Car Overheating :(

[Whip Cracker]

Hey lads,

I've found that my car starts to overheat when sitting in traffic... which sucks! I've had advice as to what the problem may be, but each person says something different.

First off, the radiator had it's tank replaced about 12 months ago and was completely flushed out... So I'm not 100% sure if there's a blockage anywhere?

When the car gets hot, it'll go from 50% (normal) to around 80%. I can turn on either the A/C or turn the temp from Cold to Heat and watch the temp gauge come down back to 50%. I'm guessing when the A/C's on, the radiator fan goes a bit quicker, and the heater may extract the heat from the engine bay??

I had a problem similar to this a couple of months ago... the car would overheat, but found that the fan wasn't kicking in when it got hot enough (the temp needle still rises), you could actually catch the fan... took it to the mechanic, couldn't find a fault (fan was going flat out like it should).

Now, the 3VZ engines I *believe* are oil driven, rather than the 5SFEs that are electric driven... does anyone know for certain?? I've been told that it's possible that the fan needs replacing..

Hahaha, this is goin to be an interesting one, I never normally have a problem with my Camma!!

Thanks everyone for their input :)

- Shannon

[DIVO]

Hey lads,

I've found that my car starts to overheat when sitting in traffic... which sucks! I've had advice as to what the problem may be, but each person says something different.

First off, the radiator had it's tank replaced about 12 months ago and was completely flushed out... So I'm not 100% sure if there's a blockage anywhere?

When the car gets hot, it'll go from 50% (normal) to around 80%. I can turn on either the A/C or turn the temp from Cold to Heat and watch the temp gauge come down back to 50%. I'm guessing when the A/C's on, the radiator fan goes a bit quicker, and the heater may extract the heat from the engine bay??

I had a problem similar to this a couple of months ago... the car would overheat, but found that the fan wasn't kicking in when it got hot enough (the temp needle still rises), you could actually catch the fan... took it to the mechanic, couldn't find a fault (fan was going flat out like it should).

Now, the 3VZ engines I *believe* are oil driven, rather than the 5SFEs that are electric driven... does anyone know for certain?? I've been told that it's possible that the fan needs replacing..

Hahaha, this is goin to be an interesting one, I never normally have a problem with my Camma!!

Thanks everyone for their input :)

- Shannon

[DIVO]

Hey lads,

I've found that my car starts to overheat when sitting in traffic... which sucks! I've had advice as to what the problem may be, but each person says something different.

First off, the radiator had it's tank replaced about 12 months ago and was completely flushed out... So I'm not 100% sure if there's a blockage anywhere?

When the car gets hot, it'll go from 50% (normal) to around 80%. I can turn on either the A/C or turn the temp from Cold to Heat and watch the temp gauge come down back to 50%. I'm guessing when the A/C's on, the radiator fan goes a bit quicker, and the heater may extract the heat from the engine bay??

I had a problem similar to this a couple of months ago... the car would overheat, but found that the fan wasn't kicking in when it got hot enough (the temp needle still rises), you could actually catch the fan... took it to the mechanic, couldn't find a fault (fan was going flat out like it should).

Now, the 3VZ engines I *believe* are oil driven, rather than the 5SFEs that are electric driven... does anyone know for certain?? I've been told that it's possible that the fan needs replacing..

Hahaha, this is goin to be an interesting one, I never normally have a problem with my Camma!!

Thanks everyone for their input :)

- Shannon

[DIVO]

Hey lads,

I've found that my car starts to overheat when sitting in traffic... which sucks! I've had advice as to what the problem may be, but each person says something different.

First off, the radiator had it's tank replaced about 12 months ago and was completely flushed out... So I'm not 100% sure if there's a blockage anywhere?

When the car gets hot, it'll go from 50% (normal) to around 80%. I can turn on either the A/C or turn the temp from Cold to Heat and watch the temp gauge come down back to 50%. I'm guessing when the A/C's on, the radiator fan goes a bit quicker, and the heater may extract the heat from the engine bay??

I had a problem similar to this a couple of months ago... the car would overheat, but found that the fan wasn't kicking in when it got hot enough (the temp needle still rises), you could actually catch the fan... took it to the mechanic, couldn't find a fault (fan was going flat out like it should).

Now, the 3VZ engines I *believe* are oil driven, rather than the 5SFEs that are electric driven... does anyone know for certain?? I've been told that it's possible that the fan needs replacing..

Hahaha, this is goin to be an interesting one, I never normally have a problem with my Camma!!

Thanks everyone for their input :)

- Shannon

[DIVO]

Sorry - finally found the right reply button!

Could be a clogged cooling system. Get the radiator cleaned and flushed out. (Cheap fix)

Could be a head gasket going - this engine is renowned for this. (Not a cheap fix).

I've had both problems in the last 5 years with my Vienta. Yes the cooling fan is driven hydraulically via the transmission fluid.

Check your thermostat and radiator caps too. If they are stuffed that will cause overheating also. Radiator caps can be pressure tested at a radiator place.

cheers

Mark

[Whip Cracker]

... wtf? lol

Thanks mate.

I'm hoping it's not the head gasket... I doubt it anyway :P I love to live in denial for this stuff!

I'm plannin on takin it into a Radiator place... but how do I get a clog in the radiator or block if the whole thing's been cleaned out just over a year ago???

It sucks when you gotta take it into somewhere and not have anyone to help get ya back to work!

Edited December 17, 2008 by Whip Cracker

[DIVO]

... wtf? lol

Thanks mate.

I'm hoping it's not the head gasket... I doubt it anyway :P I love to live in denial for this stuff!

I'm plannin on takin it into a Radiator place... but how do I get a clog in the radiator or block if the whole thing's been cleaned out just over a year ago???

It sucks when you gotta take it into somewhere and not have anyone to help get ya back to work!

If it's not the cooling system, get a test done on the head gasket. Is it using water? A mechanic can do a TK test at the exhaust to see if the head is gone. It uses a dye which changes colour if certain gases are present.

Any sign of water in the oil (milky white?)

good luck

Mark

[Lozza]

... wtf? lol

Thanks mate.

I'm hoping it's not the head gasket... I doubt it anyway :P I love to live in denial for this stuff!

I'm plannin on takin it into a Radiator place... but how do I get a clog in the radiator or block if the whole thing's been cleaned out just over a year ago???

It sucks when you gotta take it into somewhere and not have anyone to help get ya back to work!

G'day Mate I have just been through this sort of drama after a rebuild , I had the Radiator recoed and it blocked again after 1,000 k's.

Also I had a leak in the power steering pump hence loss of fluid which meant the fan wasn't operating as it should.

Good Luck

Lozza

[Whip Cracker]

Hey, thanks to ya both :)

I have had a problem with the Power Steering once upon a time... got fixed under warranty at that stage. I'll see if the power steering needs re-doing :)

I've talked to heaps of mechs and radiator shops... I get different stories from them... and then the "I'm not entirely sure coz I've never had to really work on them" LOL

CAMRYS FTW!!

[Lozza]

G'day again , Hope you haves sorted your problem Whip but it may pay to check the plug from the fan that plugs into the pwr steering as if its loose that will slow the fan as well Lol .

Oh by the way their a mongerel of a thing to get plug in right too!

Have a good Christmas

Cheers

Lozza