Overheating

[EclipseMGP]

Hey guys, I have a 98 RS. When ever I take a long drive and then come to a stop (toll booth, exit), my temp gauge starts to go up. If I have the heat on (just one dot) it does not do this. If I start the car, leave it running till it heats up, no heat on, it does not do this, the fans spin up and everything is fine. It's only after long drives without the heat on. I'm going to replace the thermostat and cap, but I don't think this is the problem. If it was the thermostat it would happen all the time. Maybe the temp send unit under the thermostat? I'm not burning oil or coolant. I don't know, this one has me stumped

 

[willsdsm]

my car did this just befor the water pump came apart in 3 peices. how close are you to your 60000mi tune-up? if your close go ahead and do it now and change your pump.

 

[EclipseMGP]

I'm actually at 107K. I had the timing belt done at 60K, but not the water pump. I was going to get it changed at 120K, but I will probably do it sooner now just to make sure everything it good. I've also heard about headgasket problems too, so if it's the new headgasket=new car.

 

[willsdsm]

thats what the first owner of mine did and my pump came apart at 115000 miles so that might be the problum

 

[Kirby]

Awater pumps performance does not have scales. It either pumps or it doesn't. My suspicion would be the HG first. You do really need to change that TB and WP ASAP though. The other suspision I would have would be the rad. It is going on 6 years old now. I have a condition similar to this right now with mine except mine has a turbo under the hood. So my solution will be a C&R radiator.

 

[VOTBLINDUB]

its not 100% but i had the same stuff in my old escort, thermostat got replaced, 2 days later the headgasket went out the door on the highway. u still got the original one? have it cheked for leaks just in case, u dont want to get stranded in the middle of nowhere

 

[21stEagle]

One time I had a problem with an overheating. I tried everything, but when I replaced temperature sencor everything

 

[EclipseMGP]

VOTBLINDUB, that is what I'm hearing from the 2gnt.com boys as well. I have the original headgasket. From what they have described, I have a leak in the headgasket that is causing me to lose presure in the cooling system. I won't lose coolant or oil but there is a leak in there. With the system running so hot after a long drive, the engine is really hot, presure in the system high, car is moving so it is cool. Coming to a stop aftet the long drive, the leak is causing a loss in presure and the water pump can't keep up at idle, heance the temp rise. They actually said reving the engine will keep my car cool, since the pump will go faster.

This may all be for nothing. I have 107K on the car, need 4 new tires, gonna need a new water pump and timing belt, have a nasty water leak in the trunk that I have yet to pin down. Now I may need a new headgasket? I may unload this and get a new car.