Posted by Mike W. on November 24, 2002 at 14:08:35 from 64.12.97.8
In Reply to: Cooling system, need help posted by DJazz on November 24, 2002 at 10:58:26:
Be very careful as the last thing you want to do is run one of these engines out of water. While I have never had a T-stat fail, it could happen. But more likely I think is your water pump is leaking and you are low on coolant and things are getting air locked and the stat won't open because it is sensing air, not water. Also I have found the first symptom when low on water is the heater stops working. So fill it up and bleed it and take a look, likely the water pump seal has gone and it is leaking out the weep hole as Jefflee mentioned below. Not that it makes much difference, but I have seen some water pumps with two weep holes instead of just one. Water pump isn't too bad a job, but you do have to pull the radiator. If it is the early type of fan clutch your four screws may be allens, forget exactly what size, and if it is the later one with the large 32MM nut, remember it is left hand thread, and make sure you get it off first before you try and pull the water pump and before you loosen the fanbelt, it's much easier with that stuff in place to hold it. When reinstalling you don't have to get it real tight, it will self tighten due to engine rotation.
Mike