QuestionMy car is squealing and the overheat "idiot" light came on with a red lined gauge. Does it have to be the water pump, or is there a way to check the thermostat? We took the cap off and added coolant and turned on the engine and the coolant did not move.
AnswerHi Kris,
I hope that you have identified the cause of your overheating engine by now.
Thanks for taking the extra effort to rate my answer. I was surprised by one of the ratings however so I thought I would ask you about it in case there is a problem with the service. Specifically, the timeliness rating was an 8. I really work hard to stay on top of my inbox to field incoming questions, particularly when there is a holiday time and people might be stuck on the road. So I checked the log at the site and found that I responded to you in 38 minutes after your question was received. However you didn'r read the answer until 27 hours later.
Is it possible that you weren't allerted to the fact of my response being available to you until that long a lapse of time?
If that is the case, please be so kind as to inform Katie, the woman who heads up the site, about that sort of a problem if you experienced it. Here is an address which will get you to the page to post her a note:
http://www.allexperts.com/browse.cgi?catLvl=3&catID=3324
or you can go to the home page and select:"internet/online...net culture...allexperts.com...katie"
to get to her.
Thanks for doing this if it is appropriate. Please let me know if you haven't figured out what is wrong with the car.
Roland
Hi Kris,
The thermostat is housed in a hemispherical fitting on the top front of the engine that is attached to the top radiator hose. Just remove the bolts that hold it in place and you will find the thermostat within. Notice the position of the thermostat in the housing as there is an internal casting wall below the liquid surface and the manifold will only fit in that position. Then you can put it in water and heat it on the stove to verify that it will open at 195F.
If it does, then the water pump impeller may have fatigued or the pump bearing may have worn out (the squealing sound).
If you see any coolant leaking out the bottom front of the engine that would confirm you need a new pump. While you are changing the pump is a good time to replace the timing belt unless that job was done within the past 25-50,000 miles because the belt should be replaced at around 100,000 miles. You have to remove the belt to get to the water pump so it is convenient to replace it then.
Roland
PS I assume that you have the 3.0L engine, not the 2.4L.
