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Symptoms:

I drive the car 5 minutes and the temp gauge goes way up.

I open the hood and all the coolant is in the overflow res.

I let it sit and it drains back into the radiator.

Some pressure in the rad tubes, but not alot.

The power steering pumnp works sometimes?

Belts squeak a little (tensioner bolt is rusted).

I cannot tell if the fans are working (which one is the main fan? pass or driv)

No signs of water pump leaking.

It seems to worsen when the heater is on. Heater blows hot.

I am going to try and change the thermostat tonight, but want some opinions. I'm am really hoping and praying it is the thermy.

Next I'll do a compression check. What are the normal Pressures?

Then I'll change the water pump (if comp check is normal)

It may be a problem with the belts, since I cannot tighten them. I think this might be a problem because the power steering pump is working sometimes and when It is working I have no overheating problems.

Finnaly, how hard is it to warp these heads or blow head gasket? I know on my supra it got hot once and the head was toast.

Thanks for the answers.

You don't see very many blown head gaskets on the V6. But for obvious reasons, be careful. I would get that thing to a mechanic. You don't want to take too many chances with overheating.

Not sure if your belts are related to the overheating. However, if your power steering is only working sporadically, I'd wonder if perhaps the bearing for that belt is shot? I don't think they're very costly, but a bad one will make it squeek like you've described.

If you are doing the water pump, you should be doing your timing belt and tensioner arm too. I'm not a mechanic, but I can't really see what a compression check is going to reveal about your overheating.

The ONLY time my temperature needle ever got past the halfway mark was when my water pump was leaking. Found the car online and went to CT to buy it, drove it home three hours on the highway and, having noticed the temp guage pegged, popped the hood in my driveway and realized all the coolant had leaked out on the way home. This was right after the seller assured me the 60K service had just been done. Shadiest. Dealer. Ever.

Maybe do a search on here for bad thermostat. If that's indeed the problem, you got away cheap.

Its not going to be your thermostat or your waterpump.. The fact that you have hot air coming from your heater shows two things.. one that your thermostat is opening and two that your water pump is moving coolant.. otherwise you wouldnt get hot coolant into your heater core in order for your heater to work. Could be that belt is slipping and not spinning your water pump at proper speeds to maintain proper coolant flow rates.. could be an air bubble trapped in the system. Could be your radiator cap is shot and is allowing coolant to vacate the system at a lower than specified pressure. Lots of possibilities here..

Tunes67

It was the damn belts. Apperently the water pump and power steering pump is so loose it does not turn. I got under the car tonight (cold as hell outside) and spun the belt around the crankshaft pulley by hand. Apperently the water pump and power steering pump is just a token part and just for looks. I didnt realize I had that upgrade.

Tried to tighten the belt but the lower tensioner bolt is rusted and does not turn!! The bolt bent upon attempting to tighten it. The pulley is scathed up as well. Guess I am headed to the junk yard tomorrow.

Does anyone know how much the lower tensioner set up is new??

Hopefully I didnt damage the engine driving it like this.

it can also be that your radiator is getting clogged... if thje belts squak mabe the water pump may be going?