Ok so the 164 got a new old stock clutch and plate from RPR, installed by VolTech in Northeast Portland (son of founder of IPD's shop) this week. They tuned it up and even fixed a coolant leak. We drove it around 100 miles, all normal circumstances and actually mostly freeway cruising. On saturday we drove to the 164 to the mall and back - around 25 miles round trip. Coming over the bridge back to our house we start hearing a weird noise. We are a few blocks from our house when the temperature guage goes into the red. There is a lot of grey smoke coming out the exhaust and it stalls out. We push it to the side and walk the few blocks home.

Today we went out to get it. It starts up after about 20 turns over and I drive it for about 4 blocks back to our house. My friend comes over to see it and it starts first try. He wanted to check the upper radiator hose to feel if it has water going through it. It does, but he thinks the thermostat and water pump should be redone. The coolant looks good - no oil or rust at all - and the reservoir is pretty full. We are going to bring it over to his garage to work on it this week. Suggestions please?

mike

That noise is probably the pump. The smoke coming out of the exhaust is a blown head gasket.
The pump will make noise again if left running and it gets hot. There should have been a small amount of coolant dripping out of the front of the pump if the bearings go, but it sounds like the impellers are shot. Only one way to find out, pull it.

Klaus
--
The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are a 95 854T and a 98 V70R :)

a weird noise....?

Smoke out the tail pipe doesn't sound good, but if coolant level doesn't seem to have dropped, perhaps it's ok. (Lets hope not head gasket)

But what did that weird noise sound like? Usually noises are not related to cooling issues.. unless your water pump broke or seized or something...



--
-Matt I ♥ my ♂

Be sure and check the ignition timing.
Should be about 20° BTDC with everything hooked up.
Retarded will make it run hot.
Thermostats vary a lot in quality and effectiveness so if there is any doubt
you might put it in a pan of water on the stove and cook it and make sure it
opens all the way before it boils.
--
George Downs, Bartlesville, Heart of the USA!

The radiator's probably plugged.
BT,DT.

Ok I just took the radiator out and flushed it a bit. It doesn't appear to be clogged at all. I took the thermostat out and put it in a pot of water in the kitchen. It opened in boiling water, but I didn't check it before then. I'll check it a few times. You're saying it should be opening BEFORE the water comes to a boil, right?

When I took the radiator out and the thermostat out, there didn't appear to be any water underneath the thermostat. Is this a sign of a failed water pump? Could it be my thermostat isn't working either?

Can I run the car without the thermostat for constant flowing? It is pretty warm out now in Portland and I don't see the need to hold the water in to the engine block to warm it up, though I definitely did in the winter.

Thanks for your help. Taking the radiator out and getting to the thermostat was refreshingly easy. Let's hope the rest of this fix is too!

mike

Drive the car around until the thermostat opens, then feel around the radiator for cold spots; I'll bet you find some.

Hi Mike -

If you saw 'grey smoke' out the exhaust, I'm guessing it was water vapor (steam), which indicates a blown head gasket.

Was there *any* oil in the coolant you drained?

Check the oil. If it looks like a chocolate milkshake rather than shiny gold (or black) oil, it's likely contaminated with water/coolant.

If the coolant and oil each look uncontaminated and you're at all suspicious of a blown headgasket, the next thing to do will be to check the compression.

Re: running without a thermostat: you can, but it's not ideal. The thermostat, when fully open, slows the coolant flow so that it's able to fully cool in the radiator before re-entering the engine. Strange as it sounds, running without a thermostat can cause the car to run hot instead of cold.

(I might get some grief from this statement, so take it with a grain of salt. But I've witnessed it myself, so I'll stick with it.)

If you need a thermostat, I have several here at the house - you're welcome to take a few for testing/use, and you can have 'em gratis.

Good luck!

Cameron
Rose City