Message text written by Stephane St-Amant
>List, I need to pick your collective brain again :(
2 questions (burried somewhere in the rambling!)
<snip>
The problem:
The Spit started running hot... very hot!
<snip>
The background:
For the past few months, the spit would suddenly start
running hot! First thing I checked was the coolant level.
Low. Ok simple to fix. Top it off (with les than a liter)
and take the car for a spin. Temp back to normal. (temp
needle right smack in the middle)
That's more like it.
<snip>
No smoke, no apparent leak. But hey, how come the overflow
bottle is full. Not a problem, empty 2/3 of it. A few runs
later, it's full again! Ah ah. Looks like the rad is
putting it's overflow coolant in the bottle when it's hot
but it doesn't look like it's sucking back up when it cools
down.
Question #1
Is my rad cap the problem? If so what are the specs for the
rad cap? '69 Spit with 1300 hi-comp engine (original)
and narrow rad.
<snip>
Here's the weird part: At idle (waiting for the darn
traffic lights to turn green) the temperature is actually
going down!!! Ugh??? And goes back up when I'm moving.
What up with that?
Question #2
Is my water pump going belly up? Any ideas??? Help!
<
Steph,
When I started reading your post I initially thought "voltage stabilizer."
When the temp read high did the fuel also read high? It could be that
the problem is a false indication. This would be consistant with the
no appearent leaks and also the cooler reading at idle because the
generator output (and the battery voltage would be lower. Being less
than one litre low on coolant should not cause a hot running condition.
But the 2/3 full overflow needs addition explaination. If you fill the
cooling system 100% when cold the excess will go into the overflow
bottle when the engine heats up. A properly functioning cap will cause
the contents of the overflow bottle to be syphoned back into the engine
when it cools down but a vacuum leak somewhere (a loose hose, a
bad gasket on the cap) will allow air in instead of the coolant..
Another option to check is if the lower radiator hose is collapsing.
This hose may get sucked in from the pump suction impeding coolant
flow. When the car idles down pump suction is reduced and the hose
may restore it's original shape and coolant flow will return to normal.
I have never seen this happen but I have heard of it and I have seen
several lower radiator hoses with an internal spiral spring intended to
prevent this.
Another thought (and this one gives me pause) is a head gasket leak.
A head gasket leak between the cooling system and a cylinder
could allow combustion gases into the cooling system pushing
coolant into the overflow bottle. You might be able to see such
a leak if you get bubbles from your overflow tube in the bottle. Another
check is to find a garage with emissions testing equipment to sniff
your radiator for combustion gases.
But check the easy one first. Next time it overheats check the fuel
level. Is it higher than it was before? (I know those things get great
gas milage but ...)
Bon chance
Dave Massey
St. louis, MO USA
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