Sounds like you have replaced most everything. Here's a couple of things to think about. Is is really overheating? Have you verified temp with a mechanical gauge? If so - if it seems to be cooling when above 20mph or so, and since the radiator has been replaced, it would point to not enough airflow, which means your fans. Are they getting full voltage - are they spinning at full RPM? Is the area running up to the front of the radiator blocked by some object? Were the fans ever replaced or modified. Are they spinning in the correct direction (wired backwards)?

 

PAK

We have verified that the water temp is exceeded 350+ and it
should be around 240.

Now we are looking at the water pump. I have gone through a
couple of batteries since it was replaced which leads me to think
that they ran the belt wrong.

 

Are you blowing out anysmoke at all? Just wondering.... since you replaced most everything, have you considered the possiblity one of your head gaskets is blown.

If you'd like to check this out, when you change your oil look at the oil. It shouldn't look milky or that some other liquid is mixed with it. If it does, coolant is probably mixing with the oil because of the head gasket.

Hope that helps some.

 

We checked that, nothing blown and no smoke.

Checked the belt, it's on right.

It's has to be a bad water pump!

 

But you said you had already replaced your pump. Although your second one may be bad, it seems less likely the cause. Have you checked for compression gases in your water? A small leak around the combustion chamber (could be head gasket or a crack), will cause air to build up in your water, which can gather around your pump, causing cavitation. This can happen without any other common signs, like water in the oil.

 

Is the water pump *really* circulating coolant? Pull off the radiator cap, start the engine, and watch - long before your gauge goes to the red zone, you should have rad fluid getting pumped out. If it isn't coming out, then your water pump isn;t circulating rad fluid.

 

I recently incountered a similar problem

Maybe you have already checked, but I found a similar problem on a motor.

The cause was, upon closer inspection I found the radiator packed full of dirt clods-mud,etc.

Sometimes new thermostats are not rated the same as the one that used to work and will allow the motor to run hotter.


Hope this helps

 

Sorry friend

Did not read that as close as I thought.
Sorry

Tough problem- no IDEA's here

 

1 more try

I assume you have, but did you replace your radiator cap.
They are rated for a specific pressure and will go bad after awhile.

 

It looks like the problem may be that my timing belt was loose.
The car just hit 60K, so we'll do the big tuneup and see what happens. Should be done by Saturday.
Damn, you would think I have a sick child the way I worry about this car!

Thanks for all of your input, you guy's are amazing!

 

Damn son of an overheating BITCH!!!!

I replaced the radiator, the timing belt, tensioners, water pump and thermostat. The hermonic balancer needs to be replaced but that's not going to effect temp is it? Both fans are working fine.

The damn car still go's to right below red when accelerating and in traffic.

All of this work and it does exactly the same thing!!!!!!!

We checked pressure for a blown gasket twice, nothing there.

The engine makes no strange noises when close to red.

Do you think my gauge is bad?

I think I can get a laser temp gauge that you point at the hottest part of the engine and get a temp readout.

What is the correct temp for this car?
Where should I point the laser beam?

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

My only guess is ...You said the harmonic bal.needs replacing.If I am remembering right the balancers outter ring(the one the belt rides on) is seperated from the main section of the balancer by rubber.Could this rubber ring be broken and allowing the balancer to be turning at the correct speed while the outter ring and belt turns at a slower speed?I mean you have checked every thing else and theres really nothing else that can go wrong with the pulley. Good luck, Mike

 

Mikes95RT, thanks.....

I hope the balancer holds out while I scrape up the bucks to replace it. Any idea where I should point the Laser temp gauge?
I just got it and I guess I'll point it right below the radiator cap.

 

Trash the thermostat!!!!! I never run one in any of my vehicles until the need for warm air in the fall and winter.
El Camino..280,000 miles
Malibu wagon...260,000 miles
Dodge Stealth...200,000 + miles
The only time I had overheating problems was when the Stealth blew a head gasket but that was easily
solved and now runs at 180 degres and keeps that oil pressure high ( which helps the cooling also)

 

The balancer doesn't have anything to do with your overheating. If the balancer was bad the engine would probably vibrate.

Look under the front end of the car and make sure the black plastic air dam is still under there. Since these cars don't have a grill that air damn pulls air up into the radiator. I ran into this on a '90 Camaro. It ate my lunch for 3 days.

Also check your air/fuel mixture. Running to lean will cause it overheat too.



Dave

 

Did you replace the radiator cap? Do so if you have not...it CAN matter. As for Pickel's post, I would have to say that trashing the thermostat is NOT a good idea. While I think it's great you have had such luck without using one, I and I am pretty sure most professional mechanics would disagree with you. Running wihout a thermostat can be very bad for your engine if you ever get caught in traffic. You have relatively little air moving over your radiator and without the coolant cycling...what will keep the coolant from operating outside normal temperatures.....NOTHING. The coolant will get hotter and hotter until you blow a hose or worse. Running on the interstate at night in cooler climates or in rain allows the engine to run too cool and therefore the electronic mixture control won't function properly causing other problems. Thousands of engineers can't be wrong..its on there for a reason.

 

Okay

A few questions first. WHen it gets hot is your radiator fluid low? if it is is your overflow tank full? I had that problem and it was a head gasket. I took it to 5 different shops and I knew it had to be the gasket but everyone said it was not. there was no emissions in the cooling system but there was a runner from cylinder to cooling passage. no water in oil or oil in water. I replaced the cap, radiator, T-stat 4 times, T-stat housing everything that is in the system and it was all on a 2,000mi. engine. finally I told the shop to take the heads off and there it was!!!! Well I hope the best for you but if the overflow tank is full I'll bet you have a blown head gasket...

Good luck!

 

fluegge,

I will replace the radiator cap today. From your description it sounds like I did blow a head gasket. What is the aprox cost of replacement?

Thanks again to all of you for your help and support!

 

not for sure

Well I do know if you take it to a shop the book time is 17.5 hours to replace the gaskets. And around here the rate is $65 an hour is approx $1100. And don't let anyone get you the Felpro gaskets!!!!! I repeat NO FELPRO gaskets!!! Get the ones from the dealer they are about 250 for the head set but they are a lot better! Hope all goes well..
Mike

 

fluegge,

Thanks for the info. I guess I better take it to Mitsu and let them
poke around, I'm tired of messing with it.

95VR$

 

Thermosat

The use of the thermostat in any car, esspecially computer based vehicles, to to regulate the combustion temperature with regulates the mount of smog created by the exhuast gases exiting the engine. Considering all the mal-tuned buses , tractor/ trailer rigs, airplanes that contribute vastly more smog than my few vehicles, I run my engines as cool as I can to reduce wear and extend life as well as increase performance. Cooler is better, more heat... more friction. As far as overheating in traffic., that's what clutch fans and electric fans with thermistors are made for.
If you'd like a more techical explantion, send me an email. Thousands of engineers are WRONG, everyday, I know , I work with dozens of them

 

I had problems with my non turbo over heating once i replaced thermastat radiator rad hoses pump turned out to be the dam cap it had given out and was letting the coolant run all out through the opverflow

 

Hi NOw how about that Radiator cap.

Did you try replacing your radiator cap yet, ( some mechanics shops can test them for you!)
If you remove your radiator cap turn it upside down. Look at the rubber gasket if it is cracked, missing, or spongey--> it will not hold pressure in your cooling system--> which you must have.





<a href="http://www.ezinfocenter.com/1529897/dsl">

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Hell, I'm scared to look now! If it is the cap I'll shit!

 

Bad Gauge

Took out the thermostat, no change.

What is the normal operating temp for a 95 VR4?

Maybe the temp gauge is bad?