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11/04/11, 02:40 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 16,093
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Radiator problems in 97 Dodge Dakota
It started blowing water out the bottom of the engine a couple weeks ago. I had a thermostat in it and pulled and replaced it. Same thing. Pulled it altogether. Same thing. Ran a cleaner through the system and put in a block sealer. Long as I keep heater and air on, it will stay one side or the other, of the center mark on the guage depending on the weather, tho, today, comeing home, it was past the center line, yet blowing cold air. I filled the resavour at WM. It blew out some on the way home as I could see it on the hood, fender and windshield on my side.
I took it to a garage. They said the gasket on the timeing gear housing was bad. They also said I had a bad gasket in the valve cover. Im not useing oil, so im wondering about the timeing chain gasket. I do have a ticking so I imagine the Valve cover gasket is bad OR a donut gasket is shot.
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11/05/11, 08:09 AM
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Clinton, Louisiana
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Louisiana
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Well, it is taking pressure to blow out the water. You say it is blowing out the bottom of the engine. Is it coming from the overflow tube from the radiator, or is it coming from behind the timing chain cover? The radiator will build pressure on its own, as you probably know. Could the head gasket be leaking through to the water side causing the water side to pressurize enough to blow the water out? It is early here at work, so the brain is not working correctly, YET!
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11/05/11, 09:00 AM
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keeper of the bees
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Michigan
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Check the fan clutch to make sure it is working.
 Al
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11/05/11, 10:36 AM
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I leave the heat on and the fan on and that seems to help, BUT, As I said, The other day, I was comeing home with the guage past the middle mark on the guage, and it was blowing cold air.
How do I CHECK the fan clutch?
Im assumeing the timeing chain is still up front. That being so, Id say the water is comeing from further back than that. Around mid center.
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11/05/11, 10:50 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Arkansas
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sounds like it may be coming out the weep hole in the water pump
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11/05/11, 11:08 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Whiskey Flats(Ft. Worth) , Tx
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Quote:
Originally Posted by coolrunnin
sounds like it may be coming out the weep hole in the water pump
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...................This........Most water pumps have a weep hole on the bottom side of the housing directly below the shaft , when they start leaking it's time for a new water pump . Also , IF you need a new timing chain , be sure and purchase the replacement set that has all steel gears as some will have a steel gear with a nylon face that engages the timing chain , the all steel sets last a lot longer . , fordy
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11/05/11, 11:14 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Whiskey Flats(Ft. Worth) , Tx
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FarmBoyBill
I leave the heat on and the fan on and that seems to help, BUT, As I said, The other day, I was comeing home with the guage past the middle mark on the guage, and it was blowing cold air.
How do I CHECK the fan clutch?
Im assumeing the timeing chain is still up front. That being so, Id say the water is comeing from further back than that. Around mid center.
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.....................The fan clutch is behind the fan , it engages the fan when a certain temp is reached , normally it just "free wheels" without pulling any power from the engine . Once your vehicle reaches say 20mph or so there is enough air forced through the radiator too cool the engine so the faster you drive the greater amount of heat the radiator can transfer too the atmosphere but your engine is also generating more heat as well . , fordy 
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11/05/11, 11:15 AM
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Minnesota
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By the issues with the heater it also sounds like you have an air bubble in the system. You can get rid of it by parking on a steep incline (front of the vehicle up) and running the engine for about 15 minutes with the radiator cap off.
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11/05/11, 12:02 PM
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Join Date: May 2002
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If you are overheating without thermostat or with multiple new thermostats, then either it overheats because coolant is leaking and you dont have enough coolant. Or your radiator is plugged. I've dealt with clunker cars for decades. Its amazing how people with overheating problems will insist they can cure the problem by running with no thermostat or that its anything but the radiator. Old cars, especially ones that get no regular maintenance, the radiator plugs after a decade or so.
Fact is, if you start the car and let it run with radiator cap off and see air bubbles, then you have head gasket problem or cracked head/block. If no bubbles and you have eliminated thermostat as problem, then you need a radiator. Few radiators can be taken apart and cleaned anymore. You buy a new one or if you are real desperate you buy a junkyard radiator. New radiator is better buy cause you dont know anything about junkyard radiator's history.
Running the heater just acts as an auxillary radiator taking some of burden off the main radiator. It could theoretically be lot things, but I would bet dollar to a donut that you need a new radiator. When you eliminate all the cheaper possibilities, and hopefully havent melted your engine, then you will buy a radiator.
If you are leaking, its most likely going to be seal in water pump is bad and coolant is dribbling out of weep hole as others have told you. If you are running without enough coolant, you will over heat though in that case I am doubting running the heater would help since there simply isnt enough coolant to carry the heat.
So fix the leak by replacing water pump and if it still overheats replace the radiator. New cars are hard to see weep hole due to very congested engine compartment, but if you can see weep hole from underneath car, you will see water dripping or see mineral build up around the weep hole. Either and water pump has to be replaced.
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11/05/11, 12:11 PM
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Join Date: May 2002
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tinknal
By the issues with the heater it also sounds like you have an air bubble in the system. You can get rid of it by parking on a steep incline (front of the vehicle up) and running the engine for about 15 minutes with the radiator cap off.
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Air trapped in cooling system usually more a problem on cars where radiator is mounted with top radiator lower than engine. Not so much in pickups. But I have little experience with Dakotas, so really dont know how low the radiator is mounted.
I know that stupid 2.8L V6 that originally came in my Ranger had thermostat low on engine behind flange where lower radiator hose attaches. If you didnt fill engine water jacket with coolant along with the radiator , you could damage engine cause the engine would be running dry as it heated up. So you need to read the manual to know the engineering oddities of your particular vehicle with your particular engine. And go hunt up car forum dedicated to your particular vehicle.
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"What would you do with a brain if you had one?" -Dorothy
"Well, then ignore what I have to say and go with what works for you." -Eliot Coleman
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11/05/11, 12:29 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2005
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I put in new water pump after the new thermostat I had had in it didnt stop the heating.
Still dont know how to check the clutch fan.
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11/05/11, 04:13 PM
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 17,225
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HermitJohn
Air trapped in cooling system usually more a problem on cars where radiator is mounted with top radiator lower than engine. Not so much in pickups. But I have little experience with Dakotas, so really dont know how low the radiator is mounted.
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I had it happen in a chevy pickup.
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11/05/11, 06:13 PM
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I set the pk in a steep angle and let it run for 1/2hr It took around 2qt to fill both rad and res. I had the heater and fan going at the time. The needle on the guage registered good. Wish I had noticed whether the air was blowing hot or cold after that time.
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11/05/11, 06:32 PM
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Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 7,688
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FarmBoyBill
I put in new water pump after the new thermostat I had had in it didnt stop the heating.
Still dont know how to check the clutch fan.
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Better way: http://vincentciulla.suite101.com/fa...testing-a15643
Quick and dirty way: block off the rad/grill with something(cardboard or whatever) close the hood. Start it up, bring the RPM's up to 1200 or so, let it warm up, once its warm you should hear the FC kick in(sounds like a jet takin off). Leave the RPM up, remove the cardboard, mist the rad with water you will hear the FC kick off. If it does this, its working OK, but it "may" still not be working 100%
Are you still leaking with new water pump?
If you really suspect fan clutch while away from home, you can lock up the fan with duct tape in order to get home. It will roar all the time, but it will cool. I try to avoid the viscous type fan clutches and prefer the flex blade fans or electric fan. Or the old timey four blade fixed fan. Hey if you have simple system the old four blade fixed fan works just fine. Its when you add all those new fangled things like air conditioning that you need something more sophisticated.
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"What would you do with a brain if you had one?" -Dorothy
"Well, then ignore what I have to say and go with what works for you." -Eliot Coleman
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11/05/11, 06:35 PM
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Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 7,688
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tinknal
I had it happen in a chevy pickup.
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I havent owned a Chev pickup newer than seventies and havent worked on one newer than 80s. If there is a way they can make something that was trouble free and simple into something complicated and troublesome they seem to insist on doing it.
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"What would you do with a brain if you had one?" -Dorothy
"Well, then ignore what I have to say and go with what works for you." -Eliot Coleman
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11/05/11, 06:39 PM
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Join Date: May 2002
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FarmBoyBill
I set the pk in a steep angle and let it run for 1/2hr It took around 2qt to fill both rad and res. I had the heater and fan going at the time. The needle on the guage registered good. Wish I had noticed whether the air was blowing hot or cold after that time.
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I hope that is it. ARe you still leaking?
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"What would you do with a brain if you had one?" -Dorothy
"Well, then ignore what I have to say and go with what works for you." -Eliot Coleman
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11/05/11, 06:48 PM
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 17,225
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HermitJohn
I havent owned a Chev pickup newer than seventies and havent worked on one newer than 80s. If there is a way they can make something that was trouble free and simple into something complicated and troublesome they seem to insist on doing it.
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Well, I like the throttle body fuel injection. Less complicated and far fewer expensive parts to replace.
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I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
Mahatma Gandhi
Libertarindependent
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11/05/11, 08:04 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 16,093
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Dont know HJ Neighbor came over and talked for an hour when I was wanting to cut wood. I will drive it tomorrow 5 miles each way
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11/05/11, 08:08 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 16,093
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HJ How I supposed to keep the rpms at 1200 while Im out putting a cardboard in front and then throwing water into the fan after it heats up?n By the way, AC is shot. People who had it bewfore me messed up the plumbing to the ac for whtever reason. They had had problems with it, and I could see that they had poured a bunch of sealent at the rad mouth
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11/05/11, 11:56 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Mass. and wanting to transplant
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