overheating issue = now what ???

[RAM MAN]

I'm almost afraid of the answer, but here goes:

Yesterday, I'm on the Interstate driving my van, it's probably mid 80's outside

I'm driving from Pontiac to the Lansing area (65 - 70 miles)

my A/C does not work and I haven't had the time or cash to get it fixed (its something more than a recharge, because we tried that already)

so anyway, I'm buzzing down the Interstate for maybe 45 minutes, and my "CHECK GAUGES" light comes on

sure enough, my temp gauge is almost at 260 ! YIKES

So I turned the heater on full blast to disapate some of that heat, and probably within less than 5 minutes, it's back down to the normal 180ish range

************************************************** *

Now for a little history reminder:

I have a problem from before that still no ones has been able to figure out - and whether this has any direct bearing on my new problem - I don't know for sure ..... but maybe - here's the deal:

I'd say - at least once a day - it runs really rough - by that, I mean it feels like I have a race cam with a wild lope in it, and smells rich - sometimes, it back fires thru the TB, major engine stumble, - and it makes a popping noise (backfire)

like if I put it in drive - it sputters and barely moves at all ...like its on the verge of running out of gas

I've cleaned the IAC

We've done the complete new tune up (air filter, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, ec.)

Seafomaed it

dumped in dry gas // ruling out bad gas, but this has now been going on for probably 6 months now)

vacuum hoses are tight

original cat converter

throws NO CODES

almost everytime it does it, the temp reading is as low as it shows on the dash gauge

V6 - auto - probably just over 99,000 miles now

to make it run right when I have this problem, I shift into neutral, rev the engine (because like it said, its like its flooding with the gas smell) and once that happens, its like your throat is now been cleared out and runs fine for a while after that ....

so thats a recap of the other problem ...

One mechanic said he thought I had a faulty / leaking fuel injector, and his theory is, that it slowly leaks fuel down one cylinder, and thats why it seems to run like a race cam, gas / flooded symptoms etc - while I haven't ruled that out yet, I haven't had all the FI replaced yet either, because he doesn't know for sure that it will fix that problem.

************************************************** *****

OK - back to the heating issue:

I have had a professionally done complete radiator flush (not just the drain the old junk out / rinse / and put new in)

Had a brand new thermostat installed probably 6 months ago

all new antifreeze

new coolant sensor

new upper / lower radiator hoses (you know, the ones with the spring coils inside, so they won't collapse / flex)

I don't burn any fluids of any kind, and this is the first time I've had an overheating issue

Muffler shop says my cat covter seems fine



Do you think there is an internal engine problem ?

Should I have the compression checked ?

What's my next step ?

:help:

[tbirdscott]

Ever replaced your O2 sensors? My car started with similar symptoms a while ago and I finally worked my way down through everything else to that and a 30K old o2 sensor was dead. was giving it way too much fuel at idle and not enough at high speeds.


Scott

[alloro]

Overheating issue:
What's the condition of the radiator and it's age?
Could the belt be slipping and not turning the water pump fast enough?
Any debris in front of the radiator? (Not the A/C evap core, but the radiator itself.)

Stumbling issue:
Yes, it could be an injector.
Yes, it could be a plugged cat, regardless of what the muffler shop says.
Lastly, it could be a stretched timing chain, the chain jumped a tooth, or it has worn timing gears. (This last one is the most likely because of the backfiring.)

[RAM MAN]

thanks for the tips

radiator is stock (its a 2000 Ram Wagon / Van)

no debris

I'll have to get the other stuff checked out

[alloro]

An 8 year old radiator...I think you've found the problem. Replace it and you should be good to go.

I also have a 2000 and had to replace mine last year due to overheating issues on hot days.

[RAM MAN]

what ballpark price should I expect to pay for a radiator ?>

[alloro]

You'll get the best price at one of these two sites. Either one will deliver it to your door anywhere from the same day to a maximum of 2 days.

http://www.radiatorexpress.com
http://www.radiator.com

[dodges 3]

Yuppers I agree on the rad. I had overheating problems, at the end of April. I had recently had my rad properly flushed too. Thing I figured, during the flush, a bunch of crap, probably from bottom of rad, got stuck where it shouldn't be. A new rad, and T-stat. and I was good to go.

[Ram3500Dually]

Before replacing the rad do a flow test on it. Take the rad out and plug the bottom hole with your hand or something like that. Fill rad with water. When full pull your hand off bottom hole. Water should come rushing out and rad be drained in less than 10 seconds. If the water doesn't fly out then the rad is plugged up.