Now that the temp here in Portland has gotten into the high 70s, low 80s, my car is running even warmer. It was pinging yesterday and the fan ran almost constantly on the way home from work. Still no coolant loss or any other sign of bad things happening. Needle running about 10:00 on the gauge. Maybe a little more. This is just too warm for my tastes. It is going to get into the mid 80s to 90s before long. How can I determine of my radiator or water pump are OK? I am ready to just replace the radiator but I do not want to just throw money at the problem as I do not have a lot.
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Pat Callaghan
90 Corolla DX
Portland, OR.
The water pump is all metal with rubber rings and bearings. There's a weep hole on it right behind it's pulley. If it leaks coolant from there and/or around the water pump itself, or make abnormal sounds and what not, it's time for a new one.
As for your radiator, make sure it's clean and the fins are not all dented and stuff.
For complete internal cooling system check, do a flush. If everything flows right, no clogs.
For antifreeze, buy the 50/50 antifreeze and fill the cooling system with that. Personally like the green 50/50 mix from Prestone, never done me wrong.
Looking at the needle it does seem a little on the warm side to me too. I am not sure of the accuracy of these gauges, I have been thinking of adding a quality digital gauge to get a more accurate reading of my water temp and oil pressure. Something that came to mind is maybe your thermostat is starting to go bad...maybe it is not opening all the way thus giving you a higher temp reading in hot weather but staying at normal with cooler weather.
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1990 Corolla SR5 Coupe 4AFE 5-speed
"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!"~ Dr. Strangelove, 1964
Yeah, it should sit at the middle... I'm also thinking thermostat, mine was stuck open so my car would be in warm up mode all the time.
Thermostats are cheap, change it first and if it keeps going then you'll have to keep troubleshooting... could also be the coolant is too old, when is the last time you got a flush done?
As for the rad, touch the fins with your thumb, if they're too easy to push in or they come right off the rad then it's time for a new one.
Just a thought...what was the temperature rating for the thermostat you replaced? If the rating was higher than the original thermostat, then the gauge I believe would read higher than before.
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1990 Corolla SR5 Coupe 4AFE 5-speed
"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!"~ Dr. Strangelove, 1964
It was a stock spec, 180F. I am replacing the radiator on Sat. That should take care of it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kcwa
Just a thought...what was the temperature rating for the thermostat you replaced? If the rating was higher than the original thermostat, then the gauge I believe would read higher than before.
__________________
Pat Callaghan
90 Corolla DX
Portland, OR.
Years of using aftermarket antifreeze and/or tap water in the cooling system causes mineral buildups inside the radiator core tubes that deminishes the heat transfer capability of the radiator.
Radiator changed nothing. Still running too warm. On top of that, the A/C sensor did not fit and the transmission cooler lines were too low. Had to modify them to get the thing installed.
__________________
Pat Callaghan
90 Corolla DX
Portland, OR.
Is it possible to use some type of thermometer to get an accurate reading of your water temp? If the water temp is okay...maybe it can be a sensor that is out of whack.
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1990 Corolla SR5 Coupe 4AFE 5-speed
"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!"~ Dr. Strangelove, 1964
When this first started I stuck a candy thermometer in the neck of the radiator. The fan is supposed to come on at 96C/200F. It came on right at 200F. At the point when the fan came on, the gauge was showing the same reading as the above photo. I do not know what to do at this point.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kcwa
Is it possible to use some type of thermometer to get an accurate reading of your water temp? If the water temp is okay...maybe it can be a sensor that is out of whack.
__________________
Pat Callaghan
90 Corolla DX
Portland, OR.
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