96xjwheeler said:
also when u say that fins what do u mean? i may just not understand the lingo i may not of heard that word before but i may know what u are talking a bout
In addition to bent fins or corroded fins (not that likely in AZ) look for fins clogged with bugs, small rocks, dirt or other stuff. Look between the AC condenser and the radiator to make sure junk hasn't built up in there. Try using a hose nozzle to spray from the back of the radiator toward the front or go to the DIY car wash and use their spray nozzle to try and blow anything out.
If the radiator has never been replaced (to your knowledge) consider just getting a new one if you can afford it, they're usually between $100-200 from the usual on-line parts bin places - . Flush only does so much
I'm sure other people will chime in here but the usual list of suspects
- old lower radiator hose collapsing - replace with an OEM one from the dealer with the spring in it.
- x2 on the thermostat - stock thermostats are 195. consider the Mr. Gasket brand from Summit racing and other places. 195 means the engine warms up faster and stops dumping gas into the engine - better mileage, happier oil, less oil washed off the cylinder walls. Once it's open it's open.
- water pump corroded fins - replace pump.
- air bubble in the system left from the flush - search on burp the system threads
- add water wetter or purple ice to the system to improve the heat transfer ability of the coolant. With water wetter anyway it works better with less than the usual 50/50 mix of coolant.
- serpentine belt old or not tensioned properly? Might be slipping and not spinning the water pump fast enough.
If it slowly overheats at highway speeds (Tucson to Marana is pretty flat so it's pretty steady state conditions except for a few overpasses) it would tend to indicate the system is at the tipping point and adding just a little more heat (highway effort) pushes it over.
- other random ideas - saw a thread once that said if your catalytic converter is clogged that can result in overheating.
- possibly bad sending unit? Borrow or get a no-contact thermometer to verify the gauge temp against that of the passenger (hot) side tank of the radiator.
- have you removed the air dam under the bumper or the fiber thingy that goes behind the dam and attaches to the front cross piece and a few spots down the frame rails - if those are missing then air might be going under the body and into the engine compartment creating a high pressure area behind the radiator instead of low pressure - reducing the amout of air flow through the radiator.
