240sx Is Overheating

[bigedog8]

Alright so I just bought this car knowing it overheats, ive been on this board a long time ago but this is the first time ive ever owned a 240 on here

anyways. the kid i bought it from said he put a new waterpump and thermostat in it, im gonna put a new radiator cap on it because i think it could use one of those. but ive been reading that the autozone thermostats are crap, and seeing that he had a valucraft belt in the back im guessing he bought the crappy valucraft thermostat thats like 4 bucks. Do you think the off brand thermostat could be causing my problems?

also, today the heater quit blowing warm air, it was cooler than it was the last few days i drove it (short trips it didnt overheat). plus I noticed when it was warmed up, the upper radiator hose was warm but the lower hose which goes to the tstat was cool like nothing was flowing through it. same with the heater hoses, one warm, one cool, so its obviously not flowing somewhere.

also which direction does the coolant flow on this car i was looking for a diagram but couldnt find it. any help is much appreciated. thanks!

[justy90240sx]

by the way u explain it. it sound like a thremostat. now im sure u have already checked the level of ur coolant and that its is still good. the system pulls water from your bottom hose on radiator through the thermostat to the water pump then through the engine and heater hose, then through the top hose back to the radiator.

[bigedog8]

the thermostat is spring side should be facing the block correct? if so it was in backwards and thats the problem

[RCA]

Does the water leak at all?Because if it does then you are suffering the same issue that claimed the life of my KA.

It started leaking to the point where I would have to fill it ever morning. Then eventually the water leaked soo fast that my water pump wasn't lubed and the pump went. My car's heat didn't work after that.

Watch your rear main seal and head gasket now that your car is starting to over heat.

[XxShaoLixX]

If its not the thermostat, water pump, heater core or radiator leak try bleeding the system its the little screw right at the end of the top radiator hose. My friends had all the new parts but still over-heating then he remembered to bleed it so trst me save yourself and time and try that 5 minute process lol

[bigedog8]

ya we are putting it back together now, it doesnt leak anywhere at all, like i said, the thermostat was put in backwards, but we uncovered that the hillbillies that owned the car before me broke the housing and on the motor side and had jb welded it back together........ good thing my buddy has a spare motor across the street with the front engine cover in excellent shape. and I will make sure the system gets bled well.

ill let you all know if it was all the thermostat being backwards fault but im sure it is, springs not heating up and it wouldnt open but barely and was blocking the coolant because the radiator was getting very very little flow.

also I didnt overheat it but its possible the tards that owned it b 4 me did, i might swap the motor to something else or another ka n e ways we will see how it goes

[Vegascorbin]

If the thermostat has a small hole in the outer ring of it then the hole goes up.

Wish I had a picture, but there is the large hole for normal flow and then a smaller hole that has like a rivit that is loose in it. This hole goes up. Not sure why but from othr posts I've read it makes a differance. (sorry don't remember the threads or I woul dpost them)