with 88LE but I don't understand how you could see a leak and the radiator was still full.? I am also curious if it was smoke or steam. The fact that your temp gauge pegged out initially and then did not is another odditiy.

If the leak is an easy fix then do it. However, before you drive the car again make sure that you have coolant flow (Usually you can open the radiator before starting the car and then as it warms up you will notice the water flowing in the radiator.). If it isn't flowing then you have a second problem (maybe it caused the leak in the first place).

Good luck,
Kep

acojosh · 09-17-2005, 10:56 AM

thanks guys i'll try some stuff out today.

BlueFusion6851 · 09-17-2005, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeball96

My 96 did the same! Had a hairline crack at the top of the rad, I tried to patch it but it didn't work ended up getting a new radiator. cost about 350 installed, Ebay has lots of radiators if you can do it yourself!

same here.... except my parents were driving around with that hairline crack for half a week before deciding it was "bad enough" to bring it into toyota and get fixed

GET IT CHECKED OUT

acojosh · 09-20-2005, 03:46 PM

turns out i had a pretty badly cracked radiator. thanks again for the help.

terrastrife · 09-20-2005, 03:48 PM

go iron blocks!

nodrogkam · 09-20-2005, 04:57 PM

Best of luck to you!

***eyeball96*** · 09-21-2005, 05:47 AM

Another correct diagnosis from the members of TN

johnnyzee · 09-21-2005, 06:15 AM

use "jb weld" for rad crack repair, reinforce it with some mesh. pour a thick layer, then apply a piece of mesh, then pour another layer over it. that's how i did my old mazda, it's holding for 2 years now. dont use that rad repair stuff. JB weld' the way to go