[Fox2102]

Ok i was sitting at the store the other day using my computer when i look over and my engine is runnin hot after only 5 or 10 minutes. I turn it off and wait a little while for it to cool down some. I started home and it over heated again and started knocking real bad after only 5 minutes again. As i turned into the driveway she died and wouldnt restart. I waited an hour and started her again no problem. 3 hours later i start to the store and she starts to over heat again after only a few minutes and she does the same thing with the knocking really really bad while idleing and she died again when i turned into my driveway.

does anyone know why she keeps over heating so quickly. My fan works. I am thinking it is either my water pump or my thermastat. any other ideas?

[oldernewbie]

Got enough oil in her?

[Fox2102]

yup. All fluids are topped out. hell i've only been driving her for 2 weeks!

[oldernewbie]

If you haven't noticed any coolant leaks and puddles under the car, then prolly the thermo. is your problem.

Good luck!

[97stanger]

Thermostat without a doubt. Now, for the knocking... When you hit the gas to accelerate, did the knock get more intense? or sound like it went away? If it got more intense, you have a bend rod. If it did not get louder with acceleration, Than you prolly have a bad lifter.

[provinggrounds]

I am not an expert, but seems like a timing issue...

[97stanger]

Originally Posted by provinggrounds I am not an expert, but seems like a timing issue...

Timing issue wouldnt cause that. It would cause it to idle either extremely high if it was too advanced, or extremely low is it was to retarded. Not do what he said its doing

[Breakout]

bad thermo is causing overheating...and that could be causing predetonation in the cylinder, thus the knocking. That may be it....

[provinggrounds]

I would think this would happen if the timing rail was broken... At least the noise part. But with the timing chain issues it is always present, not after few minutes or so.

[Breakout]

timing wouldn't cause the overheating...unless he had 2 problems at once.

[El_Cangri]

its the thermo and bcause ur overheating it will cause the pre-detonation so ur rigth breakout...

[Onemanzu]

... fix this problem quick cuz if things start getting bad it could lead to bad head gaskets and a bunch of BS... changing the thermo is an easy one....

acctually just pop the housing off tomorrow boil some water and put the thermo in it ... if it doesn't open their is your problem... hope things get worked out

[Fox2102]

Ok so it's the thermo... now what do i do to fix it? I have a pretty good idea of where it's at but do i need to replace it or is there something i can do to it to fix it? or will i just have to wait and see. And i dont believe i bent a rod because i started it a few minutes ago and the knocking was gone

[Juggalo_X]

Originally Posted by 97stanger Originally Posted by provinggrounds I am not an expert, but seems like a timing issue... Timing issue wouldnt cause that. It would cause it to idle either extremely high if it was too advanced, or extremely low is it was to retarded. Not do what he said its doing

If the timing is to advanced it will cause overheating and a knock dude it will also ping and run like a bag of shit. if its to low u will get detonation and that will ping and knock as well. A sign of timing thats way to advanced is glowing headers.

[Juggalo_X]

Originally Posted by Fox2102 Ok so it's the thermo... now what do i do to fix it? I have a pretty good idea of where it's at but do i need to replace it or is there something i can do to it to fix it? or will i just have to wait and see. And i dont believe i bent a rod because i started it a few minutes ago and the knocking was gone

Check to make sure your Drive belt is not past its wear threshold. This will cause overheating as the water pump will not move the water efficiently. also be 100% sure your not low on coolant. I don't think its a head gasket issue or the Knock would be Consistent at this point. If the coolant leval and drive belt chekc out Replace the Thermostat. To check for a bad thermostat is easy what you need to do is let your car idle untill it begins to run hotter then usual. then place you hand on the Upper rad hose this is the hose that is clamped to the thermostat housing. If this hose is cool to the touch it means tour thermostat is stuck closed and has to be replaces if it is hot then it means your thermostat is Functioning correctly. If you car however takes a very long time to warm up then your Thermostat is stuck open (this is the position most new thermostats fail in as a safety feature to prevent engine damage) this aside lets move on to the thermostat replacement if you inface verify its stuck closed.

The thermostat is located behind the water pump on the lower intake manifold u cant miss it obviously with the Big Upper rad hose on it.

1) drain the coolant from the radiator spout until the level drops below the thermostat housing.
2) remove the Upper rad hose from the thermostat housing.
3) Remove the bolts from the thermostat housing and remove the thermostat housing u might need to tap it softly with a hammer. shield the housing with a rag if you have to tap it. then remove the Thermostat o-ring.
4) Note how you un-install the thermostat now, the spring should be facing towards the inside of the intake. Remove the Old thermostat and replace it with the correct replacement. Note again that the spring should be placed on the inside so its facing the Intake. When you install the thermostat it must be rotated in the housing so that the vent hole is positioned in the 11 o'clock or 1 o'clock position. You thermostat may have a notch on it to make sure its vent hole is located correctly.
5)Install the new o-ring on the intake side of the housing,
6)Carefully position the outer Thermostat housing and replace the bolts. Torque them to 15-22 lbs for 94 and 95 engines 77 to 97 lbs for 1996 and later.
6)retrace steps your steps to be sure every thing is tight and installed correctly.

Congratulations youve replaced your thermostat.