Heater Core

"I have been using water, but it always stops using it at about halfway down the radiator."

You need to find where the water is going, you just can't run these engines that low because that's roughly how low the water level is in the engine. Your head is probably getting little or no water at that point. The water line in the radiator should be within 2 inches of the top and stay there.

The water inlet on a T-3 turbo is toward the block, the outlet is next to the fender.

Forget bypassing the heater core,,unless is leaking, find the leak before you burn it up or crack the head (hope it isn't too late)

The instrument voltage regulators in these cars are notorious or going bad. When the do, the three gauges (oil, temp and fuel) act funny in unison because the IRV supplies power to just those 3. They usually read abnormally high together. This can be a cyclically thing, not always a constant thing. Don't worry about this until you find and fix the leak.

I had mine bypassed for about two weeks, and there were no problem. But, I only had it that way for two weeks, it's now at the shop getting the core replaced, and an a/c retro. There's nothing wrong with it, just get it done. Procrastination is folly.

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I'd like to think my life has a soundtrack, and it sounds just like the white album.

1987 Turbo Coupe, 5-spd. Burgundy, soon to be black oldraven.

Mike, I never thought of it like that. So, you think I should replace the water pump, too? If so, is it hard to do? I've never changed one on these cars.

"The water inlet on a T-3 turbo is toward the block, the outlet is next to the fender."

Then it is the outlet that's leaking.

"Forget bypassing the heater core,,unless is leaking, find the leak before you burn it up or crack the head (hope it isn't too late)."

With my luck, it's already too late. Not to worry, I should have another '86 TC coming in the next few weeks. No mechanical problems at all. Well, except that it's an automatic! LOL But that will give me time to work on this one.

Rick

[This message has been edited by 86tc (edited 09-02-2002).]

The water pump is one of the easiest things on the engine to change. And by far one of the cheapest parts to buy. I think I paid $15 for mine with a 2 year warranty. The lifetime was double that, or something near. It takes about 30 minutes to change it out with common hand tools. I changed the water pump on my girlfriends 87 TC (I bought for her), thinking it was going bad. As I was changing it I found a leak in the small hose that goes from the pump to the thermo. housing. It was causing the car to lose about half the water in the radiator and get hot really quickly. Sound familiar? So I changed the little hose (fabricated from some thick rubber heat resistant hose that I had in my shed), and changed the water pump since I was already there. Worked great! Of course until the upper fan burned up and now it only stays cool while you're moving. But I'll fix that soon! Always a project. Hope this helps.

Kev

Rick The first you need to do is get the water leak fixed so that your not losing water. After you do that if it doesnt solve the problem i would look at the water pump as previously stated. Good Luck!

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oldone
88 Maroon TC 5 speed
K&N Filter
Gillis boost valve

Kev,

I'm gonna check that hose right after work tomorrow! Thanks for the tip.

Also, thanks to everyone else for the suggestions! I LOVE TEAMWORK! [Image: tongue.gif]

Rick

[This message has been edited by 86tc (edited 09-03-2002).]

Originally posted by 86tc:
Mike, I never thought of it like that. So, you think I should replace the water pump, too? If so, is it hard to do? I've never changed one on these cars.

No, I don't think that the pump itself is the problem, I think that when the leak lets the water get below the level of the pump, the pump can no longer pump the water out of the leak or anyplace where it would absorb heat. I think the leak is the problem.

Looking back at the head/head gasket, do you remember a different smell coming from the exhaust than usual? That might be indicative of a cracked head or bad head gasket, which would use a lot of coolant without leaving a lot on the ground under the car.

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Mike Walsted - NATO member
1986 5-speed TurboCoupe and 1985 5-speed XR7

Exhaust??? WHAT exhaust?! LOL I don't remember smelling anything in the exhaust, but then again, I don't remember smelling the exhaust for sure. I'd have to check.

Rick