Recently Had Timing Belt And Waterpump Changed Now Car Over Heated

[jakez88]

hey guys yesterday i had a timing belt kit installed aswell as a waterpump by my mechanic on my r32 gtst.

now today while driving and being in heavy traffic coming home from city the car over heated. pulled over and got it to cool down and managed to tippy toe it back home.

now i called my mechanic and he said something about a air pocket in the radiator/pipes? don't really think it is though.

i've seen the radiator fluid in the over flow bottle and it seems alot lighter green then m,y last coolant. could this be the reason?

also when it started to overheat there was a ticking sound coming from the engine bay that i never heard before. is this normal when the car is overheated? or is it possible that my water pump is stuffed?

let me know if u've experienced this guys as i wanna get this fixed asap.

thanks

[jakez88]

hmm...just found out the radiator is leaking and there was nothing in the radiator.

filled up the radiator with water to check for the leak and the water just came straight out.

when ur under the bonnet the leak is coming from the right side of the radiator.

my dad thinks it might be the plug or might have a blown hose?

have no idea about these things so what do u guys think it is?...haven't really had a good look but i will tomorow.

[NZM.031]

if your looking AT the car and the leak is on your right (turbo side) then it wont be a hose, as the hoses are on your left... its possible that your mechanic didnt take the radiator out when doing the timing belt and bashed it with tools or the fan... theres not a great deal of room to move around in there... if its coming out of the radiator, you'll have to take your shroud off and check.

dont stress... i broke 2 radiator tubes after my shroud got pushed into the radiator.. i got a new radiator which didnt get along with the fan... so cashless and carless and in need of a quick fix to get it going... i fixed the old radiator with DEVCON... may not be the best idea, but its been holding solid for almost 3 weeks now. its basically an aluminium putty... when mixed with the hardner, sets like metal... i just put in bit more hardner and packed it in where the 2 tubes had broken.

i drive the car everyday and it hasnt got hot or leaked yet.

cheers

Linton

[NZM.031]

when you top the water up aswell.... make sure you undo the 10mm bolt staring at you on the end of the plenum.. run the car at operating temp, topping up with water until a solid stream of coolant comes out.. no air bubbles... this gets the air out of the system. and check the radiator for air bubbles... if its bubbling like crazy.. its dont the head gasket.. thats the worst case scenario though. if its just a bubble here and there, its just that, a bubble.

and dont put cold coolant in a hot car thats switched off... keep it running while your filling it up.

[jakez88]

^^^ awesome mate will do...thanks heaps

so if i'm in the same boat as u it will be better to get a new/second hand radiator?

Edited October 24, 2008 by jakez88

[cuppas]

check the plugs tight too though.

when youre refilling the coolant, make sure the heater is turned up to full when the car is running.

[NZM.031]

ideally, yes, a new radiator would be good.. i got a second hand one for $220 and put it in, only to have the waterpump shaft snap and throw the fan into the "new" radiator... so i had to quickly fix the old one to get me around.. next on the list is a new radiator.

[jakez88]

oh o.k fair enough...i can get a hold of a second hand gtr r32 radiator....does anyone know if the gtst and gtr are the same? i hard they are but the gtr is abit thicker? if this is the case will it fit with the gtst fan thing and everything?

[NZM.031]

should be pretty much the same, aslong as the hoses are both on the left.. just check where the little sender is, you may have to add in some wiring.. r32s it is near the bottom hose, r33 is on the other side..