[RoLLiNnCaLi]

Ok this has been goin on for awhile.... but it stopped doing it for some time and now is back again... my coolant gurgles out of the resevoir.... its happened only a few times.. spread out alot.. and my car has never shown that it has overheated... but i know it has twice.... now i've heard the radiator cap seal might not be good.... so i guess i should get a new one.... i just had my water pump replaced about a 2 months ago(the problem was less severe b4 i got the water pump replaced).... but then i hear it could be the thermostat ..... i'm not a mech at all.. as you guys know ima girl who knows little bout the way my car works.. although i'd like to know more... its been awhile since i even posted up here... been having a busy couple months n whatnot.. but ne ways please help guyz!!!

Laci

 

[escortlx96]

Laci,
I am not a pro at coolant systems but I would take a guess you have air in your cooloing system from the gurggleling that you said has happened twice.The cap can go bad since it needs to hold pressure since your cooling system is pressurized.I would also have some check your temp of your coolant to see if it still holds the temperature.hope this helps.

 

[Ignatz]

Try a new radiator cap first, if that don't work, try a thermostat.... It's probably the cap.

 

[RoLLiNnCaLi]

ok.. i'll go buy a new radiator cap first..... and wait in anticipation for it to gurgle over again..LoL..... i also need to go back to pep boys, they put the wrong size serpantine(sp?) belt on my car! I can't TRUST anyplace with my damn car, but no one will teach me..LoL.... ima go buy me a book damnit.. LoL.... start tweakinaround my car i guess..LoL

Laci

 

[Beaverboy]

save yourself a trip and get a radiator cap AND a thermostat.. both are dirt cheap and easy to replace.

 

[highanddry]

Sorry to jump his train late...

Check the cap first as suggested (it is set to lift at a certain pressure and may be faulty).

You could then have the thermostat replace but I can't believe that is your problem.

I believe your problem is most likely a blown head gasket that is allowing one or more of your combustion chambers (cylinders) to pressurize your coolant system. The combustion gases (higher pressure than your coolant system) then have to find a way to escape and do so out your rad cap (the weak link on purpose). You say you have overheated the car twice...this substantiates the notion of a blown head gasket. You may have even warped your cylinder head, which of course is not a nice thing to hear.

There are several ways to check for this. Remove the reservoir lid after you have run your car. Does it smell like fuel or exhaust? You can start your car up with the rad cap off and look for gas bubbles to circulate toward the overflow. These are sure signs of a blown head gasket.

If you don't want to trt either of these, take it to a shop and ask them to check for a blown head gasket. It will only cost you a 1/2 hr of shop time.

Sadly, I think you're looking at dark days. Drive it till it dies then buy another car. Or sweet talk someone you know into a head gasket job. Lots of hours for this job relative to the worth of your car.

 

[RoLLiNnCaLi]

i don't wantto hear that... i bout a new radiator cap.. i'll put it on tonite when i go to my moms house for dinner.... we'll see.... i guess... worse case senario... my car dies.... i cry.... and cry..... and cry.... and buy another excort.... or betetr yet a ZX2.... =)

Laci

PS..altho i have thought of getting other cars.... i would miss my escort terribly...... ::sniff sniff:: at the thought of losing courtney....

 

[Misfit_Zero]

Laci, I was in the same boat as you, not knowing much about my car, but the Haynes manual has helped a ton with locating may things and replacing tons of stuff that I have done at home.

If you have the tools and time you can do almost anything basic mechanics wise with that manual. Hope you can resolve the problem, it sounds like the cap to me, but I haven't had many problems with the cooling on my car yet, so I don't really know for sure.

Keep up the great effort. If you ever hear of any good shows down there in SD lemme know I'm always open to drive down there and see the shows, but I always find them too late. and if I'm ever down there I'll try to look for your car!