Bloody Thermostat...Please HELP..! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Jamma! · 11-13-2004, 11:21 AM

How the hell do you get coolant in a Celica when you have a thermostat..??

I can do it with the stat removed (just using the ring to seal it)
although it is a right carry on, it eventually gets the air out.
jacked up front end, running the engine, squeezing hoses, topping up, waiting, waiting...
but it does work.

I've been driving around for two weeks without the stat and it's never lost a drop of water,
so I can fill it up and get the air out..!
so the system works fine without the stat...but it's not right is it..it needs a stat so I want it to have one!
it takes ages to get warm , I'm nearly at work before the gauge moves..!
and winter's coming here, and it's getting cold.

This is my second post on this problem,( previous was about 2 weeks ago called fitting a thermostat..?)
I've tried the other tips, turning the heater knob back and forth, revving it a bit.
I can't find the bleed screw.? (someone told me it's at the back and you get to it from under the car, but jacking and running it works.? it does without the stat..)

I've drilled a hole in the stat (removed the little pin also) so the air can pass through easier.
still no go..

It warms up nicely then starts to belch out coolant like a geezer, in nice 1 second intervals.
and I've kept it going, topping up, watching it belch out again, topping up ...
but just get nowhere..
turn off the engine and it chucks out a load of coolant and bubbles/boils till it's done (not long though) so there IS trapped air..

So is the stat wrong..?
It's new from the Toyota dealer, it opens in a pan of hot water, it's the right temp.
and it looks like the one in my Haynes manual, and fits in the car and seals no probs.

It's not a rad cap problem as I never get chance to put it on..(and it works when ran without the stat)

the car it jacked up at the front and on a slight slope.

Please Please help me it's sooooo frustrating

Sorry for going on and on, thanks for reading..

I can't believe the cooling system is this temperamental...is the any need..

Cheers Jamie

lcarocha · 11-13-2004, 11:29 AM

Maybe you have an air lock in the heater matrix... what I usually do when I change the coolant is to leave the rad cap open and turn on the heater to full and slightly accelerate the car to get the engine running hot... if I do this for awhile the temp should rise enough to make the thermostat open and trigger the fan.

Pineapple · 11-14-2004, 12:07 AM

Did you change the rad? Mine have similar problem with a pluged rad.

Jamma! · 11-14-2004, 06:15 AM

Thanks For the reply's
Yeah I've done both of your suggestions and still no good with the stat in...fine with it out..?

the Rad is what started all this. now it's shinny and new and works great as long as i don't want a bloody thermostat...!

there is an air lock, I am in no doubt about that ...but how do i get it out, with the stat in.

the air all comes out without the stat in place..

I'm gonna check with Toyota on the Stat,(On monday morning) make sure it's right..
(it does look and fit right but you never know.)

Keep thinking guys..
I know one of you has the answer...

Cheers
Jamie

Pineapple · 11-14-2004, 08:51 PM

I believe you put the pin/hole at highest point, right?
You also turn on the heater to get coolant flow?

Jamma! · 11-15-2004, 04:02 AM

Yeah I've done both. and no go.

dodger1 · 11-15-2004, 10:53 AM

Did you install the thermostat with the spring side in the head? The only bleed screw on your engine that I know of is the Allen head plug beside the thermostat housing. Doesn't look high enough to help much. I think you've got something else happening here. You might want to try a leak down test at this point. Remove the rad cap while doing the leak down test and watch for bubbles. Hope I'm wrong.

Jamma! · 11-16-2004, 03:01 PM

Yeah the stats the right way round,
and is a leak down test a similar thing to a cylinderhead pressure test ?
I'm british you know

, and me and you have a hole loads of different names for stuff, hoods and bonnets trunks and boots, and on and on..

Anyway..

so your hinting towards the head then..?

I hope not..