hey guys had a problem start when it got warm out. my truck started running warm. 3/4 up on the gauge. so i replaced the thermo. then the water pump (which had a bad bearing also) flushed the system without flushing the heater core. still having problems when the temp is over 70 out. i have to drive with the windows down and the heat all the way up to keep it at halfway on the gauge. no leaks. pressure cap tester said i only lost 1psi in 25-30 minutes hooked up to the rad cap. oil is still good no antifreeze and never have to add antifreeze to the radiator. took it into the shop and he said that his website thing intellifix? said 20 cases like mine were a bad radiator? is that possible? common? and where would be the best place to shop for one online. advance auto cant get one for me.

also i have been doing some research and some info points at the clutch fan? no good way to diagnose if the clutch fan is bad is there? itd be a hell of alot easier to switch out than the radiator too!

 

Radiators are easy to change. A few bolts and two hoses. See if you can find one in a junk yard.

 

Here I found a radiator for $120
http://www.go-part.com/0507-dodge-da...r-p-36379.html
here's one for $122
http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/de...QQCSF3454.html

I think a good price would be around $120-$140 for OEM

 

found this one on ebay. hopefully i post the link the right way.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/05-06...Q5fAccessories

 

Clutch fans should be roaring loud when the engine is hot, you should hear it make lots of noise when you move from a stand still. If it sounds the same all the time (quiet) you should replace the clutch.

However if the engine is still running hot at highway speeds it's probably not just the fan.

 

that is true, when the clutch engages it is gawd awful loud, you cant miss the sound...mine engages when the needle is about a needle width above the center line.

 

Ugh...I really need to figure out my cooling problem. It was 118 degrees in Phoenix this weekend and my truck is complaining. I was cruising up a 7% grade at 40mph this weekend (in the morning ~105 degrees) and my truck went past the 3/4 mark before the clutch fan engaged. The fan cooled it down to half, but there's no way the truck should ever run that hot "on purpose". This clutch fan is engaging way too late and my engine temps fluctuate from 1/4 to 3/4 depending on ambient air temp and engine conditions (how hard I'm working it).

Any ideas? How can you test if a rad is bad? Is there a way to make my clutch fan come on sooner?

 

Oh...and rockauto sells radiators (albeit a bit more $$)

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=1064255

 

How did you flush the system?

Are you the original owner?

What type of water did you use to refill with?

What type of coolant did you use?

Did you mix it properly?

Did you install the t-stat properly?

I cannot see a radiator going bad with out visual issues from the outside, (aka leaking or bubbles. I think you either have the wrong dilution. or you have a air pocket in the system.

I would not waste your time with swapping more parts with out knowing the simple items.

 

Nothing was changed before it started running warm except for the outside temperature winter/
spring. My problem sounds alot like the problem the poster from az had. Except its not that warm in iowa. If i dont turn my heat on it runs to 3/4 and will not go down until i drive under 50mph for awhile. Im starting to think the clutch fan is the problem? But yes i am sure my mix is right. Shouldnt be airlocked but possible. Therm is good. What do you guys think?