Overheating question

[Max.Powerzz]

So I was out and about driving and heard a sharp clunk in the engine. I pulled over but didn't see anything out of sorts. After starting it up the engine immediately began overheating and the temp gauge went to the red. After popping the hood coolant was boiling over out of the radiator overflow tank. I had plenty of fluid and only lost some as it boiled out. I took it to a shop and he did a pressure check and said my problem is a small radiator leak. Well, would a small leak cause the engine to immediately overheat like that? I've never had any problems before, always runs nice and cool. Would it be the thermostat or maybe water pump?

 

[Max.Powerzz]

Forgot to add that when I turned on the heater only cold air blew out.

 

[60wag]

I'd take a close look at the water pump. The rad and the t'stat aren't likely to make a "clunk".

 

[Max.Powerzz]

Thanks 60Wag. I finally just finished my body work and got the truck painted and now I can't even drive it!

 

[peepers]

sounds like waterpump for sure. also take a look and make sure the fanclutch is operating properly.

 

[Max.Powerzz]

I went to my first Capitol Cruiser Club meeting last week and the guys came out and looked at the truck. Within 30 seconds they discovered my fan belt had snapped! I'm a 1/2 banana mechanic myself but I would have hoped my real mechanic would have caught that! Good thing for cruiser heads!

 

[agent orange]

Damn, what kind of crappy mechanic do you go to? I dont know how he could miss the fan belt being tossed, he must have not even looked at it. He took the time to pressure test but didnt take the time to look at the belts?

 

[Max.Powerzz]

Yep, I think he was taking me for a ride. I don't know how they would have missed it (especially after doing a pressure test!). Of course, he also said there was no way to know if the thermostat is bad, you just have to replace it. Come to find out on this board all you have to do is stick it in a pot of boiling water! Hmm, note to self, find new mechanic...or better yet, learn to work on my junk myself.

 

[60wag]

The boiling water test is in most shop manuals although few pro mechanics would want to take the time to test it. A new 'stat costs less than the time to test it.