Overheating Options

[Random_Stranger]

Ok, I know this is bad but just hear me out.

I was in the mountains yesterday, about a 40min drive from my house (well, 40min from the point I was at). I noticed a sweet smell and pulled over to discover that I have a hole in one of my hoses. So by the grace of God, I made it home without my car overheating, because I couldn't call anyone as there is no reception out there. Today, I figured she would make it since autozone is only 10min to and from my house... WRONG! She started to overheat, so I turned on the heater full blast and it helped her out a bit as I just coasted in neutral. But noticed no heat was coming out. Once I parked the car, the obvious hole was smoking. So I go inside and get what I needed to replace the hose, along with tools I didn't need to buy, but didn't bring with me either. I checked the res tank and the hose was still wet (although could have meant there was fluid in there YESTERDAY), so I figured the hose problem would be corrected and all is well. So after many cuts, cursing, and cunning, I changed it out and started her up. Oh she took awhile as if she had to warm up to show a lil thermo. So I started to drive and not even 2 minutes she was climaxing to HOT. I had to keep going, so I threw her in neutral and again, heater full blast with no heat coming out. I managed to get some as I was only 1min away from my house and she stayed in hot zone, but was fine. The engine operated normal without any problems, yet the gauge keeps wanting to climb.

I am letting her sit before I check to make sure she is topped off with coolant before I check again. Now, other than checking the thermostat, with no other visible problems of losing coolant (no more drip), is there anything else I should be concerned about regarding the cooling system? I mean she literally hit the top of the overheat meter but functioned as normal. No smoke or anything when I lifted the hood once I got home.

[Random_Stranger]

Nevermind, she just needed some coolant. Mods please delete. Thank God she got me home though.

[CelicaST_CALI]

You didnt check the coolant when u changed the hose..??*sigh* oo faustt haha

[Random_Stranger]

You didnt check the coolant when u changed the hose..??*sigh* oo faustt haha

I never dealt with a hose like that before, it looked like some sort of bypass hose, it was not the major upper and lower radiator hoses. Plus I made it all the way home from that lil slit that was in it from a 30min drive, so I figured I was going to be alright to get back home and then check the coolant.

[trdproven]

that wouldn't make sense because if you changed the main and return hoses, then all your coolant would have leaked out anyways, so there wouldnt be an actual indication of the level before or after the fact. but even before you changed it its pretty noticeable if theres a leak from under the car.

[Random_Stranger]

that wouldn't make sense because if you changed the main and return hoses, then all your coolant would have leaked out anyways, so there wouldnt be an actual indication of the level before or after the fact. but even before you changed it its pretty noticeable if theres a leak from under the car.

huh? Well the Upper and Radiator hose were cool. But there is this other hose that appears to (just going by memory here) that is close to the engine from the Upper radiator hose (kinda like past it and then below. Looks to go from the side of the engine and connect up to like around the air intake manifold, but below where your airbox or intake would connect. So I dunno what that hose is.

[azian_advanced]

it must have been one of these hoses. they both lead to the heater core in the cabin. the slit was probably so small that it kept the coolant from leaking when the engine is still warming up. but when the coolant reaches past its normal boiling point, the slit can no longer hold it's pressure in and coolant begins to leak. i had the exact same problem happen on my 90 celica this past summer but it was a small pin-sized hole which sprayed everywhere on the engine and causing the engine to overheat.

[Random_Stranger]

it must have been one of these hoses. they both lead to the heater core in the cabin. the slit was probably so small that it kept the coolant from leaking when the engine is still warming up. but when the coolant reaches past its normal boiling point, the slit can no longer hold it's pressure in and coolant begins to leak. i had the exact same problem happen on my 90 celica this past summer but it was a small pin-sized hole which sprayed everywhere on the engine and causing the engine to overheat.

Yeah that is what happened. I wanted to say Heater Core, but I don't know all the parts under the hood. But that is what it looked like it was attached to. It wasn't any hose in the photo you showed, unless our models are different, but it goes under my distributor cap in it's length. It's about a 1ft hose. It did spray though. I still kinda smell coolant from time to time, as there is still some in the area that I can't reach, so I guess I let it burn off? I dunno.

[KAOS]

When I redid the timing belt and water pump on my 5S this summer that same thing happened to me.

Topped up the coolant and took it for a spin to test - drove great, but overheated. (wasn't pressurized properly). I popped the cap off the rad, and let a bit spew out onto the road, then drove it home and topped it up again. Put the heater on full blast and revved it at about 25k for a few minutes until the tstat went back up to "normal".

Hasn't over heated since.

[Random_Stranger]

When I redid the timing belt and water pump on my 5S this summer that same thing happened to me.

Topped up the coolant and took it for a spin to test - drove great, but overheated. (wasn't pressurized properly). I popped the cap off the rad, and let a bit spew out onto the road, then drove it home and topped it up again. Put the heater on full blast and revved it at about 25k for a few minutes until the tstat went back up to "normal".

Hasn't over heated since.

That's funny, because after I filled it, I forgot to put the cap back on properly, and I smelled coolant. So then I just stopped and put it on correctly with the car on. At least I know there is not an airbubble in there, as the coolant would have shot out of there. At least I know now that after what you had just said, it seems like it is going to be fine now, until another hose goes out on me. I think before I make my trip out to San Jose (Yes you northeners, I might be making a trip up there soon, as I may be picking up my MR2-T), I may grab a few extra hoses just in case, including upper and lower radiator hose, even though they were replaced 2 years ago.