1992 Corolla Overheat Issues - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

vflower · 06-01-2011, 12:45 AM

Hey guys,

I was wondering if anyone would be able to tell me exactly what is wrong with my car or what they think is wrong with it.

Symptoms:
- Car overheats (doesn't smoke out with smoke or anything, just really high temperature) within the first mile that it drives after I let it warm up.
- When I drive it about 6 miles, the temperature climbs all the way to the top (HOT).
- Whenever I stop after driving it after it overheats, the radiator reservoir or overflow tank pours out all the coolant inside it from the top. The coolant basically pours out from the hole on the top of the overflow tank.

More:
- Before I can drive my car, I have to wait till it warms up (5-7 mins) otherwise the car stutter and hesitates and shuts off on me.
- This has been happening a month before my car began to overheat which it has been doing for the past week (1 week so far).

This is just been happening lately, could anyone tell me what the problem is? I think it is thermostat right? I was going to do a radiator flush, but I wasn't sure if that would help.

Anyone with suggestions? Thanks guys.

90 GP · 06-01-2011, 04:58 AM

Thermostat/radiator/water pump, inoperative cooling fan, lack of cooling system maintenance are all potential initial causes of the overheating. From your description and depending on how long this has been repeatedly occured you are probably now looking at a new head gasket. The pegged temp gauge and puking out the overflow are good indicators of that. Better get it fixed promptly or the engine will be toast.

vflower · 06-01-2011, 03:12 PM

Thanks of the reply.

I wanted to add more information to the symptoms:
- Before I can drive my car, I have to wait till it warms up (5-7 mins) otherwise the car stutter and hesitates and shuts off on me.
- This has been happening a month before my car began to overheat which it has been doing for the past week (1 week so far).

Not sure if the new information makes it easier to diagnose over the internet, but if it does make a difference or makes it certain that it is a headgasket problem, let me know.

If it is a headgasket problem, should I do a "Block Tester" as in this video @ 22:00?:

You Tube

I kind of wanted to know what I can do before having it diagnosed at a repair shop/charged for unnecessary fees. Money is tight these days, especially with being a college student. Please let feel free to give me any advice you guys my have.

Thanks for the help.

90 GP · 06-01-2011, 03:48 PM

Have never used or heard any feedback on how accurate that tester is for determining if exhaust gasses are leaking into combustion chamber.Most shops would use an electronic device to sniff for fumes and/or do a compression test. Your statement about running poorly when engine is cold makes me suspect head gasket even more so. I suspect when it first started running rough you had a minor head gasket leak which has gotten progressively worse and now the head gasket has totally failed causing your overheating. You could try a new stat but not real hopeful that would be the fix. The longer you keep driving it the greater the chances you go from a head gasket repair to a warped head or a total engine replacement .Also if the the cooling system is being over pressurized by compression leakage due to head gasket failure you risk causing a leak at heater core or any other weak link in the system. If all is working properly that temp gauge should never go above the middle of gauge. When mine goes just a tad over that the cooling fan kicks on till it once again registers in the middle.

vflower · 06-01-2011, 05:48 PM

I will do as you suggested and do a compression test first then since I have some buddies with the tools for that. If the compression test turns out good, I will do a thermostat replacement. After that if all else fails, I will just take it in and save the money I would have to spend finding a new car.

Thanks for the help.

90 GP · 06-01-2011, 06:00 PM

Here is a link to information on head gasket failure and what to look for.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techni...ad-gasket.html

***REN69*** · 06-04-2011, 05:12 PM

damnit, just replace the thermostat, they're usually cheap and easy to do... if this doesn't work then start to worry, 80% of the time is the thermostat... in your case it sounds like it, if you notice oil in the coolant or viceversa (milky looking oil)... or missing coolant (have to top up the rad and no signs of leaks) then your HG is gone.