O/T Hot S-10

Re: O/T Hot S-10

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>Don't know from an S-10, but the water pump is a likely candidate.

Pam

Re: O/T Hot S-10

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(

>Pam,

Thanks for the idea, but I recently replaced it, so I have discounted that idea, plus it isn't leaking from the weep hole. Also the fan, which has a clutch isn't wobbling on it's shaft, which indicates that it has failed.

Todd O.

Re: O/T Hot S-10

Mike G.

>How 'bout the temp sensor. If it's bad sometimes it will develope an almost invisible leak around it.

Mike G.

Re: O/T Hot S-10

Dale Lenz-Tahlequah, OK

>Are you sure the gage is correct? Feel of the defrost air coming from your heater. 270* water would really feel HOT. Check this air against another car's defroster's air temp by feel.

Good luck,

Dale

Re: O/T Hot S-10

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(

>Hmmmmmmmmm could be, something to check I guess eh? Thanks for the suggestion.

Todd O.

Re: O/T Hot S-10

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(

>Trust you me Dale, the defrost air IS HOT!

On my last test drive I hate it on full blast, and the temp guage still pegged out.

I can only go about 3 miles before the temp guage hits the top of the scale.

Todd O.

Re: O/T Hot S-10

Joe Rogers, Northern Virginia

>Agree. Check for actual overheating not just a gauge indication. Chances are that your gauge is an electronic sensor type,not an analog type gauge. There may be a fault in the wiring that afects the feedback voltage to the dash gauge and causes an incorrect reading. That said, if the truck is truly hot and the waterpump has been on for more than a couple of days(and thus not being an incorrect application part), the radiator is most likely the culprit. You should be able to watch the water flow in the radiator if the waterpump is circulating the coolant. Do this check while the truck is warming up. The level in the radiator will drop when the thermostat opens and the flow becomes more forceful. If this is the case the mechanical parts of the cooling system are functional and this points to the radiator.

Again, verify the overheat condition before you condemn any parts. JR

Re: O/T Hot S-10

Joe Rogers, Northern Virginia

>Nope a small leak like that will not cause an overheat condition until the coolant level is way low.JR

Re: O/T Hot S-10

Mike MacDonald

>A simple check that I didn't see mentioned is to check the % of antifreeze to water. It's a cheap test to do, couple of dollars for the little gage.

Re: O/T Hot S-10

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(

>Joe,

I just can't seem to believe that it's the radiator as I see no crud, and got no crud when I flushed it. I will check the water flow tomorrow morning, tho earlier today I really saw nothing suspicious with it.

I just can't believe that my radiator has gone bad. Never had this happen before, nor do I recall any of my friends having this happen. Guess it does tho eh? Kinda' maddening really.

Todd O.

Re: Well

Dale Lenz-Tahlequah, OK

>if the coolant is for sure hot, I'd go with the radiator as the problem. Before I'd go for a new radiator I'd look to see about get your radiator vatted(sp?) and flushed at a radiator. We just had ours done, I believe the charge was something like $20. Of course my son pulled the radiator out and replaced. Some radiator shops will do the pulling and replacing for a charge.

Good luck,

Dale

If it overheats quickly

Bob Hackett

>leave the cap off the radiator when you do the themostat test and if you see continuous bubbling both before and after the thermostat opens then you probably hava a blown head gasket.That will make it overheat rather quickly.

Mainely,Bob

Re: O/T Hot S-10

Joe Rogers, Northern Virginia

>Again...won't cause an overheat. Water has a better heat transfer than 50/50 coolant and water.JR

Re: If it overheats quickly

Joe Rogers, Northern Virginia

>True Bob. Smells bad too! But sadly the most expensive problem for the Todder.JR

Re: If it overheats quickly

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(

>Bob,

Don't even think like that, let alone say it. Gads I hate to think it.

Sure am appreciating the suggestions.

Todd O.

Re: Runs badly also...is

Dale Lenz-Tahlequah, OK

>that a sympton?

Re: If it overheats quickly

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(

>Smells bad? Where? Inside, or outside? I haven't noticed any bad smells in either place*. If this was say the late 70's I'd suspect the radiator being clogged straight off, but what with the computers in cars today of which I know not, only that they control everything, I'm not 1005 sure anymore of what is the root cause of problems.

Todd O.

* until of coarse about 30 minutes after having my Saturday night beans, but buy then I was no where near the truck. ;~)

Just considered...

Joe Rogers, Northern Virginia

>That the fan clutch may be freewheeling and not locking up when it gets hot when it is supposed to move the most air. Then air flow is the problem. It would not show up at high way speeds tho as the air flow from the vehicle movement would transfer the heat.JR

Re: If it overheats quickly

Joe Rogers, Northern Virginia

>The coolant in the overflow jug and the radiator has a bad odor if the head gaskets are blown. Some reaction with the combustion mixture reacting with the coolant. Not truly affensive but an off normal smell.JR

Re: If it overheats quickly

Jim in Burlington Ontario

>I had the thermostat go bad 3x once the same day I put one of those fail safe ones in and it caused the 4.3 to overhead within a few minutes of driving it.

Re: Just considered...

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(

>Over heats on the highway. Temp actualy goes down a bit when I reduce speed.

Do you know of a way to test the fan clutch for proper functionality?

Todd O.

Re: O/T Hot S-10

Jack Guzman from Maine

>Todd,I have a 93 S10 with a 4 cyl in it.I got it with 17,000 miles on it and ever since about 40,000 or so I've had a problem with my temp gauge.It reads over heat when it's not.I've gone through this thing in every place imaginable.Another S10 owner who happens to be the owner of the local auto parts store told me that it's an electrical thing they're known for.My truck is now at 98,000 and still does this but it runs fine.---Jack

So Jim,

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(

>You replaced the bad thermostat with a bad thermostat. What made you think it was still the thermostat?

Ahhhhhhhhhhh wait, don't answer that. You watched the water level and it never dropped when after a resonable time it should have when the thermostat opened right?

Will say that the fellow at the auto parts store said that the S-10's are noted for their radiators clogging up. News to me. Been a great little truck, I really like it. Wish it had extended cab tho. What was your 4.3 in?

Todd O.

Todd O

Re: O/T Hot S-10

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(

>That's interesting Jack. Did you replace your radiator and it still reads wacko? My truck is right as 160,000 miles and until now has run like deer. Oter than the paint on the hood and top of the cab being all messed up from the sun, and the headliner that like to sag abit, she's just like new. Does have one spot of rust down on the bottom of the drivers door. I bought it in '01 in Maryland.

Todd O.