overheating when idling

Go Metric · Post by **Go Metric** » 03 Sep 2016, 15:50

So I started it up and held my hand on the hose, waiting for it something to happen, but it just slowly got hot over the course of several minutes. Definitely no sudden temp changes or rushing coolant feeling. Just a slow and steady increase in temperature.

Post by **JRL** » 03 Sep 2016, 16:10

If you already haven't blown a head gasket STOP RUNNING IT until the problem is found

Go Metric · Post by **Go Metric** » 05 Sep 2016, 12:52

Ok well I'm going to get the thermostat today and change that out. Any tips on what to look for other than just feeling the coolant rush through as it opens up after the engine warms up?

Go Metric · Post by **Go Metric** » 06 Sep 2016, 06:11

I couldn't get the thermostat housing open unforetunately, it has t-30 bolts but I was stripping the head without the bolt budging. I sprayed it with some PB blaster, and am going to try to get a different bit. I was using a driver bit in a socket, but I'm going to get a true socket bit instead, maybe it will fit the bolt head better.

Any tips on how to get these bolts out?

Post by **chrism** » 06 Sep 2016, 07:13

Sometimes if you take a center punch, put the tip down in the bottom of the hex hole and smack it a couple of good sharp blows, it will stretch the bolt shank downward just a tiny bit which loosens the load on the threads.

Also, if the new thermostat has a tiny hole near the outer edge, make sure it's rotated such that the hole is at the highest point. This allows trapped air to escape even before it warms up enough to open.

Go Metric · Post by **Go Metric** » 06 Sep 2016, 08:07

Thank you! Ill try that today after work, hopefully that'll do it.

fixer333 · Post by **fixer333** » 06 Sep 2016, 09:40

If its totally buggered up and you cant get it out with a torx driver, you can take a dremel tool and a thin cut off wheel ( they sell both a lows or home depot) and carefully cut a slot in the head large enough for a large flat blade screw driver( usually just the act of cutting the slot relieves most of the tension on the fastener). Then use the screw driver with a pair of locking pliers attached to the shaft or handle at a right angle for leverage. This works well , I have used it many hundreds of times on stuck machine screws.

Go Metric · Post by **Go Metric** » 08 Sep 2016, 10:27

So I felt like I wasn't going to be able to get the housing cover off, and took it in to the shop I often use by my job.

Turns out when they got the housing cover off, there was a different thermostat inside (I got mine locally at an auto parts store). AND they can't even get the thermostat I need, because the only one offered is the one I already have (the wrong one, I'm guessing for P80's?).

So now I'm stuck having them replace the whole thermostat housing, because I can't for the life of me find a thermostat by itself for this model of thermostat housing. Everywhere I look they only sell the housing assembly whole. Mechanic says he's not sure how long it'll take either, because they think they'll need to remove the power steering pump just to access the rear housing bolt. Up to, but hopefully less than, 3 hours? The more I have done to this wagon, the more I wish I was driving an 850 instead!

What a pain! I guess Volvo didn't want people being able to replace just the stat without buying the housing? I'm glad I couldn't get the housing cover off at this point, since I would have been REALLY pissed if I discovered that in my driveway...

overheating when idling

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