MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => Maintenance, Problems & Troubleshooting => Topic started by: alxgreen on August 16, 2019, 12:06

Title: 2zz “overheating problem”
Post by: alxgreen on August 16, 2019, 12:06
Sorry if this is long winded but just after some help/advice.
Car randomly overheated the other day when just driving at 30mph to the local shops a few miles away, when I got home checked the coolant and it was fine (full and crystal clear), no leaks on the underside of the car either.

My radiator looked rough so I changed it for a new one and at the same time flushed the system and added new coolant.

But the same thing happened again. When it's stationary and left on for 10minutes it gets up to normal temp but doesn't overheat, however when you start to drive it for more than a mile or so it starts saying it's overheating.

I'm thinking possibly faulty temp sensor or thermostat?

Because the hoses don't feel like they're boiling even when it says they 'are' and the coolant and oil look normal and not contaminated

The swap was done by Rogue last year and not had any problems.

Any ideas? Has this happened to anyone on here?
Title: Re: 2zz “overheating problem”
Post by: househead on August 16, 2019, 12:27
I'm no expert but I'd say check that your rad fan is coming on when the car gets up to normal operating temp.
Title: Re: 2zz “overheating problem”
Post by: jonbill on August 16, 2019, 12:31
Are you going by the dash gauge?
I'd check first with an obd2 reader what the coolant temp is, and I'd check the temp of the head and hoses with my multimeter to confirm.
If you're getting hot water to the rad, I think both water pump and thermostat must be working.
Title: Re: 2zz “overheating problem”
Post by: Carolyn on August 16, 2019, 12:33
Could be a stuck thermostat, limiting circulation.  Or a bad water pump.

Thermostat is more likely.
Title: Re: 2zz “overheating problem”
Post by: 1979scotte on August 16, 2019, 12:34
Sniff test for head gasket
Title: Re: 2zz “overheating problem”
Post by: Dev on August 16, 2019, 15:27
Make sure that your coolant in the reservoir bottle is more than full. One of the major causes of 2ZZ over heating is the position of the engine where the water jackets are seated higher where it can take in air. Fill the coolant above the full line and see if it solves the issue.



Title: Re: 2zz “overheating problem”
Post by: alxgreen on August 20, 2019, 23:58
Update

It was airlock. Someone suggested jacking up the front to bleed the radiator, then jack up the back and take off the cap. I did this twice and it fixed it, driven a few days since nd lol is well. Thanks for the help everyone!
I can relax once more...
Title: Re: 2zz “overheating problem”
Post by: 1979scotte on August 21, 2019, 06:54
Does there not have to be a leak in the system to create an air lock?
Title: Re: 2zz “overheating problem”
Post by: Alex Knight on August 21, 2019, 14:27
Quote from: 1979scotte on August 21, 2019, 06:54Does there not have to be a leak in the system to create an air lock?

Not if you have recently changed your coolant.