overheating, heater core maby??

kolton · Oct 7, 2010

Driving home today I notices steam coming through my air vents and I heard a bubbling noise. So I pulled over... Instantly lol. Popped the hood, and the radiator started overflowing at the cap, then the overflow canister was boiling and steaming over. The hissing and boiling sound was coming from the heater core, which was over flowing into the cab and down the firewall.

I was only going about 35mph and its about mid 80's outside, so it wasn't the texas heat getting to it. My temp gauge is broken so I have no clue how hot it got.

I drove it home with not too much trouble and its cooling off now. Should I just loop the hose over and return it back to the water pump, bypassing the heater core until I can get a new one? Or do yall think its something besides the heater core?

Thanks guys.

4.0B2 · Oct 7, 2010

first of all... i'd fix the temp gauge.
second, check fluid again. then thermostat.. maybe even cut the middle out of the thermo and see if it still gets hot. and bypass the heater core like you said.
a temp gauge is one that i'd make sure worked.. the sending unit for it is cheap. or get an aftermarket one and put on it.

adsm08 · Oct 7, 2010

Few things....

First, flush out the rad. Make sure it isn't plugged up. Then get a cap, they are usually less than $10.

Second, make sure your water pump is working. At least pull it off and make sure the vanes aren't gummed up.

Third, go ahead and by-pass the heater core. I'll bet it popped from too much pressure in the system.

Fourth, check all your hoses, make sure none are split.

Finally, while temp gauges are an important thing to have (especially on the 2.9) tap the wire, don't replace it outright with an aftermarket one. If you leave the computer out of the loop the engine will never run quite right and get crappy mileage.

Shran · Oct 7, 2010

adsm08 said:
Finally, while temp gauges are an important thing to have (especially on the 2.9) tap the wire, don't replace it outright with an aftermarket one. If you leave the computer out of the loop the engine will never run quite right and get crappy mileage.

The temp sending unit has nothing to do with the computer at all, just drives the guage. I think you're talking about the coolant temp sensor.

Otherwise, what everyone else said.

4.0B2 · Oct 7, 2010

yeah, its 2 different things. one for the gauge, one for the computer
that list is good tho, just remember with a bypassed heater core, you get no heat coming thru your vents lol

kimcrwbr1 · Oct 7, 2010

He`s in texas don`t need heat. No the heater core is a symptom of the problem it could have been the cap not releasing pressure with high pressure the cooling system won`t work properly. I would get the cap and sender and loop the core hose and see where it stands. If it still gets hot change the t-stat and flush the radiator still hot replace the water pump. If it builds up pressure real quick leave the cap off when running and see if it bubbles constantly signs of head gasket or cracked head. also check the oil for signs of water or loss of coolant from the coolant reservor. I always start cheapest first look for bubbles when running or any leaks when system under pressure but the cap and sensor a must.

adsm08 · Oct 8, 2010

Shran said:
The temp sending unit has nothing to do with the computer at all, just drives the guage. I think you're talking about the coolant temp sensor.

Otherwise, what everyone else said.

Some vehicles share them, I deal with dozens of cars in a week, mostly MY 2000 or newer, I can't keep track of all of them. Also, some people (like the PO of my dad's truck) use the wrong sensor for their aftermarket gauges and leave me 4 years later still trying to sort out the wiring mess (The PO is 4 years dead and I am still finding screwed up stuff that he mis-wired) so I can fix the check engine light.

That was more a caution to be careful than a warning against the use of an aftermarket gauge.

EDIT: That reminds me. I need to start drawing up revised wiring diagrams for my own truck so that the next poor sap who has to work on it isn't left in my current electrical position.

4.0B2 · Oct 8, 2010

i had an aftermarket one on my 2.9 motor.. and it worked fine. i just fixed the dash cluster when i did the motor swap so when back to the stock one.

kolton · Oct 9, 2010

I by passed the heater core. No more problems. Replaced heater core, all is back to normal. And like I said, the temp gauge is broken, not the sensor. Punched the dash, needle broke off the gauge, long story, stupid women... Local JY wants 150 bucks for gauge cluster on a Bii. So I'm dealing without it for now. Thanks for the input though guys, and sorry I didn't get to reply sooner.

Shran · Oct 9, 2010

Does your cluster have a tach or no? I have two spare tach clusters I'd hook you up with for a lot less than $150.

overheating, heater core maby??

kolton

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4.0B2

Well-Known Member

adsm08

Senior Master Grease Monkey

Shran

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4.0B2

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kimcrwbr1

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adsm08

Senior Master Grease Monkey

4.0B2

Well-Known Member

kolton

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Shran

Junk Collector

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