99 q overheating

[redtopsdrop]

i changed out my knock sensors, and now after hooking back up radiator, it started running hot. i filled it back up, and thought i got all the air out. ended up changing to electric fan, since clutch fan was crapping out. drove it today, got home and the radiator blew out. went a looked at it and it was cracked across the top. so now i have a radiator on order. and ideas on what could keep me overheating. i keep thinking there's a bubble in the system somewhere, but where is there a bleeder on these things. any info is appreciated.

[BadQ45t]

You should replace everything while you have it apart, hopefully this will be the last time. My 97' has never even been above 1/2 point in the hotest weather with A/C on so these cars usually run quite cold. The thermostat is probably old and needs replacement as well. Hopefully you didn't do any real damage when it overheated. What brand of radiator did you buy?

[redtopsdrop]

i bought an oe replacement. aluminum jobber. i plan on selling the car so no need for koyo or anything, just a step above stock. i'm gonna go ahead and replace the tstat while everything is out. before doing the knocks it ran cold.

[Infinitiguy19]

When you say "They run cold" what temperature do they normally run at?

[Skibane]

ended up changing to electric fan, since clutch fan was crapping out.

I don't think there's an electric fan in the entire universe that compares to the cooling power of an OEM fan and fan clutch in good working order. When the clutch locks up and the engine is spinning at 2000+ RPM, there is a truly massive amount of air being pulled through the radiator - You'd need hundreds of amps of 12 volt current to produce the same amount of airflow with electric fans.

I would suggest selling your electric fan on ebay, and coughing up the money for a genuine OEM fan clutch.

[BadQ45t]

The gauge runs not even half-way.....not sure what that temp is but it isn't 1/2 up the gauge.

[redtopsdrop]

ended up changing to electric fan, since clutch fan was crapping out.

I don't think there's an electric fan in the entire universe that compares to the cooling power of an OEM fan and fan clutch in good working order. When the clutch locks up and the engine is spinning at 2000+ RPM, there is a truly massive amount of air being pulled through the radiator - You'd need hundreds of amps of 12 volt current to produce the same amount of airflow with electric fans.

I would suggest selling your electric fan on ebay, and coughing up the money for a genuine OEM fan clutch.

took your advice and ordered an oem fan clutch and a new thermostat. i'm gonna porbly just hang on to the electric fan for later use on something.

[Infinitiguy19]

Use it to cool the transmission cooler you should add on if you haven't already.

[redtopsdrop]

thats not a bad idea.

[Lokim]

As far as bleeding the cooling system goes, head down to the part store and get yourself a cooling system funnel. They have radiator adapters that allow you to run the car with the radiator open for bleeding. Turn the heater on full hot, and the fan off. Start the car. Warm the car up until you reach full operating temperature and let it idle for about 10 minutes. If you have an air pocket this bleeding method will "burp" it.