Overheating issue
Printed From: West Coast Fieros
Category: Technical Topics Forum
Forum Name: Technical Questions and Discussions
Forum Description: Got a technical question about your fiero? ask it here.
URL: http://www.westcoastfieros.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2835
Printed Date: 23 November 2024 at 2:44am
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Topic: Overheating issue
Posted By: Stevenr
Subject: Overheating issue
Date Posted: 18 February 2012 at 12:57pm
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Hey guys, so went for a drive in my Fiero today( standard
is going pretty good!). But my dad and I noticed a few issues... we were driving when suddenly we heard this squealing coming from the front end. We popped the hood, and radiator fluid is spewing from the over-flow, and steam coming out. The radiator fan seems to not be working, and is causing it to get too hot, I think. Any ideas how to fix this? PS: How do I get an ISP email to register on Pennocks forum? |
Replies:
Posted By: Stevenr
Date Posted: 18 February 2012 at 10:52pm
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Another problem.. I was in the parking lot, about to practice starting. I go to put it into first, can't get it
in. Weird, so I put it into neutral and try again, still nothing. My dad hops in, and for some reason can get it in, but I'm 100% convinced I'm not THAT bad at shifting! After doing some reading and seeing similar problems, I think the clutch is not disengaging. I'm going to check if my clutch is an inch above my brake pedal to make sure it's not bent, but after that I'm at a loss, and really don't know what to do, or how to fix it. |
Posted By: Dr.Fiero
Date Posted: 19 February 2012 at 8:21am
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Fan: do you have a/c? If so, turn it on, and your fan will kick in - that at least confirms that most of the wiring is intact. After that, the most likely suspect is the temp sensor in the manifold (there's 5 of them in total BTW, so get back to us). Clutch: You might have got some air in the system (after an overheat, you can sometimes boil the clutch fluid!). Step on the pedal, and have dad measure the throw of the slave under the hood (just put a tape up to it, then step on the pedal). You need about 1". Any less than about 7/8" on a 4spd, you won't be shifting. |
Posted By: Stevenr
Date Posted: 19 February 2012 at 12:15pm
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Alright thanks, I'll do that today. Though, my car is a
5spd, does that change anything? |
Posted By: Dr.Fiero
Date Posted: 19 February 2012 at 12:55pm
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Unless it's an Isuzu (normally only found on a 4cyl car), the Getrag (which you've got) and Muncie (4spd) will both have the same throw. |
Posted By: Stevenr
Date Posted: 19 February 2012 at 1:02pm
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Alright, thanks. I'll go measure that sometime today.
On another note, my e-brake is not working. The shop quoted me quite the number to get it fixed as they couldn't find parts(found what I think is the whole assembly in 5min of searching). Is this all I'd need to give them? 84-87 FRONT E-BRAKE CABLE 84-87 REAR DRIVER'S SIDE E-BRAKE CABLE 84-87 REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE E-BRAKE CABLE 84-88 E-BRAKE EQUALIZER (ADJUSTER) 84-88 USED PARKING BRAKE LEVER |
Posted By: Dr.Fiero
Date Posted: 19 February 2012 at 1:22pm
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Uh... heard the term "throwing the baby out with the bathwater"? ;) Figure out exactly what is damaged - replace it. If you get in the habit of carpet bombing small problems, you'll have a $50K Fiero in no time flat. This could get REALLY wordy... I'm gone about 3pm, but I can talk you through it for a short bit. 604-318-8742 |
Posted By: Stevenr
Date Posted: 19 February 2012 at 2:07pm
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Ahh, I was thinking about that. The mechanic never told
us anything besides the lever had somewhat broken. I guess I'll look into it, and see how much we can do ourselves, you make a very valid point. And the best way to learn to is to do it myself... here goes nothing! Note: Drove the fiero again around the block a few times, clutch wasn't disengaging at all, and seemed totally fine. Perhaps it was my sloppy driving yesterday, but I'll leave that be for now, unless it gets worse. |
Posted By: Romeo
Date Posted: 19 February 2012 at 8:57pm
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E-Brakes seem to rarely work on Fieros, from what I hear. Do as the good Doctor says: Identify precisely what isn't working and replace that part. As for cooling, you said you were driving around when it overheated. If you were moving, it wouldn't be the fan, I'd look at other components. ------------- Never shift into reverse without a back-up plan. |
Posted By: Stevenr
Date Posted: 19 February 2012 at 9:49pm
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Will do on the e-brake front.
I was driving quite a bit today, no issues. Could all of the starting and stopping, stalling etc be the cause as a result of my rough driving? |
Posted By: InfernoFiero
Date Posted: 25 February 2012 at 11:21pm
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Hello SteveR, Great to see a young newbie like myself in these forums (I'm 20!)! When I bought my Fiero last year, I encountered very similar if not the EXACT same problem relating to the overheating issue. You probably should get a radiator temp switch from the Rodney Dickmans store as a solution if you managed to check to see if your fan does work by following Dr. Fiero's steps. In the mean time though, and I have been using this to help me out: just simply use your A/C controls provided that your Fiero is A/C. You should always check your temp gage occasionally, and once you see it hits half way during a drive, just turn on the normal setting or maximum (the latter should be used if the temp is more than half way) for A/C. Think it as a manual switch directly hooked to the fan, but just way more easier, and less complicated. Good luck! |
Posted By: Stevenr
Date Posted: 26 February 2012 at 5:48pm
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I actually don't have AC, as it turns out.
I think it may have been the rough driving as I was learning, as it hasn't happened again. Though the clutch problem has re-appeared again, though only once or twice. It fixes itself when I restart the vehicle. I guess I'll live with it until it becomes a little bit more troublesome. |
Posted By: Dawg
Date Posted: 26 February 2012 at 10:21pm
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The bottom line here folks is the car should NEVER overheat if it's in
good shape. So do yourself a favour and get it dealt with. These cars can be such a joy to own as long as you stay on top of issues like this. Dawg ------------- You dream it up....I'll make it |
Posted By: Stevenr
Date Posted: 27 February 2012 at 9:34pm
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Does the anti-freeze bubbling out of the over-flow count as
over-heating, or is over-heating usually referring to engine related problems? If the temperature get's remotely close to what it was that day, I'll deal with it. 
I'm thinking of getting aftermarket pedals, so if that doesn't fix the issue of the clutch not disengaging, then I'll look more deep into that as well. But for now, with my limited funds, even driving it is fun 
|
Posted By: Dawg
Date Posted: 28 February 2012 at 3:27am
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A little overflow is ok as long as the temperature is normal. If the
temp is really high when this happens then you have a problem. ------------- You dream it up....I'll make it |
Posted By: Stevenr
Date Posted: 28 February 2012 at 8:39am
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The temperature wasn't REALLY high, but I'll keep watching
it. |