93 Camry Overheat

The coolant bubbles in the overflow bottle, the gauge is in the red
zone. It happens after driving about 80km for half an hour, then
slowing down and sitting in stop and go traffic for about 15 mins. My
Camry has not been overheating except in these conditions but once it
overheats, the gauge will shoot up again quickly even if allowed to
cool for an hour or so. I have had the radiator and thermostat
replaced. Now the dealer is talking head gasket (about $1400) but
there are no other signs that the head gasket is gone.
I am reluctant to spend the money on an iffy answer when maybe the same
thing will happen again. When the dealer put the new thermostat in, he
idled the car for a few hours and it did not overheat.
I would appreciate any help.
Thanks
Mary


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mary bruce
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On Sat, 18 Jun 2005 20:03:19 -0500, mary bruce wrote:
[color=blue]
>
> The coolant bubbles in the overflow bottle, the gauge is in the red
> zone. It happens after driving about 80km for half an hour, then
> slowing down and sitting in stop and go traffic for about 15 mins. My
> Camry has not been overheating except in these conditions but once it
> overheats, the gauge will shoot up again quickly even if allowed to
> cool for an hour or so. I have had the radiator and thermostat
> replaced. Now the dealer is talking head gasket (about $1400) but
> there are no other signs that the head gasket is gone.
> I am reluctant to spend the money on an iffy answer when maybe the same
> thing will happen again. When the dealer put the new thermostat in, he
> idled the car for a few hours and it did not overheat.
> I would appreciate any help.
> Thanks
> Mary[/color]

Signs of a blown head gasket (BHG) are white smoke from the tailpipe or a
milky appearance in the engine oil, or an oily appearance in the coolant.
If the car is overheating as badly as you describe, you will have at least
one of these symptoms apparent.

Other than that, when they replaced the thermostat and the radiator, did
they FLUSH the cooling system? I had a Corolla doing exactly what you
described, I replace the thermostat to no avail; a good flushing solved
the problem and I could only drive the car for another 3 years after that.
I couldn't drive it any longer 'cause I traded it in and then saw it for 3
more years after that! ;)

Good luck.

"Hachiroku" <Trueno@ae86.gts> wrote in message
news:pan.2005.06.19.02.04.12.672000@ae86.gts...[color=blue]
> On Sat, 18 Jun 2005 20:03:19 -0500, mary bruce wrote:
>[color=green]
>>
>> The coolant bubbles in the overflow bottle, the gauge is in the red
>> zone. It happens after driving about 80km for half an hour, then
>> slowing down and sitting in stop and go traffic for about 15 mins. My
>> Camry has not been overheating except in these conditions but once it
>> overheats, the gauge will shoot up again quickly even if allowed to
>> cool for an hour or so. I have had the radiator and thermostat
>> replaced. Now the dealer is talking head gasket (about $1400) but
>> there are no other signs that the head gasket is gone.
>> I am reluctant to spend the money on an iffy answer when maybe the same
>> thing will happen again. When the dealer put the new thermostat in, he
>> idled the car for a few hours and it did not overheat.
>> I would appreciate any help.
>> Thanks
>> Mary[/color]
>
> Signs of a blown head gasket (BHG) are white smoke from the tailpipe or a
> milky appearance in the engine oil, or an oily appearance in the coolant.
> If the car is overheating as badly as you describe, you will have at least
> one of these symptoms apparent.
>
> Other than that, when they replaced the thermostat and the radiator, did
> they FLUSH the cooling system? I had a Corolla doing exactly what you
> described, I replace the thermostat to no avail; a good flushing solved
> the problem and I could only drive the car for another 3 years after that.
> I couldn't drive it any longer 'cause I traded it in and then saw it for 3
> more years after that! ;)
>
> Good luck.[/color]

Bubbles in the overflow bottle are signs of a coolant leak or head gasket or
head problem.

Before you go with the head gasket, try replacing the radiator cap, check
the cooling fan operation, make sure all shrouds and shields are in place,
and make sure that the thermostat was not installed upside down.
--
Ray O
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