overheating problem, what cause?

alfaholico · #1 (**permalink**) 07-25-2005, 06:01 PM

My 93 164 has been mostly flawless. It has 126,000 miles on the clock and has needed a tranny (auto) rebuild at 85,000 miles and steering rack redo. Last year I did the steppers and this year I'm afraid it's the heater core. Here's the story, left to idle in the driveway with the A/C on. Did some stuff in the house, went out no more that 10 minutes later and saw a horrific site. Coolant gushing out of the bottom of the engine bay, the temp way high, immediately jumped in and turned off the engine, and the smoke came gushing out of everywhere, the vents, the engine bay, the driver's and passengers' foot wells. Very disheartening. I was leaving for the weekend and could only push the car into the garage. Just got back from vacation and will have to work tomorrow, but I'm hoping to get under the car tomorrow to see what's what. A few theories, the fuse for the fans went and the car overheated popping a hose. This is a good explanation because it eliminates the heater core as the problem(?). Any other explanations? I know of the fuses by the driver's side foot well. Is the fuse for the fans located here? Are they in the engine bay? Thanks for any input.

**Alfisto Steve** · #2 (**permalink**) 07-25-2005, 06:16 PM

Cooling fan 40A fuse bar located on false firewall near brake reservoir. fuse for low and high speed fan relays in fuse box.

You got shop manuals in paper or on CD?

alfaholico · #3 (**permalink**) 07-26-2005, 03:10 AM

I don't have shop manuals period. I was going to get under the car and see if a hose blew. Do you think this scenario is feasible? There was some coolant that entered the driver's and mostly passenger's side footwells (I believe through the vents). Thanks for the input.

**papajam** · #4 (**permalink**) 07-26-2005, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alfaholico

A few theories, the fuse for the fans went and the car overheated popping a hose. This is a good explanation because it eliminates the heater core as the problem(?).

**Alfisto Steve** · #5 (**permalink**) 07-26-2005, 05:00 AM

Coolant inside cabin not a good sign. If heater core let go you will disconnect both heater hoses one from engine and one from bottom of coolant tank and run a bypass hose from hose fitting coming out of back of engine to tee on bottom of coolant tank to see if rest of coolant system will hold coolant.

Once you get a solid system again and check out engine and cooling fan for proper operation be sure you use a 50/50 mixture of coolant and distilled water. Coolant to raise boiling point and Distilled water to prevent mineral impurities from tap water.