So, what's wrong with it?

Question

My 1986 Toyota 4Runner is having problems.

We just had the head gasket replaced. It was working great. Then, about a month after replacing the head gasket, my husband was driving it to work...All of a sudden, a bunch of lights lit up on the dash, and before he could get two miles down the road, the temperature guage red-lined. He stopped at the gas station, and let it cool off for about an hour. Tried it again, and couldn't go half a mile before the temperature guage red-lined again. I'm not sure it actually overheated...just the guage went out of control.

He says he has checked all of the fuses, and they're fine.

The thermostat is new - was installed about two months before we replaced the head gasket.

I'm at the end of my rope with this whole one-car-family crap.

Ideas?

Oh, yeah. I failed to mention that it's entirely not drivable at this point. Besides the fact that the temp red-lines before I can get out of my driveway, it has now been sitting for a month and a half, so the battery's dead.

Thanks all for your help!!!

Answer 1

It is probably the sending unit for the guage. It takes longer than getting out of your driveway or driving 1/2 mile for a car to overheat. In fact from a cold start you should be able to drive 3-4 miles before the temp. guage will red-line.

To find out if the car is actually overheating, jump the battery to start, take radiator cap off, let car run until the radiator boils over. If it doesnt boil over in about 15 minutes then its not going to. Check sending unit.

Answer 2

The dash lit up like a Christmas tree because the engine drive belts broke or come of the pulleys [fan and alternator] this meant that the water pump and fan stopped working, this was the time to stop, not two miles down the road, I would say you have blown the head gasket again, this is because the head is aluminum and the block is cast iron and any overheating causes the head to expand more than the block, stretching the cylinder head bolts and so releasing the compressive force on the gasket result 'blown gasket'

Answer 3

It could be several things. If it overheats after running only a couple of minutes then it probably is an instrumentation problem. It could also be a serious cooling system problem. I'm going to take a stab in the dark and say that neither you nor your husband are car savvy so take it to a mechanic and stop dinking around with it.

Answer 4

The fan belts in plac still? Seems the waterpump isn't spinning. Or there is no coolant in the system. Just a couple of guesses. Also, check the upper and lower radiator hoses, when hot, the lower could collapse.

Answer 5

replace the thermostat again, theyre cheap and easy to install sometimes high temps can destroy one even if its brand new.
also drain and flush your cooling system, you might have something in there. other things to check, cooling hoses, water pump,and debris in radiator
if all else fails, take it to a local mechanic, fixin cars over the internet is difficult since you can be right there to diagnose it.

Answer 6

was it and is it still full of water/ anti. if so than you could be right and it might only be the sensor but i would check that before i said anything else and if it is full than change the temp sensor. and as far as the one car thing! you know buy one more.

Answer 7

I would check all the wiring around the cylinder head area for shorts or burnt wiring.

Answer 8

Check the waterpump..... and coolong fan relay and fuses.

Answer 9

car talk the radio show on early in the morning

888-car-talk

Answer 10

Take it back to the garage and make them make it right with you.