98 Legacy L, 2.2L auto, 147K miles

 

 

I was driving on a highway when I heard this loud pop. It sounded like a wheel exploded. About 15 seconds later I noticed on the gauge that the temperature has instantly gone into the red zone. I pulled over at that point.

 

Opened the hood, lots of smoke and fluid everywhere. I thought it was oil but turned out to be coolant. The upper radiator hose was dangling loose. The plastic part of the radiator that the hose goes on was partially broken off.

 

I put the upper radiator hose back on it and tightened the bracket. Filled the radiator with water and started the car. The temperature was stable just below the half mark so that was good.

 

Got back on the highway, drove about 20 miles when the same thing repeated. Temperature shooting to the High zone, smoke. I pulled over, strangely the upper radiator hose was loose again. I connected it again, got back on the road and drove another 20 miles with no incident, temperature stable.

 

I noticed I had no heat whatsoever.

 

Question, is my radiator plugged up? I tried to drain it a few months ago and almost nothing came out except for a few drops. And heat worked poorly even back then, coming on after a long delaly and even then weak.

 

Could it be a T-stat stuck in the open loop that's causing all this?

 

I touched the upper radiator hose and it was very hot so that may disprove the above.

 

Why does the hose keep popping off?

 

At this point I am planning to replace all major components of the cooling system, including the radiator as it's broken anyway and the water pump, as I will be doing the Timing Belts shortly.

 

Perhaps someone could shed some light on this?

No Heat = Air in the coolant system. Search Burp and you should find lots of info. Make sure you have a good clamp and your radiator cap is allowing pressure to vent when necessary.

 

Look in you coolant overflow bottle, black oil stuff = HG leaking!

I would think possibly a stuck thermostat and or as mentioned just air needs to be burped out of the system. Could also be the rad cap as well.

Where can I get a good radiator, hopefully all metal without plastic parts to break off like on this one (OEM I presume)?

Try Performance Radiator. They have a website.

 

Emily

http://www.ccrengines.com

Sounds like you could possibly have a thermostat issue, they are easy to replace, they are on the bottom, held on with 2 10mm bolts. They are relatively cheap from the dealer, make sure you get a gasket with it.

 

It's also possible that you have a blown head gasket, as excess pressure in the cooling system caused by combustion gases getting in there will blow hoses and radiator tanks, especially if your radiator cap is not venting properly. Do you have the newer style 2.2? The newer style will say "EJ22" on the block but it has the 2.5 style cam covers, where the spark plug wire goes through the cam cover. Either way, the 2.2s are not really known for head gasket issues, however the new style 2.2 IS an interference motor, so you do not want to skimp on the timing belt, and you will want to make sure you check all the idler pulleys and replace any of them that are noisy. You'll also want to check the tensioner and replace it if it is leaking or if the pulley is noisy.

OK. How do I check that it's not a head gasket issue? It didn't look like there was any milky fluid in oil, nor did it appear that there was oil in the coolant. But I will check again.

 

It tore off the plastic end of the radiator where the uppper radiator hose goes onto. I still had room to reinstall the hose but it tore it off one more time. I suspect the radiator is plugged up inside somehow.

Radiators get plugged up with age, especially if someone uses tap water.

 

You have a couple of issues. You have a stuck thermostat and a failed radiator cap. The cap keeps the system pressurized and releases any pressure above the preset limit. Yours is not releasing.

 

 

You may also have a HG issue, but lets start there.

 

HG issue will show up as bubbles in the coolant and make a failed radiator cap problem even worse.

 

ALso fill the cooling system with car running. Slowly fill it up, stop when full. Wait for the t-stat to open (surge of fluid) then top off. Put cap on system go for drive around block. Makes sure tank is filled to hot line and let car cool off, then repeat if needed.

 

 

nipper

Thanks. I am doing T-belts, WP and other things, and plan to address the cooling system right at that time.