My car still overheats, I replaced water pump and thermostat, and now after water pump install it knocks bad
So my girlfriends car is a 96 thunderbird, yesterday it started overheating, I replaced the tstat, didn't work, then replaced the water pump, no luck, and now since I replaced the water pump it knocks. We absolutely need this vehicle and I would really appreciate some advice
My car has 155000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi there:
Trying to diagnose an overheating issue remotely is incredibly difficult. However, there are three things you can do to attempt to solve this issue. First, remove the water pump, verify it’s the right replacement part and reinstall with new gaskets. Second, flush the radiator coolant fully, as the issue could be caused by an obstruction inside the heater core or other coolant lines. Third, make sure to check all electrical connections to the radiator sensors and components. If you check and complete all three of those tasks, and you still have overheating problems, contact a professional mobile mechanic to complete a car is overheating inspection.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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If it gets hot at all times, then it may have a clogged radiator, or more commonly a leaking head gasket. I would perform a block test prior to changing anything else. If that fails the test, then the engine will need to be disassembled and repaired. If it passes, then it may need a radiator.
If your car is still overheating even after you`ve changed the thermostat, you`re likely dealing with an issue with your radiator. It could be clogged, which would restrict the flow of coolant and cause your radiator to overheat.
Engine Overheating
A failing water pump will cause your engine to heat up, and that`s not a good thing. To prevent catastrophic engine failure, look for these signs of an overheated engine due to water pump failure, including: A fluctuating temperature gauge.
Why is my car overheating but it has coolant in it? It could be that the coolant concentration is not correct, or you may have a bad thermostat, a failed water pump, broken drive belt, or a bad radiator or radiator fan.
One way to check for proper coolant circulation is to check the upper and lower radiator hoses. The upper radiator hose should be hot, around 190–200 °F. (The safest and most accurate way to get this temperature reading is with an infrared thermometer.)
The most common cause of engine overheating is a leak or damage on the radiator or other cooling components after an accident at the car`s front. However, the driver still runs the car after the accident happens.
An improper seating, damaged seal, or misaligned gasket can mean the water pump is not operating efficiently or, worse, is under undue stress from misalignment. Improper installation will likely also cause immediate leakage from the mounting surface.
The cooling system is one where air bubbles can be a significant concern. They can lead to hot spots in the engine, which can cause it to overheat and lead to all sorts of internal engine damage that will be costly to repair.
COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR FAULTY: SYMPTOMS
Higher idle speed. Increased fuel consumption. Poor starting behaviour.
If you notice that your coolant level is dropping quickly or that there is coolant leaking from your vehicle, it could be a sign that the water pump is failing. When the water pump fails, it can cause coolant to leak into the oil, which can lead to engine problems.
Use your radiator key to turn the valve at the top of the radiator. Attach the key to the square groove in the centre of the valve as shown in the diagram and turn it slowly anticlockwise. You should hear a hissing sound. This is the trapped air escaping.
You could have an air blockage from improper bleeding during the addition of the coolant. You could test for a heater core clog by opening the hood and feeling the input and output hoses to the heater core. If input is hot and output is cold, then you either have a clogged core or a bad heater valve.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
My car still overheats, I replaced water pump and thermostat, and now after water pump install it knocks bad
ANSWER : Hi there:
Trying to diagnose an overheating issue remotely is incredibly difficult. However, there are three things you can do to attempt to solve this issue. First, remove the water pump, verify it’s the right replacement part and reinstall with new gaskets. Second, flush the radiator coolant fully, as the issue could be caused by an obstruction inside the heater core or other coolant lines. Third, make sure to check all electrical connections to the radiator sensors and components. If you check and complete all three of those tasks, and you still have overheating problems, contact a professional mobile mechanic to complete a car is overheating inspection.
My water pump is leaking but I replaced timing belt and pump a year ago. Can I just replace the water pump this time?
ANSWER : Hello. You can just replace the water pump in this case. Although, the cost of just the timing belt is fairly negligible in comparison to the total labor of the job. My estimator says the water pump is a 6.5 hour job. Multiply that by whatever the shop rate is and you have the total labor without parts. You end up saving about $100 or less on parts if you only replace the pump.
The deciding factor will be the condition of the timing belt. If it has problems, you won’t be saving yourself any money by reusing it. In addition, there are seals and pulleys that may need to be replaced as well.
Assuming all the related parts were replaced the first time around, there isn’t a reason you can’t reuse them. I would say you should weigh the savings of reusing them against the actual condition of the parts. This is best determined after a complete disassembly. Keep in mind, time estimates will vary a bit depending on many factors. Either way, the labor is the largest cost.
If you would like to have the water pump replaced, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to perform this service at your convenience.
Intake manifold came off replaced gaskets new water pump thermostat and put in barred leak still overheats
ANSWER : Hi there. Have you checked to see if the fans are coming on? Do they achieve both normal and high speed? Is there any noise or abnormal operation? There could also be an air pocket in the cooling system, or the thermostat installed backwards (it does happen). Does the engine boil over? Check the actual temperature of the engine with an infrared thermometer temperature gun and compare the readings to the combination meter gauge. The gauge or sensor could be inaccurate. I strongly suggest having a qualified technician perform an inspection to avoid replacing unnecessary parts. Your Mechanic has several technicians available that can assist you with a car is overheating inspection.
My car is getting overheated, replaced the water pump, but coolant is still running out.. After the car warms a lil..
ANSWER : A thermostat is a good first step with overheating issues, usually because it’s inexpensive and easy to replace. So it’s always good to eliminate that as a possibility, but I think you may have more problems then that. I presume you mean that coolant is running out of the overflow tank. This happens because of excessive pressure in the cooling system. It can happen if the coolant is low, because air pockets in the system cause hot spots where the remaining coolant will boil. It can be difficult to get all of the air out of the system so that’s a possibility especially since you just changed the waterpump. It can also happen if there is combustion pressure leaking into the cooling system as it does with a bad head gasket.
When you change the thermostat, find a heater hose or some other small cooling hose near the top of the engine and disconnect it. Refill the engine with 50% diluted coolant until coolant runs out of the hose you disconnected, then hook it back up. Run the engine with the defroster on maximum until you feel heat coming out of the dash vents, checking the coolant level periodically. When you feel good heat, you know the engine is full. If you continue to have a problem, contact YourMechanic and they will send a technician to your home to diagnose your cooling system and tell you what you can do.
Can a jeep run and drive without a water pump??
ANSWER : Driving or running the engine without the water pump working to circulate the coolant through the motor will cause the motor to overheat and may damage the engine costing thousands of dollars versus using a tow truck to take the vehicle to the shop that will cost a lot less. I would not recommend running the engine more than a few minutes at a time or you will overheat it.
Does the water pump need to be replaced if the water pump belt is showing signs of wear? Or just the belt?
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. There is no reason to replace the water pump every time the belt is changed, unless the pump itself is damaged or not working properly. The belt may show signs of wear which is fairly common between 80k-100k miles. I would not recommend putting the belt service off as this can cause major damage if the belt were to snap. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your home to inspect your belts to determine when and if they would need to be replaced, while at the same time inspecting your water pump and cooling system to be sure there are no issues with it.
I had my timing belt and water pump replaced 45000 miles ago. Now I am told I need to replace water pump. Is this normal?
ANSWER : Hello there, 45,000 miles is a short lifespan for a water pump on your 2000 Honda Odyssey. There are a few reasons the water pump will need to be replaced, such as a pump bearing failure, water pump seal leak, or rust/contamination damaging the pump. Faults such as rust or particles in the cooling system are formed in the cooling system over time and the parts break down, or regular coolant flushes are not performed. These particles can cause the pump to fail prematurely. It would be a good idea to ask why the water pump needs to be replaced or take note of any symptoms you are experiencing with the car before moving forward with this. If you would like to have an expert give you a second opinion on this, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your location to inspect the car and replace the water pump if necessary.
Replaced water pump, radiator and thermostat car is still overheating. What can it be?
ANSWER : I’m sorry to hear about your overheating issues. There are a few possibilities that can cause an engine to overheat. The radiator, water pump, and thermostat are definite possibilities, but there are a few others that are possible also. A faulty cooling fan is the first thing that comes to mind, but it could also be a head gasket issue, clogged coolant passages inside the engine, or faulty radiator hoses. I would first look at the cooling fan and/or the cooling fan switch. It would be necessary to start with a cold engine and check to see if the fan comes on as the engine warms up. Most of the time, you can do a quick check by turning on the air conditioning, as this should signal the fan on also. If this is something you feel you could use a hand in diagnosing/repairing, contact a certified mechanic, like the mobile mechanics at YourMechanic.com.
