I have a 98 Toyota Camary that started overheating a few months ago.
When it first started overheating I was about four hours home and I
drove the whole way and it never actually overheated the gauge just
said it was. So I thought that it was either the temp sensor or the
thermostat. I replaced both of those and I also replaced the
radiator. Once I start the car about 15 minutes later the gauge
starts moving up and it fluctuates between normal and hot. I don't
think I have a cracked head because if I did I don't think that it
would overheat. Does anyone have any idea's of anything else that I
should check? Any idea's would help.

Thanks

"bsmith95610" <bsmith95610@gmail.com> kirjoitti
viestissä:a82166bb-dffe-431d-91da-2e7b1de14eb7@j28g2000hsj.googlegroups.com...
>I have a 98 Toyota Camary that started overheating a few months ago.
> When it first started overheating I was about four hours home and I
> drove the whole way and it never actually overheated the gauge just
> said it was. So I thought that it was either the temp sensor or the
> thermostat. I replaced both of those and I also replaced the
> radiator. Once I start the car about 15 minutes later the gauge
> starts moving up and it fluctuates between normal and hot. I don't
> think I have a cracked head because if I did I don't think that it
> would overheat. Does anyone have any idea's of anything else that I
> should check? Any idea's would help.
>
> Thanks

I once had '96 Toyota Carina E in which temperature gauge started more
and more often to rise quickly but then it as quickly dropped down to
normal. Finally, after lots of head-scratching and wrong diagnoses at
two different dealership service shops, it turned out that coolant was
low because the pump was broken and slowly leaking. Apparently too small
amount of coolant didn't circulate steadily and caused the gauge to go
up and down (and the engine to actually heat accordingly). If I
understood your symptoms correctly they would fit with a leak.

But it was just a thought. Probably it's something else because I
presume that at least after replacing radiatior you put there correct
amount of coolant and the problem should have gone away for a while...

P.V.

"bsmith95610" <bsmith95610@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:a82166bb-dffe-431d-91da-2e7b1de14eb7@j28g2000hsj.googlegroups.com...
>I have a 98 Toyota Camary that started overheating a few months ago.
> When it first started overheating I was about four hours home and I
> drove the whole way and it never actually overheated the gauge just
> said it was. So I thought that it was either the temp sensor or the
> thermostat. I replaced both of those and I also replaced the
> radiator. Once I start the car about 15 minutes later the gauge
> starts moving up and it fluctuates between normal and hot. I don't
> think I have a cracked head because if I did I don't think that it
> would overheat. Does anyone have any idea's of anything else that I
> should check? Any idea's would help.
>
> Thanks

Have you checked to see that the cooling fan(s) are working as they
should? And checking the condition of the water pump would be a
good idea.

Now, a blown or leaking head gasket, or a warped or cracked head,
or a cracked block sometimes, can certainly cause a car to overheat.
Superheated combustion gases leaking into the cooling system are the reason.

You can usually check the integrity of these parts with pressure tests,
although for small or intermittent leaks you may get somewhat inconclusive
results. In the case of leaks, water does not always get into the oil, but
if gases are getting into the coolant, it can usually be detected pretty
well.

On Feb 21, 1:18*pm, bsmith95610 <bsmith95...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I have a 98 Toyota Camary that started overheating a few months ago.
> When it first started overheating I was about four hours home and I
> drove the whole way and it never actually overheated the gauge just
> said it was. *So I thought that it was either the temp sensor or the
> thermostat. *I replaced both of those and I also replaced the
> radiator. *Once I start the car about 15 minutes later the gauge
> starts moving up and it fluctuates between normal and hot. *I don't
> think I have a cracked head because if I did I don't think that it
> would overheat. *Does anyone have any idea's of anything else that I
> should check? *Any idea's would help.
>
> Thanks

Hey there are some awesome mechanics at the store i work at, I can
give you a toll-free number to call and I'm sure they might could
help. A 98 Camry shouldn't be doing that. I bet they would have a
solution for you in 5 minutes. Email me at
stewmeister ... .....@gmail . com and I'll give you the number and who
to ask for.

"bsmith95610" <bsmith95610@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:a82166bb-dffe-431d-91da-2e7b1de14eb7@j28g2000hsj.googlegroups.com...
>I have a 98 Toyota Camary that started overheating a few months ago.

When you find out what it was, will you please post the cause and solution?

"bsmith95610" <bsmith95610@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:a82166bb-dffe-431d-91da-2e7b1de14eb7@j28g2000hsj.googlegroups.com...
>I have a 98 Toyota Camary that started overheating a few months ago.
> When it first started overheating I was about four hours home and I
> drove the whole way and it never actually overheated the gauge just
> said it was. So I thought that it was either the temp sensor or the
> thermostat. I replaced both of those and I also replaced the
> radiator. Once I start the car about 15 minutes later the gauge
> starts moving up and it fluctuates between normal and hot. I don't
> think I have a cracked head because if I did I don't think that it
> would overheat. Does anyone have any idea's of anything else that I
> should check? Any idea's would help.
>
> Thanks

Before you replace any more parts, I recommend that you check them to
determine whether they are good or bad first. How do you know that the car
never actually overheated? Was the temp gauge in the red or just near the
top of the scale? When you replaced the thermostat, what kind did you use?
Which way was the spring oriented when you installed it, and what was the
position of the jiggle valve?

Do you have the 4 or 6 cylinder engine? How many miles on the engine? How
many miles on the timing belt? Has the water pump ever been replaced?

A cracked head could cause the engine to overheat, but there are usually
other symptoms, like oil in the coolant or coolant in the oil, coolant
leaks, and/or steam coming out the exhaust.

Do the electric cooling fans come on when the temp gauge is reading hot?
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

bsmith95610 wrote:
> I have a 98 Toyota Camary that started overheating a few months ago.
> When it first started overheating I was about four hours home and I
> drove the whole way and it never actually overheated the gauge just
> said it was. So I thought that it was either the temp sensor or the
> thermostat. I replaced both of those and I also replaced the
> radiator. Once I start the car about 15 minutes later the gauge
> starts moving up and it fluctuates between normal and hot. I don't
> think I have a cracked head because if I did I don't think that it
> would overheat. Does anyone have any idea's of anything else that I
> should check? Any idea's would help.
>
> Thanks
In addition to all the others suggestions, check for water pump
operation. It may have a sheared shaft or broken impeller.

If you installed a new radiator and thermostat, I would suspect you are
not getting flow.

You can visually check it by draining the radiator down a bit so you can
see some tubes.

Start the car leaving the radiator cap off and when it reaches operating
temperature and the thermostat opens, you should easily see coolant
flowing in the radiator.

If not, it's probably the pump.

Good luck.

why was the raditor replaced??
was the raditor leaking at the seams
i can't tell you how many headgaskets jobs i done were the raditor was blown out
from the extra pressure by the bad headgaskets
hell i got a zx2 fucus on my hoist now waiting for the head to come bac form
the machine shop and it also needs a raditor

HLS wrote:

> "bsmith95610" <bsmith95610@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:a82166bb-dffe-431d-91da-2e7b1de14eb7@j28g2000hsj.googlegroups.com...
> >I have a 98 Toyota Camary that started overheating a few months ago.
> > When it first started overheating I was about four hours home and I
> > drove the whole way and it never actually overheated the gauge just
> > said it was. So I thought that it was either the temp sensor or the
> > thermostat. I replaced both of those and I also replaced the
> > radiator. Once I start the car about 15 minutes later the gauge
> > starts moving up and it fluctuates between normal and hot. I don't
> > think I have a cracked head because if I did I don't think that it
> > would overheat. Does anyone have any idea's of anything else that I
> > should check? Any idea's would help.
> >
> > Thanks
>
> Have you checked to see that the cooling fan(s) are working as they
> should? And checking the condition of the water pump would be a
> good idea.
>
> Now, a blown or leaking head gasket, or a warped or cracked head,
> or a cracked block sometimes, can certainly cause a car to overheat.
> Superheated combustion gases leaking into the cooling system are the reason.
>
> You can usually check the integrity of these parts with pressure tests,
> although for small or intermittent leaks you may get somewhat inconclusive
> results. In the case of leaks, water does not always get into the oil, but
> if gases are getting into the coolant, it can usually be detected pretty
> well.