Boiling from radiator & over-flow
A note about the thermostat: you'll find there are two types -- one with the housing, and one with just the thermostat. You'll want the unit with the housing if you've never replaced the water pump. The setups that require just the thermostat itself are 2004+ pumps which is the OE service recommendation for water pump replacement.
edit: comment on the temp gauge -- the only year that offered a "working" gauge was 1998. 99-02 were essentially just an on/off switch, showing normal temp without fluctuation at all times unless it was overheating. If you have movement, then it's overheating no matter what it "reads." Also, you may want to consider replacing the coolant temp sensor depending on the mileage.
I'd think this would be more likely than a double failure of thermostat and coolant sensor.
I'd also get a hydrometer and test the coolant.
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I read that the first time and then forgot when I came back to the thread.
I still think this is a pressure problem. In order for this to be overheating, there would need to be a simultaneous failure of the temperature sensor and thermostat. That would be highly illogical: (but still possible)
I'd:
- Throw away the new radiator cap unless its a GM part.
- Do a pressure test of the system
- Test the thermostat and temp sensor before buying new ones:
~ http://www.focushacks.com/mod/Testing_your_thermostat
~ http://www.wellsve.com/sft503/counterp_v2_i2_1998.pdf
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So....it only starts to boil out of BOTH the radiator AND overflow tank....AFTER you shut the engine off....?
It does not ever boil over with the engine still running...?
If your tstat was not opening the temp needle would never stop moving and it would bury into the red.....all the way to the right.
Maybe you crossed the coolant cross-over line coming from the TB/heads.....with the over-flow tube port.......
I guess your tstat could be partially opening......but if its boiling over you have AIR in the system.....that's for sure.
Could be as simple as a bad NEW Radiator cap.........it happens. But check that the overflow hose is running to the overflow tank.....and the coolant cross-over line is running to the port UNDER the overflow port.......
.
I'd:
- Throw away the new radiator cap unless its a GM part.
- Do a pressure test of the system
- Test the thermostat and temp sensor before buying new ones:
~ http://www.focushacks.com/mod/Testing_your_thermostat
~ http://www.wellsve.com/sft503/counterp_v2_i2_1998.pdf
Could be as simple as a bad NEW Radiator cap.........it happens. But check that the overflow hose is running to the overflow tank.....and the coolant cross-over line is running to the port UNDER the overflow port.......
The suspense is killing me. I am looking forward to finding out what the resolution is here so we don't need to entertain ourselves with this childish bickering! (Maybe we should start a separate thread for childish bickering?)









