I have a 87 TA with the TPI 305. I cant get it to quit overheating. I just bought it a couple days ago, and it was running hot when I was driving it home. It then blew up the radiator, cracking off one of the plastic ends... I bought a new radiator today, and the coolant is circulating well, and its full. One fan runs, and both fans run when the AC is on. It still wants to overheat. Anyone have any ideas? The coolant was circulating really well, so im pretty sure the thermostat is good...

 

is the radiator overflow bubbling alot when you stop driving the car? thats what mine did and it turned out to be my thermostat had gone bad.

 

are you sure your not loseing any fluid?? if you are check to see if your water pump or heater core is leaking.... feel the carpet on the passenger side where they would put they're feet...... is it wet?? if so your loseing water from your heater core...... but i would also recommend changeing your thermostat just to see if thats causeing the problem........ plus they're only like $5........

 

Yes, it boils over into the overflow when I shut the car off. I already got a new thermostat, and gasket... Just need to put em in. Does the throttle body have to come off to get the water neck off? To get to the bolts? Thx

 

yeah then it's your thermostat...... you shouldn't need to remove your t/b to get to your thermo houseing, just remove your air cleaner and a couple of the smog hoses that are in the way and it's right there!!!

 

yea dude its super easy to do less than 30 min to complete

 

Just got done putting the thermostat in... Took about 20 minutes. Getting ready to go for a drive and see how it does.

 

Nope, still running too hot and boiling into the overflow. What else could be wrong?? Could a bad radiator cap make it overheat? Thanks!

 

could be, cheap to replace also

16psi would work

Im fighting my own gremlins (2 stats, 16psi cap, aftermarket rad, dual fans)

 

Anyone else have any ideas, or does everyone think its a bad cap? Thanks

 

ok go to the front of your car and look under the front end....... because pontiac didn't put grills on they're firebirds they had a flap that ran from one side of the bumper to the other (it's actually a little farther back from the bumper) to direct air to the radiator if you do not have that flap or it's broken(as i dont think you do cause you said it's been overheating since you bought her) you need to go to a junk yard and get one or make your own cause i think those are out of production.......

 

Well, It had a 7lb cap on it, and I put a 16lb on it. Its much cooler outside, and the car is still running at 3/4 up the gauge. So im sure in the heat of the day, it will be overheating again.

This "Flap" your talking about... Does it hang down low under the car? If so, I dont have one i dont think. I have an angled piece of plastic that is in between the bumper and the radiator, that is angled so that there is a big gap at the bottom, and a smaller gap at the top... But nothing really underneath to direct air in. Got a picture? Thanks

 

pm sent...........

 

your guage may be wrong? Does it overheat only while driving or at idle? If it only overheats while driving it is usually the air dam that directs air up into the radiator. If this is missing it is guaranteed to overheat. If it overheats all the time I use an infared pyrometer at work to sort this out, they are under $100 now and i use it all the time. But you can easily trace overheating with one. But Im betting on the dam seeing how you have a new rad/t-stat.

 

I think the gauge is right. I dont think it will overheat unless im driving it around. So, Yeah... The airdam is probably whats wrong with it. I will see if I can find one. Thanks

 

You can get a new air dam from Hawks, about $45 shipped, but worth it.

Do a search and you can find plenty of pictures to be sure you need one.