98 Overheating all of a sudden!!

[Tom98Sport]

I was going down the road today and got a "check gauge" light. To my
real surprise the engine temp gauge was pegged. It was one of the first
times this year I've run the heater, when I turned the heat off the
gauge dropped some and the check gauge light went off but the gauge was
still higher than normal.. So I turned around and got it back home.

I popped the hood and nothing unusual going on there. I disconnected the
battery for a while thinking maybe there was some electronic glitch. I
hooked it back up and ran down the road for a test run, again the gauge
started creeping back high. It also ran a bit different, before and
after the battery disconnect. No fluid is steaming out or running into
the overflow tank.

OK, so could it be a bad thermostat? I could change that. Old school
here. I really don't want to take it to the Dealer and get reamed. I
really don't know what it could be in that computerized mess.


Any ideas or suggestions? Save me from the dealer.

Tommy

4.0, 85k miles

 

[Alec]

I'd say replace the thermostat and go from there. Stay with a stock range tstat, 190-195 degrees.

 

[Tom98Sport]

I did a search here and it sounds like a thermostat will hopefully take care of it.

Another concern, I see folks talking about paying $30.00 for a theromstat!!! Then others say to get a Stant from Auto Zone, etc, for much less. What gives there?

Thanks
Tommy

 

[Jason_25]

Yeah get the cheap one. The more expensive kinds are the ones that open at a cooler temperature level, which is not a good idea.

 

[SANDSURFER'98]

IT HAPPEND TO ME TOO

HELLO THERE,
I HAVE OWNED 2 98 SPORTS AND HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH BOTH. WITH THE FIRST 98 I OWNED THE SENSOR THAT TURNS ON THE WATER PUMP HAD GONE BAD AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.( THIS ALSO OCCURED WHEN I TURNED ON MY HEATER, IN FLORIDA THIS IS A RARE THING, SO PERHAPS THIS PROBLEM OCCURES WHEN THE HEATER IS NOT USED FOR A LONG TIME) SINCE THE SENSOR WAS BAD THE WATER PUMP WOULD NOT TURN ON AND ALLOW THE ENGINE TO COOL DOWN, SO THEREFOR IT WOULD OVER HEAT, IT ONLY COST ME ABOUT 30.00 TO GET REPLACED AND INSTALLED. IT RAN FINE AFTER THAT WITH NO OVER HEATING. THE MECHANIC I TOOK MY TRUCK TO SAID IT COULD BE THE RADIATOR ITSELF BUT I HAD A SECOND OPINION DONE AND WE FOUND THE REAL PROBLEM. WITH MY SECOND TRUCK IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND I HAD IT FIXED IN A DAY. IF I CAN HELP WITH ANYTHING ELSE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. GOOD LUCK!! KEVIN.PRIEST@WACHOVIA.COM

 

[Jason_25]

Wow a sensor to turn on the water pump? I wasn't aware of anything like that.

 

[Robert]

That sensor would be otherwise known as the thermostat. The water pump is always "on" since the pulley is driven by the one and only serpentien belt. When the thermostat is closed, the water pump can't pump the water through the cooling loop. When it opens, the water pump can get the coolant flowing.

 

[410Fortune]

Buy 3 or 4 thermostats and test them before you install one. You will be surprised to find the heat range varies a great deal from stat to stat. Youwant to see when the thermostat is fully open. boil some water and use a thermometer, the stat should be fully open at 195. install the one that works and return the rest.......

Also sounds like a waterpump problem to me, common on the SOHC.

 

[Clif]

Same problem...Same state over heating

I have a 98 with under 39k miles. The other day my wife took the kids to school and it over heated. I had steam coming from the rear of the engine where I found a loose bolt( back right near head. I can't tell where it attaches but looks like the intake. I tightened it up and topped off the radiator. Now when it heats up water boils out of the radiator fill (I took the rad. cap off before it overheated). The bolt loose could be a coincidence, I don't know. Why would it boil? I can't see any oil in the fluid. Oil level is good. I can't see anything because of the fuel injection plastic over the engine. ARRRRGGG! I am a Fireman in Melbourne FL. If the truck caught fire I could probably put it out. I really don't want and can't afford the dealer to repair. ANY HELP?
Clif cduy@aol.com

 

[TPLYNCH]

Start w/the thermostat and see what happens