Toyota Repair: overheated camry, leaking radiator, head gasket


Question
I have a 92 camry that has started overheating.  The fan is not turning and we have been putting coolant in it and the old coolant was rust colored.  The hoses have been checked and replaced.  The key even gets hot.

Answer
You could have a burned out fan or a bad switch. If the old coolant was rust colored, it's clear that the coolant has not been replaced in years and years. The fact that the coolant has been overlooked, this creates larger problems such as: electrolysis. This condition occurs in engines that have aluminum heads and cast iron blocks such as yours. It eats away the head gasket and in worse conditions, it corrodes the water jackets in the head and does not allow the head to seal any longer causing a leak, hence a broken head gasket. Is your car running OK? It's not misfiring or anything? The fact that you say you have been adding coolant tells me there's a leak somewhere in the cooling system. Since you replaced the hoses, check for a leaking water pump, leaking radiator, and make sure you replace the thermostat in the process. Make sure you replace the thermostat bolts with liquid teflon on the threads before installation. You will need to replace or repair the fan as it is a vital part of the cooling system.