Chevrolet: 88 Nova overheating, radiator fan, toyota corolla

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Our 88 Nova (AKA Toyota Corolla) started overheating, so I replaced the thermostat. Well, it's still overheating. Also, after I flushed out the radiator, I started putting in antifreeze, but was only able to put in about 3/4 of a gallon. The manual says capacity is 1 1/2 gallons. Does this mean the other 3/4 of a gallon is still in the engine?

After watching the car overheat, and the antifreeze not appear to circulate, now I'm wondering if the water pump is shot. Do you think this is the case? If so, where IS the water pump, and how is the best way to get at it?

Thanks.
Answer -
The vehicle does take 1 1/2 gallons of antifreeze, when you flush the engine you flush the whole system, not just the radiator. All you did in this case was add clean coolant to dirty coolant. As for the overheating problem if the impellers behind the pump are not circulating the coolant then your water pump will need changing. This is located right in front of the engine. If your going to attemp to change it, have a Chiltons handy,  it will show you step by step instructions on removal, and replacement.. TY..


HELP!!!  I did as you suggested and changed the water pump. It didn't help! The water/antifreeze is not circulating. As the engine got hot, I felt the hoses. The upper hose was very hot, and the lower hose was COLD. I just put a new thermostat in there yesterday. Is there any chance that there is someplace else besides the thermostat that can be causing problems? Oh, also - the heater isn't working.

If you get this message tonight (Sunday) please respond ASAP. This car needs to be repaired by tomorrow. Thanks.
Answer -
Sorry, this computer of mine sux. What I want you to do is remove the theromsat, and try that. Let me know how it goes,, also make sure your radiator fan kicks on.. This will not hurt the engine if the thermo is removed.. Ty..



UPDATE

OK. Thermostat removed. And now the temperature gauge barely gets above "Cold". But I get a little heat, and it does NOT overheat. I drove it to the store and back (5 miles or so) and the temperature never went up.

I have not tested the radiator fan yet. BUT, I tested the thermostats again. I put them in water and watched while it boiled. And they BOTH opened up fine. I must have been on crack before. So what the hell can it be? If they open in boiling water, why won't they open when they're in the car? When I checked it and discovered the cold lower hose, I also grabbed the hose coming from the engine to the thermostat. It was barely warm. Is there a chance that there's some sort of blockage in the engine? But if that's the case, it should be overheating even though there is no thermostat. This is so confusing.....

Thanks again for all your help.
Answer -
If you flushed the system out when you replaced the water pump their shouldnt be a blockage what so ever. Remember when you replace the thermostat it only goes one way, the round top with the spring goes up, not down. Also if the vehicles fan doesnt come on, the vehicle will overheat instantly. When you flushed the system, when replacing the water pump, tell me what your procedure was. Hope to here from you soon..


OK, first, the thermostat was definitely installed correctly. It won't fit backward. Second, I'm not sure about the fan, but I'm pretty certain that I heard it come on. But I'll check that next, probably tomorrow night. Finally, here's how I flushed the system. I did it the first day before I changed the thermostat and replaced the hoses.

I removed the radiator cap and opened the valve at the bottom of the radiator and drained the "coolant" into a pan. It was almost black. After that quit draining I closed the drain and filled the radiator with water, then ran the engine until it warmed up. Then I opened the valve and let it drain into the pan while the engine ran. I added some water at the top while doing this as well. I did this until the water that was draining was basically clear.

Assuming that the fan is working properly, is there anything that would prevent the thermostat from opening? Even IF the fan was dead, wouldn't the thermostat open when the coolant reached the appropriate temperature?

Thanks.


Answer
Yes, if the fan was dead the theromostat would open, but the heat guage would go to hot because the fan isnt cooling the system. But, when you flushed the system you did it wrong. Here is the right procedure.
1. Remove the thermostat, and the top radiator hose going to the thermostat housing. You wont have to dissconnect it from the top radiator hose.
2. Reomve the bottom radiator, hose to the water pump, you wont have to discconnect it from the bottom of the radiator.
3. With the radiator cap removed stick a garden hose in the radiator filler neck flush the radiator until clear. You can loosen up the pet cock on the bottom of the radiator if you wish.
4. Once the radiator is clear stick the garden hose were the thermostat goes, run water threw this and it should run clear out the water pump connection. Recconnect hoses and add coolant.
This is the proper procedure to flush the system.

If the thermostat is working, the coolant is clean, the fan is running, the radiator outside is free of bugs ect, and the engine timing is right on it shouldnt overheat. Let me know how it goes, and what you find out with the fan.. Thanks..