Overheating after Timing Belt Replacement

[tolvota]

I did my timing belt/water pump replacement this weekend. I'm at 221K miles. The original one was done at 129K. The old belt looked fine when removed. Also replaced the fan pulley. Everything went according to plan. Started right up once I remembered to put the MAF sensor back in place. Runs fine. Sounds exactly like it did prior to the belt replacement. The issue I am having is that it appears the cooling system is not circulating correctly. I double checked the serpentine belt. Power steering, AC compressor and alternator are working fine. I cycled the front and rear heaters. They both appear to be working correctly.

Once the engine gets to operating temp, it will die and the key will not engage the starter again until the engine temp drops back down. Once it does, it will start and run just fine until it doesn't. I did not replace the thermostat because the parts store did not have the O-ring type gasket with the groove that goes around it. I removed the housing as one piece and did not disturb the current Tstat. Is there some kind of fail safe protection for the engine that will kill it once it overheats?

I'm stumped. If it had jumped timing, it would surely run rough or not at all after the engine cools back down.

Has anyone experienced anything similar? Would appreciate any insight.

2006 LX all stock except for 33" tall tires.

 

[Rhetoric]

How did you go about burping the coolant system after refilling? Wondering if you have some air pockets.

 

[tolvota]

Just squeezing the upper and lower hoses.

 

[Trapper50cal]

You need to fill it with the radiator filler tube higher than anything else that holds coolant OR buy one of those funnels that screws on and seals at the filler and allows you to keep a large volume of coolant in it so the air burps into it. It could also be faulty or incorrect installation of t-stat or water pump. I’m pretty sure it has nothing to do with the timing belt. Just my 2 cents.

 

[2001LC]

NO! There is no, auto engine kill function. When engine coolant temp (ECT) makes operating temp or overheats.

Very strange, IG key turned to start, engine not cranking (engaging starter). Is the security light blinking, when IG key in?

Picture of wiring in front of engine and around battery, may yield clue?

 

[Landman2000]

Get yourself one of these and burp the coolant properly and I bet it fixes your issue.

Amazon.com: Thorstone No-Spill Coolant Funnel Kit, 16-Piece Universal Spill-Free Radiator Coolant Filling Funnel with Adapters : Automotive

Buy Thorstone No-Spill Coolant Funnel Kit, 16-Piece Universal Spill-Free Radiator Coolant Filling Funnel with Adapters: Funnels - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

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[Landman2000]

Thats assuming you didn’t mess with the thermostat and install it backwards somehow.

 

[Trapper50cal]

Or that the “jiggle valve” at some position other than 12 o’clock. The t-stat could be faulty or otherwise not opening. It can be tested in a pot of water on the stove.

 

[Trapper50cal]

Get yourself one of these and burp the coolant properly and I bet it fixes your issue.

Amazon.com: Thorstone No-Spill Coolant Funnel Kit, 16-Piece Universal Spill-Free Radiator Coolant Filling Funnel with Adapters : Automotive

Buy Thorstone No-Spill Coolant Funnel Kit, 16-Piece Universal Spill-Free Radiator Coolant Filling Funnel with Adapters: Funnels - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

That's the one I got.

 

[89BIGBLUE]

Are all the temp sensor/idle air control type wires connected correctly on the front of the engine?
Nothing accidentally swapped?

 

[tolvota]

Update - Retraced my steps back to removing the fan, drive belt and Cam covers. Hand rotated the motor through multiple cycles to verify timing marks are aligned properly. Removed the Cam position sensor and saw this. I did not remove it the first time and I nicked the wires when I installed the water pump. It would not get into closed loop operation once the engine got up to operating temp. With a new sensor installed, it runs perfectly with no issues. Lesson learned. Remove the sensor prior to installing the new water pump.