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Zeb
Dodge Dakota
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7/10/2005
03:27:09
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 Subject: need all your opinions
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I think I have a problem with my local mechanic. A couple weeks ago I noticed my temp gauge was indicating hotter than normal gradually worsening over a few days to the point the indicater would creep into the red but would go down to normal again. It got worse so I installed a new thermostat. That made it worse, I could only drive a few miles before it would completely overheat. So I took my '98 Dodge Dakota to my local shop. I described what has been happening the last couple weeks including the thermostat and told him I think my waterpump is bad. He had put in a new one about a year ago and asked if the waterpump was leaking. I said no, and he said it couldn't be the waterpump and was probably a clogged radiator. I disagreed but let him check anyway. A few hours later he called and said the rad was clogged and I need a new one. I don't understand how a radiator can clog up so fast and told him I'd be right over to take a look. Well it looked fine to me and I took a hose and ran water through one end and it seemed to flow fine. He said it was running straight through the tanks, I pointed out the tanks are only on the top and bottom and not the sides and it can only be flowing through the cores. He pointed out some cracks in the bottom tank and said it should be replaced anyway and he is convinced this will solve my overheating problem. After some discussion we decided he'd install the new one but if the problem persisted he wouldn't charge me for labor. He put in the new one and it didn't help. I started the truck and let it get hot, before it got in the red I shut it off and grabbed the top radiator hose. It was hot but not hot enough where I couldn't hold on to it, certainly not 260 degrees where it redlines. I'm still convinced there is no flow and it must be the waterpump. So now he shows me the freeze plugs in the engine block, they show signs of leakage (some corrosion that looks like it's been there awhile) and at the rear by the transmission there is fresh coolant dripping, he explains there is a freeze plug at rear of engine and he'll have to drop the trans to repair it, and that should fix the overheating problem. I'm dismayed that a tiny leak can cause overheating in a matter of minutes, he explains its because it creates an air pocket. I don't see the logic in any of his explainations, so I ask him to just replace the waterpump and see if that solves the problem. By now it's closing time and he'll have to keep til Monday. (at least he gave me a loaner car) On the way home I called and asked him to just take out the thermostat and see what happens. Maybe the new one was bad.
Whew, so what do ya'll think?
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Kowalski
GenIII
7/10/2005
08:03:52
| RE: need all your opinions
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If it got worse with the new thermostat, why would you think it was the water pump ? Try replacing the thermostat, not just pulling it; then try a new mechanic.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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blakels
Dodge Dakota
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7/10/2005
10:27:54
| RE: need all your opinions
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Check the bypass hose going from the water pump to the intake manifold and make sure it's not kinked reducing flow. This happened to me after replacing my water pump. But since it was in the fall, the symptoms didn't show up until the following summer.
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Forseti
Dodge Dakota
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7/10/2005
11:16:58
| RE: need all your opinions
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You know its overheating just by what the temp gauge says? Or did the engine start to boil over and send coolant back into the overflow tank? Id replace the temp sensor and see if it still shows hot before have the trans dropped. If you have a new rad, thermostat, flushed the system, the waterpump isnt leaking, and the fan clutch is fine ..... then you shouldnt be overheating....
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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7/10/2005
12:42:35
| RE: need all your opinions
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try it without the t/stat. then find a new mechanic. his logic is flawed. if there is a leak in the cooling system it will run hotter but not because of an air pocket. because it cannot hold pressure. the system has to hold pressure to work properly. also, try a new rad cap.
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AZDAK
Dodge Dakota
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7/10/2005
14:39:51
| RE: need all your opinions
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Is it possible he installed the new T-stat upside down because it made it worse ?. Just a thought.
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N56629
Dodge Dakota
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7/10/2005
22:00:42
| RE: need all your opinions
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This mechanic is taking you to the cleaners.
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Zeb
Dodge Dakota
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7/10/2005
23:16:43
| RE: need all your opinions
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Thanks! ya'll been a great help!
@Kowalski,
Ya that's what I'd figured on the way home in the loaner car. I'm a little slow, but eventially I get there.
@blakels,
Thanks, I'll check that too.
@Forseti,
Definetly overheating, coolant gushing out of the overflow.
@daddio,
Thanks, good to know.
@AZDAK,
Nope, but good guess.
@N56629,
I concur, and will write some letters to the powers that be.
Thanx again everyone, and I let ya'll know how it turns out.
-Zeb
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Zeb
Dodge Dakota
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7/12/2005
00:45:00
| RE: need all your opinions
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This morning my X-"mechanic" took out the thermostat as I suggested and guess what? No more overheating. I had him put in a new one to save time. Problem solved! 'cept I gotta find a new mechanic. I'm helping a friend rebuild his Lotus Europa. It's a real learning process. Ya' know, the more I learn, the more I'm finding there is to know. We've learned so much with this Lotus, timing, cam timing, we've rebuilt the carb's and distributor several times, each time finding something new the past owner had f'd up. Now that we have it running like a top my buddy want to convert it to fuel injection. *sigh* oh well back to the books.
-Zeb
PS, anyone know why dodge transmissions are such a p.o.s.?
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beavernuts
Dodge Dakota
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7/12/2005
01:58:46
| RE: need all your opinions
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Zeb, your helping to rebuild a lotus, messing with timing, carbs and such, yet you cant replace a thermostat, radiator, or water pump on a dakota?
good one buddy.
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Luc
Dodge Dakota
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7/12/2005
13:57:49
| RE: need all your opinions
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Trans suck cuz seals are garbage, and they don't come with the trans go shift kit from the factory lol
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Zeb
Dodge Dakota
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7/13/2005
23:42:33
| RE: need all your opinions
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@ Luc,
Ya, I've heard that, also read there are some inherent major design flaws.
@ bearvernuts,
ya, go figure. I hate working on my own car/truck cuz something bizare always happens like replaceing a thermostat with one that happens to be the one in 10,000 that's defective. I mean I know you're 'sposed to test 'em first but, really, do you know anyone who still does? (Outside of highschool autoshop)
Went to Kragen AutoParts to return my thermostat, gee whiz had my receipt and everything and they refused 'cuz I didn't have the box it came in. We had a brief "discussion" on the level of his intelligence, then I was asked to come back tomorrow when the manager will be in.
Man, it just ain't my week
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