ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: TysonS on May 19, 2006, 10:29:23 PM
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Hey,
I have a 91 1.6 sidekick and it overheats when in tight trails in for low,... and gets to about 3/4 on the gauge on the hwy when it is about 35C out side?
Termostate checked
Clutch fan is good
what else?
thanks
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The first thing I would do is backflush the cooling system and change the coolant. If it has never been backflushed there could be quite a bit of junk floating around in there. In addition, it could be a worn water pump that isn't working as efficiently as it should. Try the backflush first (much easier and cheaper than a water pump) and see if that helps.
Dave
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You can also take the thermostat out completely for warm weather so the water just circulates all the time. We used to notch the rad cap seal as well so it was no longer under pressure.
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I had a similar problem on my 91 and found that the clutch fan wasn't locking up properly. I removed the stock fan and put on an electric fan from an A/C equiped Kick and it seems good unless I'm working it's guts out for extended periods of time.
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just thought i would give a update.
I got a electric fan from a 3.0L Ford Taurus and it cools nice and quick.
I now have the mechanical fan for on the street and when off road I turn on the electric and it cools nicly
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thats what i have on my truck also. works great around town and stuff and soon as we hit the trails the electric comes on - no more overheating :D
derek
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I have just replaced my thermostat with 160 degree setup. Helps keep the kick cooler overall. I plan on installing an electic fan from an old civic.
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FIRST check your radiator cap if its not holding proper pressure it will run hot and can cause over heating if all is good you can buy water weter its used in street rods it will lower your tep 10 to 20 degrees
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Some good suggestions here. If everything is in good condition, I wouldn't take the thermostat out or notch the cap gasket, tho. Also make sure the radiator is clean outside--too many bugs and dirt or whatever or bent fins will reduce the efficiency of the radiator.
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my mother had a Mazda B-2600, that engine disliked thermostat's not made by mazda.
when driwing in the 4LOW gears the engine started overheating :'( causing the engine to crack.
expensive replacement parts +all the work >:(
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Mine has never broken a sweat. Never. But a fellows with us trail riding a couple of weekends back was overheating. I thought it was his fan clutch.. but I haven't heard back yet.
Clogged radiator from mud/sand/silt outside
Clogged with gunk inside
weak water pump
Fan clutch
Thermostat flow is low, even though it "checks out"
incorrect antifreeze-water mixture (believe it or not, I have seen engines that wanted it right, rare)
Slipping belt not driving fan/waterpump (general, not sure if it pertains to these little engines..lol)
I am betting your radiator is a bit clogged, as although the electric fan helped out, these little engines, when the cooling system is functioning correctly, do not over heat.
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If the electric fan helped, then the radiator and
thermostat are OK, Fan Clutch is my bet, who
want's odds ???
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No, my clutch fan is fine. I think it is the water pump because it is the stock water pump from just over 250 thousand km's ago?
How much is a water pump?
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Just curious to know how you know your fan clutch is fine?? How did you check it?
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it's easy, before you start engine -turn the fan, it should give little resistance.
start engine, drive the engine until it is hot.
on some cars you can hear it start. if not, stop the engine and trye to turn the fan.
if your fan is stuck -your fan is in good shape. if it feels like before you started -get an electric fan OR...
-do like my father, he filled the chlutch assembly with fine, dry sawdust ;D
inexpensive upgrade.
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Something I came across was by the time I had put a winch in my bumper, lights in front of the grille and a guard underneath, on the really hot days here it started to overheat. I resolved the problem when I had a good look around and realised that after I had put the bodylift in what little cooling air coming in was able to go over the top of the radiator due to the size of the gap I had now created. When I glued some foam rubber on the top to seal it with the hood the issue went away. ;D I notice that you list yourself as having a 3" bodylift so it may be something for you to consider. You could also look at putting a cool collar on your oil filter to help cool the oil as cooling the oil can have a big impact on temps. It's a relatively cheap and easy thing to try if all else fails.
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i was told to check the clutch to spin the fan and if it spins freely then the clutch is worn out.
if it only spins a few inches after letting go then it is fine
That oil fliter cooler think sounds like a good idea, how much are those?
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That oil fliter cooler think sounds like a good idea, how much are those?
+1!
it sounds like a good idea, not only for suzuki's :)
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i was told to check the clutch to spin the fan and if it spins freely then the clutch is worn out.
if it only spins a few inches after letting go then it is fine
That oil fliter cooler think sounds like a good idea, how much are those?
Nope, that is not a good way to test a fan clutch. You have to get the engine HOT and see if the clutch engages. If it engages, it will HOWL like a frozen fan clutch. There are a couple of ways I test a fan clutch, one is too dangerous to post, and kinda stupid too.. lol.. another is to put a sheet of cardboard in front of the radiator, with a hole in the center, about the size of the clutch on the fan. Run the engine till it starts getting hot. Listen to the fan.. if it isn't howling, or hasn't changed pitch and started pulling a lot of air.. the fan clutch is BAD. That way works pretty good. The best thing to do is just replace the damn clutch and be done with it. I BET it's worn out.
Just wondering if you even checked it while hot?? or when it overheated?? The fan clutch can be cleaned too, might make it start working again. There is a bi-metal device that locks up the clutch at high temperatures, and you can't check it by giving it a spin and seeing where it stops.
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no, i have never checked it when hot, it could be dirty because i have driven it through some deep dirty water holes.
Thanks alot, I will look at that when i get my interior back together.
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No Prob. Yeah, the most important time for a fan clutch to work, is when it's hot.
Do this at least. BEFORE you start it, spin it, and see how much resistance there is. THEN get it hot, don't OVER heat it, but get it pretty hot, like right before overheating. STOP THE ENGINE.. (lol) and then see how much resistance there is. If it is not quite a bit more resistance, then your fan clutch is probably bad or getting weak. See if there is any silicone fluid leakage, most are filled with silicone fluid, and have a bi-metal device that locks it up when it get very hot. Some are different in operation, but all should pull more air when they "sense" hot air flow from the radiator.. not normal operating temp, but HOT.
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I have heard of people welding the mount to the fan so the fan is aways ingajed.
i don't think i have enought money to buy a new one.
After buying my 31x10.50x15 BFG M/T's with Ford Bronco Rims and all the parts for my lift i have only 15 dollors left, and thats for gas ;D
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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, you can't just weld the fan up..
the fan will rob TONS AND TONS of power if it spins all the time.
If the electric fan is working for you.. go with it.
Fan clutch is about $90.00.. or you might get lucky at a junkyard..
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Is there a way to have an electric fan turn on and off automatically similar to the way the clutch fan works? I'm just curious - because I wouldn't want it to run all the time, and I wouldn't want it on a switch that I would have to turn on when I see it getting warm...
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Sure, you can get thermostatically controlled electric fans, most of them are I believe. OR, you could put it on a switch easily enough.
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mine just runs on a toggle switch and it work good. 90.00 :-[
I think i will stick with my electric