Major Cooling Issue

[TwoFortyCoupe]

I posted on the Technical forum but more input the better.
Ok guys, I'm having too much fun with all these damn problems. I'm driving the car, I thought I fixed the cluster because everything was working, then I hit a speed bump and the cluster goes out. So whatever thats another issue of its own. I keep driving it on the way home and steam starts pouring out of the hood. I pop the hood and steam everywhere. The car is peeping extremely loud too. The coolant has symptoms of overheating. The overflow bottle is filling up and dumping out onto the ground. I managed to get it home running like s***. Sorry about all the questions but I would ask these questions if I didn't have all these problems.

Thanks, any input appreciated
TwoFortyCoupe

[300ZXttZMAN]

Double posting is usual looked down at...

But anyway i don't think i gave you a welcome when you joined so welcome!

[sx moneypit]

Have you been having any problems with the cooling system or did it just start doing this all the sudden?

[TwoFortyCoupe]

My bad about the double posting but I just rebuilt the motor with stock internals and this is my first cooling issue.

[sx moneypit]

Could be something as simple as a thermostat sticking.

[TwoFortyCoupe]

Uh..... I don't have a thermostat

[LandRoverHack]

You should always run a thermostat. is the radiator holding pressure?? Are the coolant hoses new? do you have good flow pass the radiator?. does it overheat at idle or only on the highway??

[Towncivilian]

Is the radiator cap OEM? See this TSB for instructions on inspecting the radiator cap.

Install a thermostat. Preferably an OEM one, and boil it before you install it to ensure its operation.

[TwoFortyCoupe]

Can anybody explain the loud peeping

[sx moneypit]

Are you hearing this noise with the engine running ?

[TwoFortyCoupe]

Both when the engine was running and when it was off.

[TwoFortyCoupe]

Why would the radiator cap be an issue? If it is the radiator cap, I have an aftermarket radiator, can I use a brand new oem 240 radiator cap on it?

[Towncivilian]

The radiator cap pressurizes the cooling system and if the pressure becomes too high, some fluid escapes into the overflow tank. If the pressure is set too high or the radiator cap is nonfunctional, obviously issues can occur. As far as I know you should be able to use an OEM radiator cap on your aftermarket rad.

[TwoFortyCoupe]

So I keep hearing its my thermostat, but I don't have one since installing aftermarket hoses. So I've narrowed it down to (thanks to NICO) the radiator cap (im just going to install a new one) or the water pump. Is it possible that it is the water pump?

[TwoFortyCoupe]

Ok this car is haunted the car is overheating BUT it's NOT overheating the thermostat reads that it's at 190 ish as well as an infered thermometer but whe I'm taking these temps of the block the coolant is bubbling and overflowing. New radiator cap and coolant too. Could it be the water pump or the head gasket? I'm outta ideas

[rioredstang]

I don't understand what installing hoses has to do with the thermostat. The engine must have a thermostat or water will by-pass the radiator and just circle around in the engine. When the thermostat opens it covers the by-pass port from the upper radiator hose.

Install a good quality stat in the engine. I had a cheap one stick and cause me to burn up a new race motor. Open the bleeder on top of the engine and make sure to get all the air out.

[TwoFortyCoupe]

I have 110 compression in my 3rd cylinder I'm assuming it's the head gasket

[Towncivilian]

Why are you running without a thermostat again? The thermostat controls engine temperature. If the engine temperature is too low, moisture will not boil off from the engine oil and problems will result.

[TwoFortyCoupe]

I'm not there is a thermostat I installed one

[Towncivilian]

Oh, sorry, I guess I skipped over a couple of new replies. What brand thermostat did you install?

[TwoFortyCoupe]

NTC Hey towncivilian what part of Florida do u live in because I want somebody to kinda teach me how to replace a head gasket I'm too nervous about messing the timing but I don't want a shop to do it because I wanna learn myself knowledge is power

[Towncivilian]

I live in Palm City. I don't know how to replace a head gasket. I guess I can help you if you need an extra set of hands or to use some tools though. I also get discount pricing at my local dealer, so if you need an OEM headgasket or coolant and stuff like that for the job I can help you out there (obviously you pay for the parts though ).

[TwoFortyCoupe]

Yeah I'm in delray which is like an hour away I'm just looking for somebody that knows how to rip the head off without messing with timing yes a shop can do that but one I'm 18 and have like no money and two I wanna get awe certified eventually and want to know how to do this s*** do u have any friends that could help me out

[Towncivilian]

None of my friends know how to replace a head gasket either. I don't think I have any friends except one who own a Nissan, and he doesn't care about it (and it's a 2009 Altima ). Anyway, have you checked in the FSM to see how difficult replacing the head gasket would be? I did a quick skim in the EM and LC sections but didn't find anything related to the head gasket, maybe I'm blind.

Before anything though, are you sure that the head gasket is bad? Is there coolant in the oil or vice versa?

[TwoFortyCoupe]

Um there isn't oil in the coolant nor is white smoke coming out the tail pipe but there is low compression and the overheating, compactfean liked the idea of it being the head gasket but I'm doing the leak test tomorrow to be 100% sure I just pray to god it's not the ring lands