I just put my POS 86 Caravan back on the road, but my idiot light (water) comes on at random times, like when I'm on the highway it stays on all the time. I thought it was the thermostat, but I did the boil test with it, and it opens at 100º so it's fine. No blocked hoses (all new).
Any idea's other than buy a new van.
I need help with my POS [Archive] - ForumsHQ
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hagrid
Re: I need help with my POS [Archive] - ForumsHQ
You might try looking at the sensor and the wire for it.
The sensor could be going, wire broke and making temporary contact.
Just a thought.
The sensor could be going, wire broke and making temporary contact.
Just a thought.
Re: I need help with my POS [Archive] - ForumsHQ
dude... 100 degrees Fernhight or Celcious... Cause if your thermos popping open at 100 thats a problem. Most are 190 or 210.
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barracuda1187
- Posts: 64
- Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2004 5:00 am
Re: I need help with my POS [Archive] - ForumsHQ
Old-ass post but figured I'd throw in a couple things for you or anyone else who happens to read it...
(except the jackasses causing timeouts from the friggin pr0n forums :fyou: )
Are you sure that the engine's NOT getting hot enough to set off the light? It could be running hot but not enough to actually *overheat*.
Check:
Airflow.
Is the fan is working? Is it turning on once the engine heats up? If not, you might have a bad relay (although usually in this case you'd definitely overheat in traffic or at idle all the time as well as on the freeway).
Coolant flow.
Take a look down the radiator neck. If you can see in there, and there's any buildup or anything, you should pull the radiator and have it flushed (don't waste your money on a can of flush at the parts store, the only thing it will flush out is your wallet). Another thing you can do is once the car is good and hot, feel around on the radiator for any big temperature differences, which can indicate areas with bad flow.
The radiator is most likely the problem, because you said it has all new hoses - which usually means there were leaks, which also means there was probably rust floating around in the system.
Another thing that can cause poor flow is, of course, the water pump but there's no real way to easily check for 'proper amount of flow'. Although as with the radiator, if you had rust in the system prior to the re-hose, I'd recommend replacing the water pump anyways (always buy 'em NEW, not REBUILT).
(except the jackasses causing timeouts from the friggin pr0n forums :fyou: )
Are you sure that the engine's NOT getting hot enough to set off the light? It could be running hot but not enough to actually *overheat*.
Check:
Airflow.
Is the fan is working? Is it turning on once the engine heats up? If not, you might have a bad relay (although usually in this case you'd definitely overheat in traffic or at idle all the time as well as on the freeway).
Coolant flow.
Take a look down the radiator neck. If you can see in there, and there's any buildup or anything, you should pull the radiator and have it flushed (don't waste your money on a can of flush at the parts store, the only thing it will flush out is your wallet). Another thing you can do is once the car is good and hot, feel around on the radiator for any big temperature differences, which can indicate areas with bad flow.
The radiator is most likely the problem, because you said it has all new hoses - which usually means there were leaks, which also means there was probably rust floating around in the system.
Another thing that can cause poor flow is, of course, the water pump but there's no real way to easily check for 'proper amount of flow'. Although as with the radiator, if you had rust in the system prior to the re-hose, I'd recommend replacing the water pump anyways (always buy 'em NEW, not REBUILT).