Water pump vs thermostat

[DropSomeMoney]

Ok. I've read a lot of post on here as well as other sites about this. But I just haven't been able to come up with a clear answer since what I've read is not the same as my issue. So I'm going to start with the coolant temp thermostat today and then the water pump if needed. Using the process of elimination I guess.

Here are my issues: the first thing that made me believe I was overheating is that I saw some steam coming from the radiator. The head was extremely hot. But when I went and looked at my factory temp gauge (which seems to work ok) it was showing the needle right in the middle. Since then I haven't ran it more then 4 miles. All I do is go pick my daughter up from school. And after I get home from picking her up a feel the engine and it seems hot also(yes I know the engine is suppose to be hot). After this I have strarted my car up and let it get to operating temp and took the radiator cap off and it seemed to be not pumping the coolant through the hoses. Coolant fluid never went down. My radiator fan used to kick on and now they don't. So I'm thinking its either one of the two.

List of problems again :
1) getting very hot
2) stock temp gauge showing ok
3) radiator fan not kicking on anymore
4) coolant not showing flow


My question is... Does the ECU run off the thermostat witch may kick on the fans or maybe even the pump. I know the pump runs off of the accessories belt. But I'm not good with how computers operate so I was thinking "I wouldn't doubt it".

Thanks

 

[dsmpat95]

The ecu runs off the Coolant temp sensor.

 

[jayson427]

your water pump runs off of the timing belt. unless your car is boiling water out of the coolent overflow its not overheating. do the t-stat and flush your radiator with a garden hose real good. when you fill it back up the best mix is 30% coolent and 70% distilled water. for the fans it could be a couple things not making it kick on but if the ecu doesnt sense that the engine is hot it wont kick on the fan. if you turn your ac on the right fan should come on check that. after this if your still not sure replace the coolent temp sensor its a cheap sensor.

 

[DropSomeMoney]

Yeah I knew it ran off the timing belt. Lol. I dno why I said that. I'm going to do the flush and thermostat here in a min. I hope it's the problem cause I just paid my other cars huge payment and I'm hurting on the cash. Hopefully I just got some air in the radiator or something. But I'm thinking its gonna be the pump. If so then I might as well do the tbelt also.

 

[dsmpat95]

your water pump runs off of the timing belt. unless your car is boiling water out of the coolent overflow its not overheating. do the t-stat and flush your radiator with a garden hose real good. when you fill it back up the best mix is 30% coolent and 70% distilled water. for the fans it could be a couple things not making it kick on but if the ecu doesnt sense that the engine is hot it wont kick on the fan. if you turn your ac on the right fan should come on check that. after this if your still not sure replace the coolent temp sensor its a cheap sensor.

On a 420a the timing belt does run the water pump.

Yeah I knew it ran off the timing belt. Lol. I dno why I said that. I'm going to do the flush and thermostat here in a min. I hope it's the problem cause I just paid my other cars huge payment and I'm hurting on the cash. Hopefully I just got some air in the radiator or something. But I'm thinking its gonna be the pump. If so then I might as well do the tbelt also.

Your GST(4g63) does not run off the timing belt.

If your fans are not kicking on, check the fuse for them then check the CTS. Also make sure your coolant is topped off.

 

[DropSomeMoney]

Lol! I've been reading to much. I confused myself.

That's the thing. When running it at operating temp I took the cap off and it was completely full. This why I believe it's the pump or air in the system. The coolent level did not rise or fall at all. But like I said I've think I've been reading to much and starting to confuse myself. I'm new to the turbo scene so I'm trying to learn as much as I can as fast as I can. So I'm going to start with a flush and thermostat and hope for the best.

 

[Crash429]

As stated before if it's not boiling over its not overheating, try letting the car run and see if it accually boils over, if it does then start with your thermostat ect. And as for the coolant stayin the same level with the cap off it will until the coolant reaches a certain temperature an opens the thermostat to let the cooler coolant into the engine an the warmer coolant into the radiator to be cooled.

 

[smokestack]

Great thread check it out

The DSM Cooling System FAQ - Club DSM Canada

 

[Wild Bill]

See if you can borrow a laser thermometer and see what temp it's at. If it's not boiling out the overflow it's not overheating.

 

[DropSomeMoney]

Well I re

Replaced the thermostat and flushed the system and drove it across town yesterday and it seemed fine. And the radiator fan actually kicks on again.