nbrown Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Hello. I am new to USMB and new to Subarus. I just bought a 91 Loyale in Oregon and on the way back to CA one of the radiator hoses exploded. Got that fixed but since then I've been having some cooling issues. Under normal conditions the temp will rise a little above halfway and then drop back down. One day when I was going up a long hill on the highway and the car was trying desperately to overheat. I did everything I could and kept it from overheating. It seems to me that I have a cooling problem. So my questions are: How should I troubleshoot this? Do I even have a problem or is my car just old? Thanks. -Nathan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogbone Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 My first guess, you have an air bubble in the coolant system and you need to "burp" it and top it off the coolant. Search these forums to find the proper procedure, but basically park on a hill or on ramps, and massage all the air from the radiator hoses. A new thermostat may be in order as well. How is your coolant level holding? Your radiator or another hose could be leaking. Otherwise with that said, I drive my '91 Loyale daily over a 2,300 foot high mountain pass, and going uphill on a hot summer day, with the A/C going, the temp gauge does climb to at least 3/4 or more (never gets fully to the the "H" though). These cars really only had "adequate" cooling to begin with when they were new. Put 20 or so years of age and use, and even a minor issue often becomes a real problem. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbrown Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 Thanks for the speedy reply! The hill I climbed was about 2300 as well but the Loyale didn't like it too much. I had a small leak at the hose i replaced but if fixed that. Since then the fluid has stayed at the same level. Doesn't seem to be any other leaks. I'll try burping it. I've been wondering about the thermostat though. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogbone Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Thermostats are pretty cheap insurance. Just thought of this, your radiator cap may be worn out. If it's not holding pressure, it could lead to symptoms like you are describing. They are also cheap insurance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phxmotorelectri Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 For crying out loud, This kind of overheat is almost always the radiator. New ones are only about $125.00 Trust me. Take out the thermostat. And it still overheats slowlly mainly on hills and at high speeds esp when hot then its always the radiator. Get a new cheap one. The car will last for years. Dont worry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbrown Posted July 11, 2011 Author Share Posted July 11, 2011 Thanks for the replies. A new radiator was the solution on another thread I read about a similar issue. I may try the easier (cheaper) suggestions before I do the radiator but it sounds like that may be the issue. I don't think I am clear on what the thermostat actually does. Can someone enlighten me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phxmotorelectri Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Take out the thermostat. If it still overheats please get a hundred dollar newnew radiator. Stop pretending its something else. It will last for years if you do this. Cars overheat in different ways. This overheating mode is the radiator. New ones used to be over 200. Tgey are a lot Cheaper now. Just get the darned thing delivered thru 1 800 radiator. Eben autozone and napa have low prices now because of 1 800 radiator. But 1 800 radiaror will deliver within 2 to 3 hrs. A hot day driving up a hill at 70 mph that causes an overheat Is the radiaror. A bad head gasket will havee bubbles coming From the radiator when the cap is off. Take out the thermostat... If it still overheats at high speeds Then get the radiatot. Stop hoping its something else. But remove the thermostat 1st and see if It still overheats. If it does get the radiator. It will make you happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phxmotorelectri Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 RNathan you r in santa cruz? Alot of my customers r from there. I run a resort nxt to dodge ridge ski resort. We go to sc every year. A thermostat is a heat valve in the radiator water hose. Usually in The engine right where the hose connects On most subis its on the bottom . It keeps radiator temp steady. Yes they can get stuck thats why u remove it to confirm If the radiator is bad. There is a upullit in moss landing but used radiators are about 75 dollars. Its not worth it when a new one is 125. cold santa cruz weather... Or vold oregon weather... Hides a bad radiator for years. But go to the valley where its hot and the car will overheat the first time you hit 70 mph. Run the test e/o the thermostat. Then get a radiator. get a new thermostat after u get a new radiator. cars MUST run at the rite temp for the computer controls to work right.. steve at phxmotor@aol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbrown Posted July 12, 2011 Author Share Posted July 12, 2011 Thanks steve. Its true, I am in Santa Cruz! Glad to hear you make it to our little town every year. I'll try taking the t-stat out tomorrow. So the temp will spike more easily with the t-stat out? Thanks for the heads up on the upull in moss landing. I won't get the radiator from there but its good to know that it exists. -Nathan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbrown Posted July 14, 2011 Author Share Posted July 14, 2011 OK, so I took the t-stat out and have been doing my best the last couple of days to try to get the engine to go hot. TOday I really worked it. I went over the pass and drove the freeway in 4th gear at 60+ mph for a while. I could't get it past the middle of the gauge and that was only for a little bit. So if I am understanding what was said earlier, my radiator is good and the t-stat I pulled is bad? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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