View Full Version : need radiator tips please!


shelbylay
01-11-2008, 05:30 PM
Todayin a wendys drive through Ifound that my radiator hose where the hose comes from the engine to the radiator came off. On the actual radiator there was about a quater inch of plastic left from where it broke off, so i usedit tohook it back up for the ride back to my house after i filled the explansion tank with water. Now when i start my car with the hose off and radiator tank full, shouldnt there be fluid flowing out of the hosefrom my water pump? beucase its not and i hope my water pump isnt messed up. and one more thing, theantifreeze that leaked outwas boiling hot and steaming like mad, so isnt that a sign off water pump failure? this car has given me so many problems, any helpwould awesome and thanks ahead of time!

tech
01-11-2008, 07:22 PM
The thermostat might be broke and stuck shut.

shelbylay
01-11-2008, 09:15 PM
Thermostats arent that expensive so thats a good thing :) what about the boiling hot radiator fluid ? should it be that hot? or is it that hot because my water pump is messed up? thanks alot for the info

tech
01-11-2008, 10:10 PM
If the thermostat was stuck closed or almost all the way closed it would make it overheat like that.
It would overheat because the flow was way to slow to cool properly.

shelbylay
01-12-2008, 05:20 PM
Sorry to keep asking, but let me make sure,Ismy water pump ok? i understand that my thermostat is messed up
thanks again for the info/help

tech
01-12-2008, 05:46 PM
The only way to find out for sure would be to remove the thermostat then try.

shelbylay
01-12-2008, 10:21 PM
This is gonna sound dumb, where is the thermostat located? and is it easy to get to? or should i leave it to a mechanic?

tech
01-13-2008, 08:22 AM
The thermostat is under the metal cover where the top radaitor hose attaches to the engine.

shelbylay
01-13-2008, 09:47 AM
OK ill check it out, what will it look like if its broke? Thanks alot for all your help. maybe i can do it myself and not pay alot for a pro to do it :)

tech
01-13-2008, 09:51 AM
You will know if it is broke when you see it.
http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/faq/ImagesProcedures/FailedThermostat.gif
It will look like this if it is broke.

shelbylay
01-13-2008, 05:53 PM
ok thanks alot for you help im gonna mess with my car tomorrow morning ill give you an up date tomorrrow :) thanks again

shelbylay
01-13-2008, 08:01 PM
Well, i got down to the thermostat, and it looks fine. I ran my car without it for about 10 milesat an average speed of 40mph(hope thats ok). My temperature gauge inside never got above normal, and everything sounded fine.Should i just buy a new thermostat because this one looks fine, and if i put this one back in, whats to say it wont get stuck shut again? Without the thermostat in i took off the the hose from the engine to the radiator and water was flowing percectly, so i dont think the water pump is broken. What do you/anyone think?
THANKS SO MUCH

tech
01-14-2008, 05:49 PM
Buy a new thermostat.

shelbylay
01-14-2008, 07:23 PM
Haha ok thats what im about to do. Any suggestions on what type? or are they all about the same ? thanks for the help I'm sure my car will have more problems down the road sometime soon so ill be asking for helpagain haha.Did you ever have an S90? they are nice but boy are they expensive! haha