car overheating after thermostat replacement.

jphelps · Post by **jphelps** » 10 Jul 2011, 10:26

So while replacing my thermostat yesterday I noticed that it had failed. The top metal piece was cleaved. Now I've never had any trouble with overheating or the car running cold.

So I put the new thermostat in yesterday and the engine sounded funny; like it was overheating. Though the temperature gage didn't show this as it was only on a few moments. At this point I was thinking that my car needs a thermostat stuck open to remain cool so I put the old thermostat back in.

This morning I drive a couple miles and it just starts to overheat. I swing off the road and kill it. I pop the hood and crack the expansion tank. The temperature returns to normal. I drive a block up the road to a coffee shop and this is where I am. Any advice, except for 'if it ain't broke...'?

Post by **Pauloil** » 10 Jul 2011, 12:08

what symptoms of overheating do you have? fan cutting in? steam?
is it just the gauge? if so, you need new coolant temp sensor, a good thing to replace when doing T stat

jphelps · Post by **jphelps** » 10 Jul 2011, 17:16

Yeah it was just the gage. It went close to one bar past 3 o'Clock. I freaked because I've never seen it go past center. All seems to be well now. It actually didn't do it again after that first incident but I went ahead and replaced the ECT anyway. Just drove it 60 miles to Palm springs (110 out here) and no problems. Well that's not true; the engine coolant level sensor has been on even though it's topped off. I think the float may be lodged somewhere. It took the expansion tank off while doing the thermostat change and rinsed it out with a hose. Something happened there.

537playing · Post by **537playing** » 10 Jul 2011, 17:50

Did you put the thermostat in correctly. Maybe backwards?

Post by **Pauloil** » 10 Jul 2011, 19:03

level sensors can go bad also.....