Paseo running hot, need advice

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:40 pm

The Paseo ran hot this weekend, but not to the point I cooked it. The Paseo is a '92 automatic w/ the 1.5 liter 5EFE motor. This is what I've done/found so far.

> replaced thermostat and replaced antifreeze, ran hot again
> when I parked the car in the garage, and the temp gauge was 3/4 hot, none of the fans were running.
> I've tested the relay in the fuse box w/ my neighbors help and we think it's ok, you can hear it switch when power is applied to it.
> did the fan test. With the relay in place in the fuse box, I pulled the wire off of the sending unit in the thermostat housing. I turned on the ignition and the puller fan turned on. The outside pusher fan did not turn on. I'm getting mixed information from the web on this one. I'm not sure if this is good or bad when you remove the sending unit wire and the fan starts.
> I straight wired the outside pusher fan and it runs fine.

Not sure what the order of cooling fan engagement is supposed to be. I can use some help here diagnosing the issue so I can get it up and running again. I've been driving the Paseo more so I can keep the miles off of the mustang. Any advice or web links you can provide is appreciated.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Is the puller fan connected to the AC switch, ie is it a AC condenser fan?

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon Sep 07, 2009 8:31 pm

Wes Eargle wrote:

Is the puller fan connected to the AC switch, ie is it a AC condenser fan?

Glad you mentioned that. The pusher fan (external to engine bay) comes on when you turn on the AC, so I guess that's a dedicated fan for the AC. The puller fan (internal to the engine bay) is the only fan that comes on as part of the cooling. Funny thing, I had the car in the garage and the fan was cycling fine and the temp rock steady. Took the car for a drive and the temp comes back up.

Right now I'm suspect of the aftermarket thermostat. When I took out the first thermostat, it stuck in the cavity opening and I had to pry it out. The bottom disk on the thermostat sticks and blocks all flow and the car can't help be get hot w/ no flow. I plan on taking it apart one more time tomorrow and clean/buff the cylinder. Also going to get the factory stat. Hopefully this is the fix.

TomFreeman · **Posted:** Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:52 pm

Thermostat sounds logical Rodney, but I'll make another suggestion - Obviously do this with a glove on, or when the car is fairly cool...check the upper radiator hoses at idle - should be somewhat soft and flexible. Have someone rev the car and check while they rev. If the hoses are hard as a rock, you have likely 1 of 2 problems:
- leaking headgasket sending compression into the cooling system
- blockage in the cooling system.

Our LeMons car had the 2nd issue. The radiator had a ton of scale and gunk built up in it that no flush would free up. We swapped to another radiator and all was fine.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Is it an OEM Toyota thermostat? I know of several IT* Honda guys that have all sorts of problems with non-OEM thermostats. Just something to consider.

Michael Westerfield · **Posted:** Tue Sep 08, 2009 8:14 am

TomFreeman wrote:

Thermostat sounds logical Rodney, but I'll make another suggestion - Obviously do this with a glove on, or when the car is fairly cool...check the upper radiator hoses at idle - should be somewhat soft and flexible. Have someone rev the car and check while they rev. If the hoses are hard as a rock, you have likely 1 of 2 problems:
- leaking headgasket sending compression into the cooling system
- blockage in the cooling system.

Our LeMons car had the 2nd issue. The radiator had a ton of scale and gunk built up in it that no flush would free up. We swapped to another radiator and all was fine.

In was thinking the same thing since it only seems to pop up with load. I also concur with Wes's non-oem parts, especially for hondas.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Tue Sep 08, 2009 8:19 am

Could be a simple air bubble. Those things are a pain sometimes.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Sep 08, 2009 9:05 am

TomFreeman wrote:

Thermostat sounds logical Rodney, but I'll make another suggestion - Obviously do this with a glove on, or when the car is fairly cool...check the upper radiator hoses at idle - should be somewhat soft and flexible. Have someone rev the car and check while they rev. If the hoses are hard as a rock, you have likely 1 of 2 problems:
- leaking headgasket sending compression into the cooling system
- blockage in the cooling system.

Our LeMons car had the 2nd issue. The radiator had a ton of scale and gunk built up in it that no flush would free up. We swapped to another radiator and all was fine.

The blockage thing also makes sense. When I replaced the thermostat, I flushed the radiator and head by just running the hose into it. I also cleaned out the overflow can and it was filled w/ sludge.

Is there anything I can run through the system to clean? Is there a Sea Foam product for that? A guy at work recommended either epsom salt or Iron Out for wells. Rather go the cheap route first before I spend money on a radiator. I'll check for the "hard hose" :wink:

tonight when I get home.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

RodneyWright wrote:

Is there anything I can run through the system to clean? Is there a Sea Foam product for that? A guy at work recommended either epsom salt or Iron Out for wells. Rather go the cheap route first before I spend money on a radiator. I'll check for the "hard hose" :wink:

tonight when I get home.

There's always the Chris Brown approved Prestone Flush and Fill kit. It uses an inline "T" joint that you connect to a hose after you run a "degunk" solution through the engine for several minutes.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Tue Sep 08, 2009 10:49 am

Wes Eargle wrote:

RodneyWright wrote:

Is there anything I can run through the system to clean? Is there a Sea Foam product for that? A guy at work recommended either epsom salt or Iron Out for wells. Rather go the cheap route first before I spend money on a radiator. I'll check for the "hard hose" :wink:

tonight when I get home.

There's always the Chris Brown approved Prestone Flush and Fill kit. It uses an inline "T" joint that you connect to a hose after you run a "degunk" solution through the engine for several minutes.

Prestone makes a kit AFAIK

jeremy gast · **Posted:** Tue Sep 08, 2009 11:22 am

to check for sludge int he bottom of radiator you can always take the lower hose off and put the water hose up there. Also check for big bugs and stuff in the fins of the radiator. One of my buddies had a del sol that got cloged up in the fins and cause overheating.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Fri Sep 18, 2009 11:35 am

Paseo is back on the road after a new radiator and thermostat. Old one was plugged badly. Even a flush had no affect on it. Good to have it running again.

BTW, what's the best way to get rid of an old radiator? It's part metal and part plastic. Just trash it? I have everything drained from it than I can including tranny fluid.

BretLuter · **Posted:** Fri Sep 18, 2009 2:58 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

Paseo is back on the road after a new radiator and thermostat. Old one was plugged badly. Even a flush had no affect on it. Good to have it running again.

BTW, what's the best way to get rid of an old radiator? It's part metal and part plastic. Just trash it? I have everything drained from it than I can including tranny fluid.

They're worth $ to scrap guys. If you decide to trash it, put it on top of the regular trash and an enterprising individual will probably pull it out and recycle it for you.

Probably not worth making the trip to the scrap metal place just for 1 radiator.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Fri Sep 18, 2009 7:58 pm

If the trash guys or their assistants

won't take it you probably can drop it off at one of the Wake County multimaterial sites that are open about 364 days a year.

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Paseo running hot, need advice

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