HELP!! Just changed thermostat. Car overheated bad!!!

[lessersivad]

How do I get to the O ring in this? Does the tube unscrew from the other flared tube? Thanks for the advice. Jim

The tubes do not unscrew from each other. They are a press fit with an "O" ring to seal them together. Some wigglying and twisting will more than likely be required for separation.

I would say probably the easiest way would be to unbolt the lower radiator hose tube from the water pump to separate the 2 sections of tubing.

Judging from the pic you posted the tube seems rather crusty. If the inside of the tube is as bad you may have a difficult time trying to get it to seal.


I would try the "O" ring first and if that doesn't work, eurotiva has a replacement tube.


Or you could cut the flange off the tube and slip a piece of heater hose over the remains. I did that on my '89 a couple/few years back and it's held ever since.

Hope this helps.

[FestYboy]

yeah, it's a return line there. if you DO replace the O-ring, do yourself a favor and add a little high temp RTV to the joint with the surfaces DRY AND CLEAN (use brake clean or similar solvent), then allow it to set overnight once it's all in place. that should cure your ill.

[iriegnome]

Mine that I put in had a little arrow on it to make sure I put it in the right way. Also, if you don't burp the system, an air bubble could cause it to "overheat".

[GenevaDirt]

So I walked to the store and bought some antifreeze. Getting ready to try and burp the air out of the system. I start pouring the antifreeze in and I hear a stream drizzling to the ground. What the?!?!? I bet this happened when I was trying to get to the last bolt. I had to pry up on the tube to get the socket on the nut. Can you think of anyway I can repair this? It leaks fast and hard a steady stream. The hole is on the bottom of the tube picture, where the arrow is pointing. Man!! Should of just lived with the lukewarm air I was getting.

probably what caused it to overheat in the first place

[jimdigs]

probably what caused it to overheat in the first place

Yeah, I believe you are right.

[jimdigs]

No I'm really depressed. I drive home from work and I have NO HEAT!! Just blows cold air. Yesterday heat, today none. What happened? Any help appreciated. Temp gauge shows above the middle so I know the engine is way hot enough, probably too much so, I still think there is air in the thing. Should the bypass tube that goes under the thermostat housing be hot to the touch because it is not?
Could air in the lines cause no heat??? I don't know. I'm lost!!

[FestYboy]

low coolent level will cause no heat... it's the first sign of low coolent level as it's usually the highest part of the cooling system besides the fill tube.

[GenevaDirt]

No I'm really depressed. I drive home from work and I have NO HEAT!! Just blows cold air. Yesterday heat, today none. What happened? Any help appreciated. Temp gauge shows above the middle so I know the engine is way hot enough, probably too much so, I still think there is air in the thing. Should the bypass tube that goes under the thermostat housing be hot to the touch because it is not?
Could air in the lines cause no heat??? I don't know. I'm lost!!

low coolent level will cause no heat... it's the first sign of low coolent level as it's usually the highest part of the cooling system besides the fill tube.

what Arty said...I bet you are still leaking coolant and may not know it...level goes low and nothing to the heater core...cool breeze baby.

[jimdigs]

So today I try and bleed the system yet again. I open the cap and don't see any coolant. I top if off once again and start the car up, it starts burpin and belching up fluid out of the cap. I wait til the thing settles down, put the cap back on and hope all is well. I drive to work today and I have heat. YEAH!! BUT on the drive home the same thing, no heat and the temp gauge is reading pretty high. I still think I have air in the system. I will find out in the a.m. when I go out and take off the rad. cap and see if the fluid is down yet again. What a mess this whole thing has turned out to be. Just trying to change my thermostat and all hell breaks loose. I need heat by this weekend because its supposed to get cold here in Michigan.

[GenevaDirt]

Have you checked to see what your oil dip stick looks like? If you are not seeing any actual leakage you may be mixing water and oil as the car runs. If it started burping like that and the car was just started and cold....welllllll......

[jimdigs]

I was wondering if I might have a blown head gasket from when it overheated. I can't afford a fix like that. Might as well by a new festiva. I did check my dipstick today and it looked ok to me. Plus it wasn't over the full line or anything. I am know starting to think air is getting in through the blown gasket. MAN, this car ran great too. All from wanting to change my thermostat. Woe is me.

[FestYboy]

Top off the reservoir and rad then cap the rad. Run the engine for one minute. Refill the rad. Run the car around the block until the needle moves off the first mark. Top off the rad. Keep driving until the engine is up to temp, then idle until the fan runs, shut down and let it cool. Refill and you're done.

If the upper rad hose gets hard during the first minute of running, you have a HG issue.

[getnpsi]

I just did the head gasket on a different festiva. My first time doing one...It took less time than to remove and replace my interior after a 2 liter bottle of coke emptied in passenger footwell...After completion id rather do engine swaps, but i knew this specific car was low miles and i don't like this guy enough to give up one of my mazda engines

[crazyrog17]

The HG is a DIY job. The head with intake and exhaust manifolds pulls right off. Clean up the mating surfaces and check for warping with a straight edge.

Where in MI are you?

[jimdigs]

Its the head gasket!!! Oh man, this is horrible. All I wanted was more heat and now I have to try and find another festiva before it gets to cold and I don't have the money. This little engine would of lasted a long time too. Ran tight and strong. Such is life. Sucks!! Thanks for all the help guys it is appreciated. There is that brownish sludge under the oil cap. The dip stick color still don't look bad to me plus it hasn't gone up any.