I have been experiencing some problems with my cars cooling system and was hoping that someone might be able to lend some advice about how i can fix this issue.

The car does not completly overheat, it only gets to about 75% maybe a bit more. It might get into the red, i havent let it get that high though. Whenever the car starts to tip over half i just turn on my A/C fans, and they help keep things cooler.

I have changed my thermostat and Rad cap so far.
Does anyone know what else might be the cause of this problem? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Kyle

Check to see if your cooling fan is engaging properly. Worst case scenario is head a gasket.

i always thought one would turn on the heat to help keep the temp down..
When my temp went high last week, i'd crank the heat full blast, roll down the windows, and the temp went back to the middle

I had a leaky rad hose, when i fixed that, the over heating stopped

I believe the fans are working properly, but i will check them again. Thanks

And James, you are right, when i turn on the A/C fans i turn them to hot, but i have my A/C button completly in, if i dont have it in then my car will still overheat.

You want to figure it out ASAP though. The regular high heat cycles can style cause damage even if you dont go into the red. This is one of those fix now or pay later deals

The fans do work. I have checked them out. I am really wondering what this could be. We did a compression test and the results were 150,150,145, 130ish. I realize the last one is a bit low but wouldnt a blown headgasket show dramatic compression loss?

Jerry, the car doesnt go to the red it will reach 75% tops.

don't mean to hijack, but I'm having a similar (actually, far worse) problem. My fans are not engaging properly, and the car overheats into the red within 10 minutes of driving.

I'm kind of convinced that it can't be due to the fans alone...compression test should be my next step? If it's the head gasket, what kind of $$$ are we talking?

If the fans help a lot, then it's the Radiator. Change it or at least remove it and flush it.

Well a trip to a rad shop or similiar and they can test for coolant in the exhaust for $20-30. But besides that check go with all the cheap and easy stuff like fans,hoses,rad cap,thermostat,coolant mix,flush-n-fill,rad tested. Whats the condition of the rad itself maybe it is fubared which might be the simplest answer. Running the car hot is just plain old bad news...using the A/C trick is only a limp home type deal.

Have you had to top up coolant at all or any boil over?

To Mark-D-Hijacker Do not run you car until you figure it out. Do the above check list first esp the rad,thermostat and cap checks. Running the car in the red can cause warping and can blow a good headgasket. As for $ the head would have to be removed and machined most likely plus a mitsu gasket or better so it is mostly labour $400-500 plus $80-100 for machining plus I got the complete upper gasket set from Adam Clay @ Eastway.

It might be the Water Pump that is week ...

I had to take my thermostat out all together to keep my temp in Check

Totally remove the Thermostat and see it happens

PS : leave the rubber gasket that goes around the thermostat in when you remove it if you remove it

I got the best senario, new everything, head gasket, water pump, rad cap, t-stat, rad is flushed, I run both fans 100% of the time. The guage goes up rapidly when I step on it and comes back down when I'm off the gas and coasting. The only thing I can think of is the water jackets in the block are clogged. I even removed the AC condenser to get more air flow to the rad, that didnt even help

Kyle and Terry,

Why not just have the cooling system pressure checked. About $20. And if you are a DYI I think you can rent the tester from CTC. That at least will show if there is a leak. And somewhere on this site are the OHM readings for both the temp sending unit and the gauge. Maybe it is not overheating. And make sure you check the engine oil level and the auto if you have one, it could be as simple as that or a loose waterpump belt.

Search the other posts here. There are a lot on overheating. Save money and start with simple ideas, before you empty your wallet.

Oh, yeah have you monkeyed around with the heat range on the plugs or changed fuel grade or gas stations?

I'm sorry I haven't met you characters yet so I don't know your application for the car. Anyway just some ideas. Good luck.

Cheers Tony

Well I had the same problem and I thought it is the week pump because the previous owner did not change the water pump with the timeing belt so I assumed it would be the water pump

Another thoughts Perhaps it is running too lean at the higher RPM's. You'll need to talk to the data logger or fuel system members on that one.

Cheers Tony

any updates ....?

We're going to check the ignition timing and datalog it this weekend. If the ignition timing is in spec then next step is to take it in to check for a blown head gasket.

I replaced a cracked hose and the rad cap that had a broken seal...the rest is beyond my feeble means so I think it's going to the Mitsu dealer next week for a diagnosis.

I'm totaly lost as to who has the problem here, but, instead of dumping cash into a small problem. Go to a wreckers and pick up any Talon Radiator for (at most) $20-$80.

All I'm saying is the symptoms point to a bad/clogged Radiator and after with no results, a new water pump (which even then isn't that bad).
You'll know if you have a bad head gasket (low compression, blow white smoke, water in oil etc.).