Uncommon Cooling System Problems

Problems not requiring disassembly of the cooling system:
^ Large obstructions that block the radiator or the air conditioning condenser can reduce the cooling efficiency of the cooling system. The following are some examples of large obstructions:-Auxiliary oil coolers-Ice, mud, or snow-License plate-Spare tire
^ The engine oil is overfilled.
^ An incorrect radiator for the application. Check the part number.
^ A loose, damaged or missing air seals.
^ A missing or damaged lower air baffle/air deflector.
^ An incorrect ignition timing. Problems requiring disassembly of the cooling system:
^ An incorrect or damaged fan
^ Faulty emission system components (could cause overheating at idle)-Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve-Damaged Thermal Vacuum Valve (TVV)-Damaged Engine Coolant Temperature sensor (ECT)
^ Pressure testing the cooling system with the radiator cap installed (shows if the pressure cap leaks because of radiator filler neck damage.
^ Worn or damaged water pump
- Impeller vanes eroded or broken
- Worn or damaged bearing or seal (Inspect for shaft or bearing play.)
- Plugged or incorrect radiator tubes (Perform a flow check.)
^ Internal system leaks
- The cylinder head gasket
- A cracked engine block
- Timing chain cover
- A damaged intake manifold or intake manifold gasket
^ Plugged coolant passages in the cylinder head(s) (Perform a visual inspection.)