Toyota Corrola 1984 - Engine Overheating

I have checked all obvious things and the engin is till overheadting... ie
oil, water etc?It overheats as soon as I start driving. Should I put water
in the radiator, there is a little tube running to it from the water tank
but there doesn't seem to be any water in it? is there anything else I can
check, also I don't know anything about cars but really cannot afford to
take it to a shop to get fixed, just had MOT done so it really should be
playing up. I could do with any advice!

many thanks

If the overflow tank is empty you may have a leak somewhere.
Check the coolant level in the radiator - Cold - fill the recovery
tank, monitor level, and look around all the hoses and radiator fins
for leaks.
If the level stays up, and the car continues to run hot, replace the
thermostat.

BEFORE you start the car in the morning, or after it has been parked long
enough to cool down, open the radiator itself and check for coolant. Fill
the coolant (avoid water if you can) to about 1.5 inches from the the top of
the filler neck, then put the cap back on and fill the reservior bottle to
the line indicated on the outside.

After that, buy a 6-pack for a friend, and have him or her take a look at
your car for you. In yoiur first sentence, you say you rchecked all of the
obvious things, but later you said you don't know anything about cars. I
have to wonder what the obvious things are to a person that knows nothing.





"dekock" <a.j.de-kock@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:2962192ff2d5167917a52560bbe09e37@localhost.talkaboutautos.com...[color=blue]
>I have checked all obvious things and the engin is till overheadting... ie
> oil, water etc?It overheats as soon as I start driving. Should I put water
> in the radiator, there is a little tube running to it from the water tank
> but there doesn't seem to be any water in it? is there anything else I can
> check, also I don't know anything about cars but really cannot afford to
> take it to a shop to get fixed, just had MOT done so it really should be
> playing up. I could do with any advice!
>
> many thanks
>[/color]

"dekock" <a.j.de-kock@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:2962192ff2d5167917a52560bbe09e37@localhost.talkaboutautos.com...[color=blue]
>I have checked all obvious things and the engin is till overheadting... ie
> oil, water etc?It overheats as soon as I start driving. Should I put water
> in the radiator, there is a little tube running to it from the water tank
> but there doesn't seem to be any water in it? is there anything else I can
> check, also I don't know anything about cars but really cannot afford to
> take it to a shop to get fixed, just had MOT done so it really should be
> playing up. I could do with any advice!
>
> many thanks
>[/color]

Use antifreeze mixed 50/50 with water; do not use straight water in the
cooling system. Make sure that the radiator is full and the overflow tank
is filled to the "cold" mark on the tank.

make sure that the electric cooling fans mounted behind the radiator are
working.

After that, take it to a competent technician.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Ray O, 5/28/2006,2:25:12 PM, wrote:
[color=blue]
> Use antifreeze mixed 50/50 with water; do not use straight water in
> the cooling system. Make sure that the radiator is full and the
> overflow tank is filled to the "cold" mark on the tank.[/color]

Most everyone else says distilled water and you suggest regular water.
I believe the dealer uses regular water also. What is the "official"
type of water to use?

Most parts of the country water for a municipal water system is fine.
However if your water source has a high mineral content, use distilled
water. Ask your wife, she will most likely know your type of water. ;)


mike hunt


"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:xn0emrqa01quccv001@news.readfreenews.net...[color=blue]
> Ray O, 5/28/2006,2:25:12 PM, wrote:
>[color=green]
>> Use antifreeze mixed 50/50 with water; do not use straight water in
>> the cooling system. Make sure that the radiator is full and the
>> overflow tank is filled to the "cold" mark on the tank.[/color]
>
> Most everyone else says distilled water and you suggest regular water.
> I believe the dealer uses regular water also. What is the "official"
> type of water to use?[/color]

"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:xn0emrqa01quccv001@news.readfreenews.net...[color=blue]
> Ray O, 5/28/2006,2:25:12 PM, wrote:
>[color=green]
>> Use antifreeze mixed 50/50 with water; do not use straight water in
>> the cooling system. Make sure that the radiator is full and the
>> overflow tank is filled to the "cold" mark on the tank.[/color]
>
> Most everyone else says distilled water and you suggest regular water.
> I believe the dealer uses regular water also. What is the "official"
> type of water to use?[/color]

Most people use tap water; distilled water is much better to use. The
original factory fill uses distilled water to dilute the coolant mix and is
good for 3 years. Toyota assumes that most people will use tap water so
subsequent coolant services are recommended every 2 years thereafter. I
have not really studied the newer long life coolants so I don't know what
the replacement interval for long life coolant is.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)