Overheating issues after timing belt change ... 91 ix

[EA8]

I just got around to changing my timing belt and water pump last night and all went well until I turned the car on. If I leave it long enough, it over heats and the heater inside the car is only pushing cold air. The driver side of the radiator gets hot while the passenger side remains cool.

I have done a couple of searches on here and it seems that "air in the system" is the culprit and I just wanted to double check to make sure that it wouldn't be something else. Thanks in advance for any insight into this ...

Cheers
EA

[EA8]

Also ... I can't get the bleed screw off and the last mechanic that had worked on it (not under my watch) stripped it to hell. Any tips??

[accident]

vice grips on the screw, or replace the thermostat housing. definitely sounds like air in the system

[blackhawkimpact]

Yep. You nee to bleed your system

[jlevie]

Yep, you need to bleed the cooling system (procedure below) and that means having an operative bleed screw. If only the head is stripped, vice grips may get it out and a new screw (from a dealer) installed. But the screw may be seized in which case a new thermostat housing is needed.

1) Using ramps or a jack get the front of the car 1' or more higher than
the rear. That will make the radiator and bleed screw the highest point
on the engine and facilitate removal of air.

2) With the bleed screw open, add coolant until no more air comes out of
the bleed.

3) Leave the filler cap off, or at least loose, and set the heat for max
temp and fan speed. Leaving the cap loose will prevent air that's still
in the system from causing a "coolant fountain" once the engine heats
up. Start the engine and allow it to warm up to operating temp. As it
warms up occasionally crack the bleed screw to release any air and top
up the coolant as necessary.

4) Once the engine is at temp bring it up to 2000-2500 for a few seconds
several times. Then crack the bleed until no more air is released. At
this point the heater should be throwing lots of hot air, which
indicates that the heater core is filled with coolant. You may have to
repeat this a few times to get all the air out.

5) Drive the car a bit, allow it to cool back down, and recheck the
bleed for air. Over the next few days you may get very small amounts (a
few bubbles) of air out of the bleed screw.

[EA8]

sweet ... just what I thought. I'm planning to get around to it this evening and I'll keep you guys posted. Hopefully that screw will come loose, otherwise a new thermo housing will do. Cheers