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Second opinion
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2005 10:32 pm
by Chris
We just bought a nice good condition 1995 Magna for $600 and the car is valued at $5000+
. The guy wanned $1500+ but got him down to $600 he did say it needs a new radiator..
Heres whats wrong, driving on the freeway or past 60ks is fine, standing while engine is running it starts to overheart.. I have checked everyday for leaks but the radiator is full and no drippings.. Cracked Head? (I hope not).. Just like a second opinion on this.
Thanks
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2005 10:39 pm
by GeminiCoupe
If the head was cracked it would be mixing water and oil, running like a complete bag of shit etc etc. Word of warning tho - those engines arent exactly easy to work on, good luck getting the head closest to the firewall out.
Go take the car and get it pressure tested. Radiator could be blocked, water pump might not be good etc etc.
Nick-
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2005 11:42 pm
by Rodeobob
Same as any car.
Thermostat. Make sure its working properly. If its stuck open the water will go thru the radiator realy fast and wont get a chance to cool.
Water pump. Make sure its holding pressure in the block and pumping plenty of water. This would be more of a high speed problem if it wanst working properly. Still worth checking while checking the thermostat.
Hoses etc. Make sure the hoses are all good and they arent all soft and shit, the bottom one especially.
Radiator, send it out and get it cleaned.
If youve checked all that and its still no good, sell it for 2k and buy a Paizza you ford loving, magna diving hippie.
Bob
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 2:22 am
by Chris
Ford driving magna hippie? lol
Anyways.. missus took the car out tonight, when she came back she complaint about overheating again, checked the radiator and this time it was empty. 2L of water to refill started it and waited, also took it for a 3 min drive. Than checked for any leaks.. Nope no water leaks, oil looked fine though it started overheating while in neutural.. Give me input...

Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 10:15 am
by shorty
just because the water hasn't mixed with the oil dosen't mean it isn't head and or gasket related. i have seen many on engines (and owned ones) that have done a gasket or just a cracked head that put water straight into the exhaust and not done a thing to the water, when i tried to get my piazza going the first time the head had done this, hell my g/f gemini done the head gasket and lost no oil, water and didn't mix anything together. best just to get a pressure test done on the radiator or test the pressure of your cylinders. if one or two are down then that would be a good indicator
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 1:43 pm
by Chris
ok thanks, I am thinking Fans not working or thermostat, so we are off to the Radiator place now to get it checked out.. Thanks for all the INPUT X$ = PRINT "Thanks"
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 6:45 pm
by madmike
take a look at the radiator fan thermostat i had a honda prelude that was doin the exact same thing took ages to find the prob i had to drive round town with the heater on hot demist and the sunroof open out on the open road it was cool as but lost water
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 7:07 pm
by Rodeobob
I would be gettting the water tested for exhaust gas.
Then i would be grabbing some of that stop leak shit and be dosing it up with that.
All else fails sell it on a cold day for more than you paid.
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 8:34 pm
by wedgenut
Follow steps one two three etc. Start with the cap, if it isn't sealing properly you will lose water as it expands and will not take make up back from the overflow bottle when it cools. Unless the system is pressurised it will overheat. Most common cause in order of merit:
Faulty cap
faulty thermostat
electric fan not coming on due to bad thermoswitch or faulty fan
half the tubes in the radiator blocked
Chris is leaving the handbrake on while driving LOL
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 9:31 pm
by shorty
Chris is leaving the handbrake on while driving LOL
yeah that sounds about right to me

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 2:04 pm
by Chris
Ended up being the Main Fan blown, replaced and all good now
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 3:13 pm
by Rodeobob
Chris wrote:Ended up being the Main Fan blown, replaced and all good now
That makes it offically a bargain. Sell it and buy a Piazza.
Bob
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 3:38 pm
by shorty
yeah chris, become one of us again
one of us, ones of us, ones of us, one of us, ones of us, ones of us, one of us, ones of us, ones of us, one of us, ones of us, ones of us, etc
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:36 pm
by Bugle
Yep sell for 5k, buy Matt's old Piazza.
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 4:39 pm
by GeminiCoupe
I wouldnt be buying Matts for 5k [no offence], i dunno...it looks kinda rough?
5K nets you that white Nero down in S.A, or the immac Black one in S.A. Think about it Chris...
Nick-