HELP!! 94 LeBaron Convertible is overheating BAD!

The other day I went to get a new battery for my car, and on the way it
overheated.

I pulled the 195deg thermostat out and replaced it with a 192deg, but it's
still overheating.
When I parked it, I heard a sort-of "gurgling" sound coming from where the
thermostat is, and the upper hose is easy to squeeze.
It also smoked for a little bit after parking, and the coolant smell was
overwhelming.

I had the radiator flushed and refilled, and that hasn't helped.

I barely got my car home before it got too hot to drive today, but I *NEED*
this car for work, and my wife is getting a little ****ed about me taking
her car more than a couple times.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks
Steve

is the cooling fan coming on???????

SMoo wrote:

> The other day I went to get a new battery for my car, and on the way it
> overheated.
>
> I pulled the 195deg thermostat out and replaced it with a 192deg, but it's
> still overheating.
> When I parked it, I heard a sort-of "gurgling" sound coming from where the
> thermostat is, and the upper hose is easy to squeeze.
> It also smoked for a little bit after parking, and the coolant smell was
> overwhelming.
>
> I had the radiator flushed and refilled, and that hasn't helped.
>
> I barely got my car home before it got too hot to drive today, but I *NEED*
> this car for work, and my wife is getting a little ****ed about me taking
> her car more than a couple times.
>
> Any help is appreciated.
>
> Thanks
> Steve

Yes, the fan comes on, but when it gets to about 3/4 of the temp gauge, it
stays on all the time.


"tim bur" > wrote in message
...
> is the cooling fan coming on???????
>
> SMoo wrote:
>
>> The other day I went to get a new battery for my car, and on the way it
>> overheated.
>>
>> I pulled the 195deg thermostat out and replaced it with a 192deg, but
>> it's
>> still overheating.
>> When I parked it, I heard a sort-of "gurgling" sound coming from where
>> the
>> thermostat is, and the upper hose is easy to squeeze.
>> It also smoked for a little bit after parking, and the coolant smell was
>> overwhelming.
>>
>> I had the radiator flushed and refilled, and that hasn't helped.
>>
>> I barely got my car home before it got too hot to drive today, but I
>> *NEED*
>> this car for work, and my wife is getting a little ****ed about me taking
>> her car more than a couple times.
>>
>> Any help is appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks
>> Steve
>

On Fri, 22 Jul 2005 23:43:55 GMT, "SMoo" >
wrote:

>The other day I went to get a new battery for my car, and on the way it
>overheated.
>

Well the bad news is that after overheating it like this a few times
you probably have bigger problems than the original cooling problem.
Modern engines can not tolerate being overheated like the old 60's
iron could.

The problem could be many things:
Fan(s) not working properly
Clogged radiator (unlikely in a sudden onset case like this)
Collapsing hoses
Failed water pump
blown head gasket


When the light comes on or the gauge goes to H pull over, turn the
heat on high and rev the engine a little bit. If the temp doesn't
start coming right down shut the engine off and have it towed to a
place where it can be repaired or you can repair it. Severely
overheating an engine will warp the head, cause the head gasket to
blow, play hell on the bearings and cause the pistons to scuff the
heck out of the bores.


Steve B.

"SMoo" > wrote in message
...
> The other day I went to get a new battery for my car, and on the way it
> overheated.
>

Is coolant level in the radiator dropping? If it isn't, then you don't have
a leak, and it's
probably the cooling fan like has been posted.

If it is dropping (and it probably is if you can smell coolant) then check
the end of
the air conditioning condensate drain on the underside of the car - if you
see coolant
coming out of there or smell it there, then you have a leaking heater core.

If you have coolant smell coming out of the tailpipe then the head gasket is
leaking.

Check for leaks elsewhere.

Ted

I just ran outside and looked, and the radiator is half empty now!

I can't tell if there's coolant dripping anywhere, as we have a gravel
driveway...

I'll start the car in a while and see if there's a coolant smell from the
tailpipe (The one tailpipe that isn't fake on this car)



"Ted Mittelstaedt" > wrote in message
...
>
> "SMoo" > wrote in message
> ...
>> The other day I went to get a new battery for my car, and on the way it
>> overheated.
>>
>
> Is coolant level in the radiator dropping? If it isn't, then you don't
> have
> a leak, and it's
> probably the cooling fan like has been posted.
>
> If it is dropping (and it probably is if you can smell coolant) then check
> the end of
> the air conditioning condensate drain on the underside of the car - if you
> see coolant
> coming out of there or smell it there, then you have a leaking heater
> core.
>
> If you have coolant smell coming out of the tailpipe then the head gasket
> is
> leaking.
>
> Check for leaks elsewhere.
>
> Ted
>
>