91 tercel overheating - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

jwp1957 · 10-06-2005, 10:20 AM

thanks in advance this is my 1st post.our 91 tercel is overheating, it has 100k mi. without a timing belt change. it has been getting progresively harder to start. the thermostat, water pump, radiater andfan are all good, there is no smoke or steam from the exhaust. the water/coolant will boil out/evaporate within 2 miles. also, when filling up radiator, a constant supply of bubbles appear and the water level drops immediatley Can this be timing belt and/or head gasket? Thanks again

ToyotaTechGeek · 10-06-2005, 12:38 PM

ooooooo
bubbles in the coolant? big, bursting bubbles? kinda like a blown headgasket?!?!? do a compression check. also, check your ignition timing.

SkidPlayte · 10-06-2005, 08:16 PM

Has the water pump or radiator been replaced or worked on just before this started?

jwp1957 · 10-07-2005, 10:42 AM

first question, the bubbles are rather small, no big bubles at all.2nd question, the radiator was replaced with a new one about 6 months ago. the water pump seems to be pushing the water well. I squeezed the hose and it built up pressure . I will check the compresion after I get home from work today. This is my wife's car, it has about 90k on a used japanese motor, the shocks and struts are completely wiped out, so, I know we will have to decide if it is worth keeping or, getting another one. Anyone have any idea how much iot would cost to have the head gasket replaced? Thanks again for your time

ToyotaTechGeek · 10-07-2005, 10:02 PM

i dunno about cost...it costs me parts and whatever it costs to resurface the cylinder head.

SkidPlayte · 10-08-2005, 12:02 PM

The reason I asked about the radiator is that a friend installed his radiator and reversed the hoses, pretty easy to do since they will both reach. The coolant gets pumped backwards through the engine and radiator forcing hot water back to the motor and gushes bubbles then suddenly recedes, just as you described and happens very quickly and the temp gauge pegs. But if the radiator was replaced and the car was driven for 6 months with no problem I doubt thats your problem. I'd check the hose placements and coolant flow with a repair manual just to be sure, though.