my girlfriend is trying to limp back to Abbotsford with an overheating '89 toyota surf (japanese RHD import), it overheated 4X4ing a month ago but after letting it cool down and then hitting an even steeper series of pitches it was fine, she had the thermostat replaced before her trip.
and ideas?
Paul

Is it burning any coolant or leaking any down the block (blown head gasket?)
thermostat not installed correctly (or cheap one that doesnt work right).
Is it burped correctly (no air bubbles)
Does the fan clutch kick on like it's supposed to?

Even with no fan clutch the air alone should cool the rad enough at highway speeds as long as there is no coolant flow blockages. If it's intermittent she might just have to drive till it heats and stop and let it cool.... if that's all she can do....

it does this heat up thing, then goes away, sometimes by stopping and letting it cool and sometimes it just does, the temp gauge in the cab can fluctuate a lot too, she says she can tell that it is hot though, can she burp it on the road? It's a 2.4 L diesel, 2LT engine, 1989.
Paul

is burping the thing as simple as depressing the button on the hose from the engine to the coolant overflow reservoir?
Paul

yeah you can burp it any were as long as you have water.

Turn the engine on and turn the heater on HI. Fill radiator about an inch below the top of the spout. Wait for the t-stat to open and when it does it should suck the water down and than top it off again and that should be burped. You should see the water flowing from one side of the radiator to the other( on gas it goes LHD to RHP)

It helps if the noise of the truck is up hill as air usually travels to the highest point. Dont be afraid to try and burp it more than once, although you have to start with the t-stat closed to get the best results i have found.

o...and lucky your a RHD and a diesel <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />...i want..i want <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" />

thanks man,
I voice mailed her but she's in and out of cell range right now.
Paul

Ouch 2LT is not good. Sounds like the infamous crached head I hope you have some sort of coverage from your importer. Do what you can to get it home but I'll be you cracked the head when it overheated. Its a really common thing with the 2lt, the importers should know better but mostly they don't seem to care.

Hey,
Thanks you guys, she made it back to Abbotsford at 2:00 this morning, burped the rad as suggested and it stopped overheating for a while, she did that a coupla more times on the way in and was able to make it home.
I'm real pleased, (so is she) that this forum was available and responded so quickly.
Thanks again!
Paul

Deffinately sounds like exhaust gasses are getting into the coolant. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

If you end up needing parts check out ih8mud.com for info on the diesel or toyotadieselmadness.com both are good sources of info.

It could be the radiator also.. I had this same problem last year and it would overheat when going up the passes or getting on it hard...I was concerned because this was with a rebuilt engine. Now almost one year later no problems.

HTH
Jeff S.