83 944

so my 944 over heats or gets pretty close to over heating quite often now. and i dont what to replace. i was told to keep the car on at idle and let the car get up to temp. then turn on my fan (i have an aftermarket fan with a switch in the center console) and see if the temp goes down or stays at a certain temp. but if it doesnt i was told to change the thermostat and see if that makes a difference. what else could it be if it isnt that? i was also told that 944's water pumps dont go bad because the spinning wheel is metal and doesnt crumble and the bearings are sealed well. but sometime they go bad (according to a tech at zotz garage)

i have a very stubborn step dad who thinks he knows everything but he doesnt. he says it sounds like the bearings are like gone and he bets that they arent working. Can you listen to tell if thats true?

i can check this stuff tomorrow whiles hes gone.

i dont have a crap load of money to just spend on a new water pump thermostat and gaskets and what not. nor do i have that much time anymore with school.

if my information that i have been told is true let me know so i can check this out with my stupid step dad around controlling everything. and what i should check next and what i should replace.

thanks

-Mike

krystar

did u bleed it?

83 944

yes every time with water and coolant

krystar

so only water comes out now? no steam? does the fan turn on when it warms up past 3rd bar?

can u see the water pump pulley turning? can u feel water flow thru the upper radiator hose? is there pressure in the hose?

83 944

water comes out the reservoir and no steam. i hear it bubbling. i have to turn my fans on manually i turn them on as soon as i start the car. How do i see the water pump pulley turning? how do i check pressure in hose?

Rock

Feel the lower radiator hose *CAREFULLY* when the car gets up to temp. If its cold, then youve got a bad thermostat.

I had an early car that had a ground problem, and the temp gauge would soar into the red (or should I say yellow) a minute or two after the car started.

http://clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/ts-02.htm

Rock

Big problem. You do know the fans have a high and low speed setting, right? Why do you have to turn them on manually?

83 944

my fan is turned on by a on/off metal switch in my center console because my stock fans when out and so did the switch and i couldnt afford to replace all that so i got a high speed fan that a buddy of mine uses on his 944 and his works great and saved weight.

and if the hose is cold and the thermostat is bad does that mean it wont over heat after thats replaced?

Rock

If you wanna ghetto rig it for the summer, rip the thermostat out. As long as you dont live in like Alaska, you should be ok.

But yeah, if that hose is cold, and the rest of the radiator or cooling hoses are hot, it usually means that the thermostat isnt opening.

Its the hose by the power steering pump

83 944

i have manual steering ..and im in florida and its hot as hell haha..so if i take out the thermostat than it stays constantly flowing correct? and see if this changes the hose temp?

Rock

Well dont go ripping the thermostat out unless you're sure its the thermostat. Let the car warm up to temp for a few mins, then feel that hose as compared to other hoses. The hose that should get hottest the quickest is the radiator hose going from the head to the radiator, if the car is up to temp and that hose still feels cool, then the coolant on that side of the radiator is blocked by the thermostat not opening.

Luis de Prat

Hi. How old are the water pump and radiator on this car?

83 944

i dont know i bout my 83 car in jan of 09 and took out the blown motor and put in an 86 motor. i dont know what was all replaced except new clutch(yes i should have replaced water pump and all that stuff when i had the motor out but i didnt) but i did belts haha

Mike C.

My guess would be a thermostat of partially clogged radiator assuming you have no leaks. Water pumps generally work or they don't (if the cam belt is tensioned properly).

krystar

...are you sure u bled it correctly? cause you shouldn't be opening the reservoir when engine is warmed up.

you are opening the bleeder screw on top of the water neck?

also you should not be feeling any bubbles or gurgling in the hoses. it should go squish and wishwash sounds, not gurgles. gurgles means u still have air in the system and need to bleed it.