another overhating thread

[DrifterXRPS13]

i searched just to let ya know...here's my problem, i have an 89 s13, and it keeps overheating, kinda....it starts up fine and drives at normal temp for like 15 minutes...and then it'll get hotter, it'll rise all the way to H, then it'll sit there for a second (i have my heat on full blast at this point) and then it'll slowly go back down...this is after about 20 minutes after starting the car....then, it fluctuates depending on my rpms...if i take it up to 3000 and go a little faster than speed limited, it rises...if i stay below that rpm and stay at speed limit the needle stays at normal temp...the weird thing is that when i floor it and beat on it like crazy, it stays normal...well, i have a new water pump, and a new cap, the rad is full, and so is the reservoir....i noticed some coolant on the radiator from the upper rad hose so i replaced that yesterday, but it's still overheating...i tried the bleeding procedure to see if there was air in the system...nothing came out of the bleeder screw, i let it sit for like 10 minutes, and nothing....so i don't know what that means, unless i'm doing it wrong...also, i noticed that when i was changing my upper rad hose, the radiator itself is missing like 4 rows of fins on the backside, i only saw it because i was in a weird position trying to get the rad hose off...sorry i know its long but please help...

[FliMSiCaL]

is the car actually overheating, like steam coming out, etc? the tmperature gauge is known to crap itself. You are supposed to open the bleed screw and fill the system until antifreeze starts coming out of the bleed screw. Did u change ur thermostat when u put new pump on? check that too.

[DrifterXRPS13]

well that's the thing, the car itself is not actually heating up, there's no steam, no boiling over,...oh, so i open the bleeder screw and then just fill the radiator until coolant starts coming out of the bleeding screw, no i have not replaced the thermostat...what if it is the temp gauge, how do i go about fixing that?...thanks

[FliMSiCaL]

either the temp gauge sending unit or the gauge itself needs to be replaced, there's short somewhere that making ur needle have a mind of its own. I havn't fixed mine yet, i just ignore the gauge, my car tells me if it overheats in several other ways

[sanioll]

DEFINITELY SOUNDS LIKE A DAMAGED THERMOSTAT/

it heats up badly, and than thermostat opens. now fluid starts going thru the radioator; thats why it doesnt overheat, when you beat on it.

replace the thermostat.

[Sydewynder]

I have a similar problem. cars overheating... like boiling over andsteaming. just replaced a raditor that had a hole in it. unsure what to try next