bigpimp347

hi..
i was a member of other forums but to pay for advice was not my thing..

got a 96 version 2 STI.

always been good since i've had it..
temp was always good, heaters worked etc..
this is how it was, running the temp was always low or cold, only rising to 3/8ths or just over 1/4 from cold mark whilst standing, driving always less.

now one day went to half way for no reason then up and over,
the heaters had stopped being hot to warm to near nothing for a while, so blockage ??
then the engine overheated within a few miles from cold..
don't want to believe its the head gasket so got a few opinions and told it could be the water pump, as bottom hose was cold, heater pipes were cold etc.
(not thermostat as don't have one )

so new graham goode pump and belt fitted and temp seems all good.
drops to cold on driving, heaters get warm (not hot) but pipes all feel under pressure still..
so left it over night to cool and steady it's self, went to check the water/coolant and it just flooded out the filler top when i opened it..

so any ideas ???
was there to much water in the system ??
was it the last of the air forcing out and bought some water with it..

or has a gasket gone ???

i've had it over a year, done a measly 1300 miles in it, and cost me an arm and a leg to buy..
the engine was led to believe been rebuilt at a scooby clinic place
but have no proof..!!

anyone any ideas ??

thanks..

The Zohan

Overheating is a symptom of a problem.

Ok then in the order i would proceed.
Silted up radiator, silted up heater matrix - flush the rad and cooling system, even if the heater matrix is blocked it will not cause overheating on its own as the coolant can and should bypass the heater matrix
blocked/stuck thermostat - replace thermostat
Knackered water pump - replace
Airlock - Bleed the system - this will be done as part of flushing the system.

It could be the head gasket or you could have blown it/warped the heads when you overheated.

Check for oil in the water white may like cr@p in the water tank or on the expansion tank lid
Check for water in the oil white crap in breathers and on the oil cap.

Get a sniff test done at a decent garage or auto cooling specialist - should be no more that £10-15 they can also pressure test your cooling system.

I would look to the rad and thermostat first! Cooling systems silt up over a period of time. could be the fans not running but by the sounds of it not, check fuse and see if they work.

try here https://www.scoobynet.com/general-te...ement-diy.html

bigpimp347

all above noted and done this so far..
water..
thermostat, it doesn't have one..!!
flushed system,
new water pump and cam belt..
checked oil, like new still..
sniffed the water before the pump was done, smelt like water really, no exhaust signs or oil signs.
and the fans work fine, both of them

i really need to MOT it and give it a good thrash, the missus drove it to the garage and we got a couple of mile before it got over half on the gauge, so towed the rest of the way, she drove all the way back about 5 to 7 miles and the temp was near cold all the way, yet when she got in the car and started it it was on 1/4 and when she got home and left the timer running it crept to 1/4 where it usually goes when not moving..

so i'm hoping it was the old water pump, even though the blade was solid on the pully i can't see how it stopped working,
so only time will tell...

but any more signs or ideas will put my mind at ease..

The Zohan

It needs to have a thermostat to maintain the right temperature, running without one on a road car is madness you car will never get to and maintain is optimum temperature which also mean neither will the oil.

No thermostat usually means the car runs cool/cold, not at normal operating temp.

bigpimp347

i do agree and i shouldn't have been so tight,
but when i bought it i assumed it had one, and for the past year thought it had one, only when this trouble started i found there was not one..!!

but to be honest with it coming to summer and weather being hot, would leaving it out not help the engine stay cooler for longer, after all it will have constant circulation of water, unlike warming up them circulating..

The Zohan

It needs to have a thermostat to maintain the right temperature, running without one on a road car is madness you car will never get to and maintain is optimum temperature which also mean neither will the oil.

No thermostat usually means the car runs cool/cold, not at normal operating temp.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

As above: the thermostat isn't there to keep the engine cool, but to keep it at OPTIMUM operating temperature.

To run without one is madness.

bigpimp347

problem sorted..
it was indeed the water pump, even though it was still working, there must have been a slight air lock and the pump was well rusted on it's blades, so a new graham goode pump and cam belt and now it's all sorted, still need a thermostat though

but runs as it did, no issues...!!