Engine Temperature / Coolant

[csx89]

I have an '89 CSX-VNT that's been mostly sitting for awhile, I've tried to start it at least every few weeks.

Here's what I seem to have going on and could use some ideas for where to start or what to try.

When I start it up, after 5-10 minutes engine gets pretty hot, about 3/4 way up the gauge. When I drive it for longer that 15 minutes or so it seems like it wants to overheat, so I shut it down.

Heater never blows hot air.

Coolant is full, put a new thermostat in it recently, didn't drill a hole in it. Read about that after installing it.

At this point, the engine seems real hot, radiator wants to boil over if I try to loosen up the cap.

What is the most likely issue going on here?

Thanks for any input.

[Young Gun]

Quote:

Originally Posted by csx89 I have an '89 CSX-VNT that's been mostly sitting for awhile, I've tried to start it at least every few weeks. Here's what I seem to have going on and could use some ideas for where to start or what to try. When I start it up, after 5-10 minutes engine gets pretty hot, about 3/4 way up the gauge. When I drive it for longer that 15 minutes or so it seems like it wants to overheat, so I shut it down. Heater never blows hot air. Coolant is full, put a new thermostat in it recently, didn't drill a hole in it. Read about that after installing it. At this point, the engine seems real hot, radiator wants to boil over if I try to loosen up the cap. What is the most likely issue going on here? Thanks for any input.

Water pump isn't working or only working part of the time

[ub3r l33t dud3]

did the heater ever blow hot air before?
the radiator and heater core could both be clogged not allowing any water to flow or cool down.

i assume you have checked the engine fan to make sure its working.

the belt might be slipping on the water pump pulley also, not usre how the turbo engines are set up but this happened to one of our omnis.( easy way to test is to spray some belt dressing on the pulley and see if this helps temporarily)

air pockets are a possibility but they probably would have worked them self's out by now.

you can feel the coolant hoses when it is overheating, BUT DONT BURN YOUR SELF!!!! if it is to hot to touch it is probably over 200 degrees, if the engine is overheating and both pipes are not super hot then there is defiantly a coolant flow issue. but again BE CAREFUL!!!

it sounds like it is not flowing coolant though for some reason

[csx89]

The heater worked in the past, but can't remember last time I would've used it.

I'll double check engine fan, but pretty sure that's OK.

Thanks for the responses.

[Sid]

Did anyone ever change the pump or pulley? Water Pump grooved pulley spins clockwise and smooth pulley spins counterclockwise. Wrong pump and or pulley will cause it not to pump. There was another person on the board that had an overheating problem similar to yours and if I remember correctly, he had the wrong pulley on the pump.

[ub3r l33t dud3]

is it running fine other than overheating?

the last time one of our 2.2's blew a head gasket it was actually blowing compression into the coolant system and forcing the coolant to over flow and then overheat. it didnt run that bad but it was a little hesitante sometimes on start up because come coolant would seep in,

[csx89]

It runs fine other than the overheating. Idles good, no check engine light, seems to run fine. I've had a head gasket replaced in the past though.

[NAJ]

Was the problem present before you replaced the thermostat?

Cylinder Leakdown Test will tell you if you have a headgasket issue.