I am going friggin' crazy!
Thread Starter
More Than Meets The Eye
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,120
From: Mesa, Az
I am going friggin' crazy!
Well as I posted in thxone's thread. I am going nuts trying to figure out, why my Z is still overheating. It is so frustrating, and I am running out of time. At the end of this month. My tags expire on my '82 t-top. And passing emissions will be a pain in the ****. I am trying to get this slicktop going right. But I keep hitting walls. I have had a long enough week working 12 hour shifts.
Radiator has been flushed, and flows great
Thermostat was replaced with a fail safe one
I removed the Air Regulator..seems kind of dry like no coolant is going through
tomorrow I will flush the entire block
At least the oil is not milky... that is a good thing
Oh yes, and I replaced the radiator cap.
Anyway any tips, pointers, or hints, advice, would be much appreciated, and thanks everybody for helping.
P.S. That is just the beginning.... I also have a problem with it running, and I have a loss of power. I don't understand it, when I brought it home. It ran great and was running on old gas. It hauled ***, what happened since then? So irritating, anyway waiting for your replies.
Radiator has been flushed, and flows great
Thermostat was replaced with a fail safe one
I removed the Air Regulator..seems kind of dry like no coolant is going through
tomorrow I will flush the entire block
At least the oil is not milky... that is a good thing
Oh yes, and I replaced the radiator cap.
Anyway any tips, pointers, or hints, advice, would be much appreciated, and thanks everybody for helping.
P.S. That is just the beginning.... I also have a problem with it running, and I have a loss of power. I don't understand it, when I brought it home. It ran great and was running on old gas. It hauled ***, what happened since then? So irritating, anyway waiting for your replies.
Last edited by WildmaN; Aug 11, 2007 at 08:28 PM.
Thread Starter
More Than Meets The Eye
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,120
From: Mesa, Az
It can't be the head gasket, I am not losing coolant, and the oil is not milky. The water pump is real quiet. So it can't be that, I am at a loss. And at my wits end. And if it is the head gasket. I will throw in the towel. I need to relax, and stop working on cars for a while. I am getting severely burned out. And my time is running out. The end of August, I am really in trouble. My tags run out, and my Z will not pass emissions. I am sure of that. Argghhh!! Keep them coming people and thanks again.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 459
From: Ohio
sounds like your thermostat
the bimetal spring in the thermostat has snapped and now its stuck closed. you need to install a new one (probably). Does the car over heat mostly when you are sitting at idle but seems ok on the highway. Mostly?
Thread Starter
More Than Meets The Eye
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,120
From: Mesa, Az
Actually it is stuck open. That is how it is designed. And it is new, at idle it doesn't overheat at all. As soon as I start driving it, within a few minutes, it starts sweeping to the right. (the temp gauge)
NisTuner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,800
From: Cleveland, Ohio
Are you sure the car is overheating and it's not just the temp gauge going wacky? Because if it starts doing it while you're driving, that sounds to me like a gauge issue. Pull the sending unit connector and ground it, and then just switch the key to on first, and check to make sure the gauge goes all the way up at least to see if the connection is fine. Then try cleaning the connections and see if that makes a difference. You may just need a new sender.
Über User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 9,532
From: lemont, Illinois
yeah you can try teh guage sonnections, trace the wire and make sure its not hitting a ground somewhere, but also replace the hoses, any leak is a loss in preassure.and if it still does it bypass the heater core temporarily and see if it still over heats, if not you may have found the prob. and what kinda cap did you get where from?
edit, and yeah check the fan, clutch could be going out on it, try spinning the fan by hand, should have some resistance to it. because if they are bad you know, motor speeds up, fan cant speed up with it, could over heat, but at teh same time i doubt it cause your moving. or have you only driven at slow speeds?
edit, and yeah check the fan, clutch could be going out on it, try spinning the fan by hand, should have some resistance to it. because if they are bad you know, motor speeds up, fan cant speed up with it, could over heat, but at teh same time i doubt it cause your moving. or have you only driven at slow speeds?
Last edited by snwbrderphat540; Aug 11, 2007 at 09:53 PM.
Big Poppa
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,499
From: Mission, British Columbia
how did you actually check the rad? just putting a gargen hose in the top doesnt cut it, it could actually flow fine down one side. hold your hand on the bottom and plug the hole tight, then fill it up all the way to the top, then let your hand off, all the water should come out in like 5 seconds or less (there abouts) also try driving on the hwy, if it overheats there, its not the fan clutch, because its not getting used there, this also points to 2 things, the rad or the pump. so test the rad, then go after the pump, the pump may be real quiet, but that could be because the inside part isnt turning. sometimes the shaft has failure for variuos reasons. the cooling system is simple, with few parts, and never assume that any are good, until tested. i say water pump from what youve described.
Doesn't post much...
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,617
From: Escondido (San Diego) California
By the way... Just because a water pump is "Quiet" doesn't mean it's working properly.
You should know better than that.
I've see a couple hundred water pumps with impeller blades worn completely away upon removal over the years...
No blades = No Dice Pedro.
Rod.
You should know better than that.
I've see a couple hundred water pumps with impeller blades worn completely away upon removal over the years...
No blades = No Dice Pedro.
Rod.
Thread Starter
More Than Meets The Eye
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,120
From: Mesa, Az
Well my new water pump is installed. The old one didn't have any damage, and the impellers looked allright. I also installed a new fan clutch. And a new o2 sensor. The old one was pretty dirty, and whatever you call it. lol Anyway, I am having a hell of a time getting the hose back on, that coolant runs through. It goes into the bottom of the air regulator. I am in here taking a break. I have been working on my Z since like 5'ish or so. Going back out there in a short while, and tackle it again. I decided to not run the regulator. It is probably no good anyway. I spent enough money already on this car. And mostly on credit. Doh, oh well it should be worth it.
Thread Starter
More Than Meets The Eye
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,120
From: Mesa, Az
Originally Posted by SHADY280
how did you actually check the rad? just putting a gargen hose in the top doesnt cut it, it could actually flow fine down one side. hold your hand on the bottom and plug the hole tight, then fill it up all the way to the top, then let your hand off, all the water should come out in like 5 seconds or less (there abouts) also try driving on the hwy, if it overheats there, its not the fan clutch, because its not getting used there, this also points to 2 things, the rad or the pump. so test the rad, then go after the pump, the pump may be real quiet, but that could be because the inside part isnt turning. sometimes the shaft has failure for variuos reasons. the cooling system is simple, with few parts, and never assume that any are good, until tested. i say water pump from what youve described.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 119
some cars have functional air dams underneath the front of the car that can affect the temp of the car on hot summer days. i know cuz it happend to a camaro of mine. not sure if the z has one though. i forgot the proper name of it.
Thread Starter
More Than Meets The Eye
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,120
From: Mesa, Az
^The shroud matters mainly on the highway. I know that from experience in the past. 
Anyway I am done for now. It is not running any better, it overheats. And I am sick of it. I am getting my Bluestreak ready for emissions. I have no choice. Serves me right thinking I could get a car on the road. That sat for years.
No I am not completely giving up on the car. I am just going to take things apart. And go through the whole fuel system, and all components on my engine. And I will do all of it verry thoroughly. So in the process, headers will be installed, also my JSK fuel rail. And the adjustable fuel pressure regulator. I am not working on any cars until the weekend. Unless I need to do any maintenance on my Bluestreak. Anyway that is all for now. So as of now, the project is stopped cold.
Anyway I am done for now. It is not running any better, it overheats. And I am sick of it. I am getting my Bluestreak ready for emissions. I have no choice. Serves me right thinking I could get a car on the road. That sat for years. No I am not completely giving up on the car. I am just going to take things apart. And go through the whole fuel system, and all components on my engine. And I will do all of it verry thoroughly. So in the process, headers will be installed, also my JSK fuel rail. And the adjustable fuel pressure regulator. I am not working on any cars until the weekend. Unless I need to do any maintenance on my Bluestreak. Anyway that is all for now. So as of now, the project is stopped cold.
NisTuner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,800
From: Cleveland, Ohio
Wildman are you positive the car is overheating and it's not just the gauge? Do you have the injector cooling fan installed on the car? So when you turn the car off does it come on? It seems pretty odd that you would overheat while driving but not while idling.
Doesn't post much...
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,617
From: Escondido (San Diego) California
Originally Posted by duowing
It seems pretty odd that you would overheat while driving but not while idling.
Maybe it's running too lean WildMan, plenty of stuff can cause that. Timing, bad Fuel pump/filter/regulator/injector... and so on. You know the drill.
Rod.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 474
From: Boulder, CO
I know that at speed some of the Z32 guys have problems with the rad return hoses getting soft and kind of sucking shut, causing cooling problems. Is it possible on the earlier Z's to have something similar happen if the hose(s) are older? Just a question.
Dave
Dave
NisTuner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,800
From: Cleveland, Ohio
Wait a sec, Wildman didn't you say that your thermostat you're using is a type that pretty much stays open? If so I've heard that's not so good. I thought it could lead to overheating, but maybe I'm just thinking when you run it without a thermostat, but like I said be sure it's not your gauge. I remember someone else on here was having an overheating issue which turned out to be their gauge was wonky.
Also like I said, does the injector cooling fan come on? I'm not sure what triggers the fan, but once I had connections hooked up wrong so my temp gauge wasn't receiving a signal. I had spilled some antifreeze on my radiator when filling it and as my car warmed up the antifreeze was burning off the radiator, I saw the smoke, and got freaked out especially since I couldn't check my gauge. I pull over and the injector fans were coming on. Later I found out my car's temp was normal, that was spilled antifreeze, and my injector fan was coming on due to the wrong connection.
Also like I said, does the injector cooling fan come on? I'm not sure what triggers the fan, but once I had connections hooked up wrong so my temp gauge wasn't receiving a signal. I had spilled some antifreeze on my radiator when filling it and as my car warmed up the antifreeze was burning off the radiator, I saw the smoke, and got freaked out especially since I couldn't check my gauge. I pull over and the injector fans were coming on. Later I found out my car's temp was normal, that was spilled antifreeze, and my injector fan was coming on due to the wrong connection.
Last edited by duowing; Aug 14, 2007 at 10:50 AM.
Thread Starter
More Than Meets The Eye
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,120
From: Mesa, Az
Originally Posted by RodMoyes
Unless his problem has nothing to do with the cooling system and is instead caused by a lean condition...
Maybe it's running too lean WildMan, plenty of stuff can cause that. Timing, bad Fuel pump/filter/regulator/injector... and so on. You know the drill.
Rod.
Maybe it's running too lean WildMan, plenty of stuff can cause that. Timing, bad Fuel pump/filter/regulator/injector... and so on. You know the drill.
Rod.
Thread Starter
More Than Meets The Eye
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,120
From: Mesa, Az
Originally Posted by duowing
Wait a sec, Wildman didn't you say that your thermostat you're using is a type that pretty much stays open? If so I've heard that's not so good. I thought it could lead to overheating, but maybe I'm just thinking when you run it without a thermostat, but like I said be sure it's not your gauge. I remember someone else on here was having an overheating issue which turned out to be their gauge was wonky.
The thermostat is a fail safe one. Basically if the car overheats, it stays open instead of closed. Which would be better in that situation. And I tried running without a thermostat. Bad idea, actually heated up quicker.
Also like I said, does the injector cooling fan come on? I'm not sure what triggers the fan, but once I had connections hooked up wrong so my temp gauge wasn't receiving a signal. I had spilled some antifreeze on my radiator when filling it and as my car warmed up the antifreeze was burning off the radiator, I saw the smoke, and got freaked out especially since I couldn't check my gauge. I pull over and the injector fans were coming on. Later I found out my car's temp was normal, that was spilled antifreeze, and my injector fan was coming on due to the wrong connection.
The thermostat is a fail safe one. Basically if the car overheats, it stays open instead of closed. Which would be better in that situation. And I tried running without a thermostat. Bad idea, actually heated up quicker.
Also like I said, does the injector cooling fan come on? I'm not sure what triggers the fan, but once I had connections hooked up wrong so my temp gauge wasn't receiving a signal. I had spilled some antifreeze on my radiator when filling it and as my car warmed up the antifreeze was burning off the radiator, I saw the smoke, and got freaked out especially since I couldn't check my gauge. I pull over and the injector fans were coming on. Later I found out my car's temp was normal, that was spilled antifreeze, and my injector fan was coming on due to the wrong connection.
As for the injector fan... It is no longer on the car anymore. I took that piece of crap off, early in the process. It is a obstacle, that gets in my way. And I know I don't need it. I have been running my other Z daily without it. And no problems whatsoever.
As for the temp gauge, I am pretty sure it is working correctly. I could tell because of the real hot radiator hose, and bubbling noises I was hearing. I will try the test, if I still have problems. After I am done, fixing and or replacing this and that. Like I said, headers, JSK fuel rail, new injectors, adjustable fuel pressure regulator. Also a new fuel pump, and whatever else will be needed. And what will eliminate, by process of.
