I think I have a problem with my local mechanic. A couple weeks ago I noticed my temp gauge was indicating hotter than normal gradually worsening over a few days to the point the indicater would creep into the red but would go down to normal again. It got worse so I installed a new thermostat. That made it worse, I could only drive a few miles before it would completely overheat. So I took my '98 Dodge Dakota to my local shop. I described what has been happening the last couple weeks including the thermostat and told him I think my waterpump is bad. He had put in a new one about a year ago and asked if the waterpump was leaking. I said no, and he said it couldn't be the waterpump and was probably a clogged radiator. I disagreed but let him check anyway. A few hours later he called and said the rad was clogged and I need a new one. I don't understand how a radiator can clog up so fast and told him I'd be right over to take a look. Well it looked fine to me and I took a hose and ran water through one end and it seemed to flow fine. He said it was running straight through the tanks, I pointed out the tanks are only on the top and bottom and not the sides and it can only be flowing through the cores. He pointed out some cracks in the bottom tank and said it should be replaced anyway and he is convinced this will solve my overheating problem. After some discussion we decided he'd install the new one but if the problem persisted he wouldn't charge me for labor. He put in the new one and it didn't help. I started the truck and let it get hot, before it got in the red I shut it off and grabbed the top radiator hose. It was hot but not hot enough where I couldn't hold on to it, certainly not 260 degrees where it redlines. I'm still convinced there is no flow and it must be the waterpump. So now he shows me the freeze plugs in the engine block, they show signs of leakage (some corrosion that looks like it's been there awhile) and at the rear by the transmission there is fresh coolant dripping, he explains there is a freeze plug at rear of engine and he'll have to drop the trans to repair it, and that should fix the overheating problem. I'm dismayed that a tiny leak can cause overheating in a matter of minutes, he explains its because it creates an air pocket. I don't see the logic in any of his explainations, so I ask him to just replace the waterpump and see if that solves the problem. By now it's closing time and he'll have to keep til Monday. (at least he gave me a loaner car) On the way home I called and asked him to just take out the thermostat and see what happens. Maybe the new one was bad.

Whew, so what do ya'll think?

 

Might be time to change mechanics.

 

I have heard of new parts being defective.

But someone just replacing parts a random does sound like a waste of time and money.

 

Sounds like the mech-anic is just fishing.If you remove the whole thermostat the coolent can pass through the rad faster than the rad can cool it.Fill up the rad just over the core so that you can see the flow of the coolent while it runs.once you start it you may need to add a little water to keep it above the core.Now you can check if it starts to flow before or after it starts to get hot.

 

THANKS YA'LL!!!

This morning my X-"mechanic" took out the thermostat as I suggested and guess what? No more overheating. I had him put in a new one to save time. Problem solved! 'cept I gotta find a new mechanic. I'm helping a friend rebuild his Lotus Europa. It's a real learning process. Ya' know, the more I learn, the more I'm finding there is to know. We've learned so much with this Lotus, timing, cam timing, we've rebuilt the carb's and distributor several times, each time finding something new the past owner had f'd up. Now that we have it running like a top my buddy want to convert it to fuel injection. *sigh* oh well back to the books.

-Zeb

PS, anyone know why dodge transmissions are such a p.o.s.?

 

Take your Rad cap off ,start your engine, let it warm up make ,sure your reserve is almost full .let the engine run for a while, Turn on your heater to get everything flowing ,see if the rad overflows or drops it's level. If it drops it's level you have a flow. if not you have a blockage someplace. Check the temp with an out side tempeture gauge. Do this with a cold engine.

 

Thanks S E, good advice.

I went to Kragen Auto Parts in Chatsworth California on Devonshire st. (ya want their phone #?) to try and return the defective thermostat. Usually a decent place to go. I brought in the receipt with the thermostat and was told in no uncertain terms that I could not return the thermostat unless I had the box it came in. Slightly shocked I asked why, to which he replied "well, we can't tell if thats the thermostat we sold you without the packaging". Slightly more shocked I said "b-b-but I have the receipt, and your partner over there recognized me from the other day when I had to order it 'cuz you were out of stock". He replied "you could have brought in any thermostat and we need the packaging or we can't take it back". Ya gotta love this guy's logic. I said, oh I see, if I had the box I couldn't possibly put in a different thermostat and try and return it. He told me he was through discussing it with me and the manager would be in Thursday.

Anyway, sorry for the pointless long rant.
-Zeb