I have a 01 4x4 with about 130xxx on it. As of recently, I have been having mild overheat issues where the temp gauge would temporarily spike past 210 for some time but never actually enter into overheat range. Lately though i can barely drive at all before the blazer overheats and i have to pull over. The summer has started to reach about 95 everyday here so now it has become a big problem.

I installed a new radiator and hoses to try and fix the problem as my original had a crack. So far these are the things I have figured out.

-when pulled over the coolant in reservoir tank is boiling over
-small leak that seems to be coming from water pump(or beneath)
-no water or coolant in oil
-minimal condensation out the tailpipe (no white smoke)
-heat is intermittent in the cab

any ideas?

 

I would replace the thermostat, there cheap and it may be sticking shut. Its a 195 deg thermostat and you want to replace it with the same, having to cold of one like a 160 will give you bad gas mileage due to being in open loop all the time.... if the water pump is leaking you will want to replace that, but I would start with the thermostat and go from there

 

If the water pump is leaking then def replace it and do a 2fer with the stat, thermostats are cheap. When you pull the pump check out tge impeller just for s & g, if the blades are worn down that will cause poor circulation.

Before you tear into it take ir some place that test the coolant and exhaust. My 95 was doing simular to yours and ended up a cracked head.

Good luck

 

did you get a new rad cap with the new rad? may not pressurize with a faulty one.....

 

Yeah, any one of the things listed could cause it to overheat I would check all of the above.

 

WINNER!!! This is what I would suggest.... My fiancee's car was doing this while sitting in park... Turns out the thermostat was worn out and not opening...

 

Yeah, my thermostat wore out on my car shortly after I got it and wouldn't you know I was out of town when it went out...

 

alright i'll try and put in a new tsat tomorrow and see how that fares. the radiator cap was new with the radiator. also going to try and run some dye through to try and locate the leak to make sure.

 

So did the thermostat fix the problem?

 

so i put the new tsat in and it was a pain in the *** to get to that back bolt since i didnt have sockets on hand. had to take off the throttle cable bracket just to get access to it haha.



this is the old tstat and gasket. it was definitely in need of replacement. went driving around after refilling the radiator. It was 95 degrees today and that gauge sat right under the 210 mark the whole time i was driving around. I even cranked full max a/c and it barely moved. SUCCESSSSSSS