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1997 Sidekick Sport overheating issues, many new cooling parts

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Offline wildgoody

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Re: 1997 Sidekick Sport overheating issues, many new cooling parts
« Reply #15 on: February 21, 2010, 10:51:17 PM »
Just check it when cold for a few days, and top off as needed
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Offline OneSHOT1337

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Re: 1997 Sidekick Sport overheating issues, many new cooling parts
« Reply #16 on: February 23, 2010, 09:11:13 AM »
I experienced some more overheating this morning.  I noticed the top radiator hose was not pressurized while the reservoir was boiling over so I removed the top radiator hose and indeed it was dry.  I assumed it was the thermostat so I pulled it out and did the stove top check on it.  It opened up no problem.  What could cause the top radiator hose to be bone dry?  There seems to be a lack of flow but I have a new water pump on it and the thermostat functions?

I checked the coolant level before I left and it was full.
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Offline OneSHOT1337

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Re: 1997 Sidekick Sport overheating issues, many new cooling parts
« Reply #17 on: February 23, 2010, 09:36:38 AM »
Maybe the coolant boiled over enough to spill out and thats why the upper hose was dry?
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Offline OneSHOT1337

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Re: 1997 Sidekick Sport overheating issues, many new cooling parts
« Reply #18 on: February 23, 2010, 11:49:01 AM »
Ran a compression test on the motor.

1 - 180psi
2 - 115psi
3 - 175psi
4 - 140psi

I dropped some oil into cylinder 2 and compression jumped up to 270psi.

I assume its a failing piston ring but this should not cause the overheating problem.  Any other suggestions? I'm about to pull this radiator out and have it tested.
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Offline wildgoody

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Re: 1997 Sidekick Sport overheating issues, many new cooling parts
« Reply #19 on: February 23, 2010, 03:28:13 PM »
You could pull the thermostat and run the engine looking for
coolant flow, you might even remove the radiator and use a 5 gal
bucket to run the water into and out of to verify the flow of the
coolant, also try back flushing the system to make sure there isn't
something blocking the small coolant holes in the head gasket.

You have a real stumper there
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Offline jeff1997

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Re: 1997 Sidekick Sport overheating issues, many new cooling parts
« Reply #20 on: February 23, 2010, 08:13:56 PM »
Sounds just like the problems I had. I'm telling you it is the water pump fins spinning on the shaft. You may also check the head gasket. Mine had a very slight leak which allowed an air pocket to develop blocking the flow.
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1997 4dr. Sidekick Sport 1.8L DOHC
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Offline OneSHOT1337

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Re: 1997 Sidekick Sport overheating issues, many new cooling parts
« Reply #21 on: February 23, 2010, 11:11:49 PM »
Quote from: jeff1997 on February 23, 2010, 08:13:56 PM
Sounds just like the problems I had. I'm telling you it is the water pump fins spinning on the shaft. You may also check the head gasket. Mine had a very slight leak which allowed an air pocket to develop blocking the flow.

I replaced the water pump already and the pump that I installed was of much better quality and build than the old one.  It actually worked quite well and kept the car running at idle for almost 25 miinutes, never a tad over 195.  However, After a few days I began seeing overheating on the freeway, which I have never seen since I've had this vehicle.

How did you check your head gasket? I've done head gaskets in the past and would like to avoid doing another but I'm afraid it might come to that.
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Offline jeff1997

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Re: 1997 Sidekick Sport overheating issues, many new cooling parts
« Reply #22 on: February 24, 2010, 06:24:52 AM »
My bro-in-law has a head gasket leak kit. It has dye in it that changes color when exposed to exhaust gas. He checked it and it had a small leak. We changed it and it still ran hot. This was after 3 water pumps, 4 thermostats, 1 radiator, and 2 flushes. It turned out the water pump was still spinning in the shaft. I "fixed" the water pump finally and then removed the "guts" from the thermostat leaving only the ring and gasket. That kept it cool but heat was gone. I only drove it 6-8 miles one way so I never really worried about it.

Believe me I feel your pain.  :( When I was going through this I was about ready to cover it in gas and watch her burn!!
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1997 4dr. Sidekick Sport 1.8L DOHC
2" coil spacers- I make and sell 1.5" and 2" on e-bay.  Look under seller: hoepkers
3" Masterkit1 body lift
Custom strut spacers
31/11.50/16 Super Swamper LTB's w/1.5" wheel spacers Steel bumpers Custom cold air intake 2" exhaust w/cherry bomb 98 Expedition, 2" lift, 35's, Magnaflow exhaust - BIG BLUE
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Bobthebiker

Re: 1997 Sidekick Sport overheating issues, many new cooling parts
« Reply #23 on: February 24, 2010, 08:21:18 AM »
I can tell you from your compression numbers,  its a headgasket.
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Online fordem

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Re: 1997 Sidekick Sport overheating issues, many new cooling parts
« Reply #24 on: February 24, 2010, 06:37:55 PM »
Quote from: Bobthebiker on February 24, 2010, 08:21:18 AM
I can tell you from your compression numbers,  its a headgasket.

I hope you don't mind if I ask - how so?

I can understand two adjacent cylinders being low pointing to a bad gasket (burned between the two), but in this case we have two low with a third high one in between and one of those two low ones comes up in wet test, suggesting it has bad rings (although that 270 sounds a little suspect - I think the upper limit for a J18 would be closer to 200).
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Bobthebiker

Re: 1997 Sidekick Sport overheating issues, many new cooling parts
« Reply #25 on: February 25, 2010, 12:04:00 PM »
a head gasket does not necessarily fail between two cylinders,  they also fail in ways allowing pressure loss externally, or into oil passages, which is entirely possible.   

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Offline OneSHOT1337

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Re: 1997 Sidekick Sport overheating issues, many new cooling parts
« Reply #26 on: February 25, 2010, 03:03:21 PM »
I dont see how my compression numbers reflect a blown head gasket, they are not that low.  The 114psi figure actually jumped to 125 after longer crank time.

I took my radiator to a reputable shop today and they told me that it had signs of clogging.  They estimated 30% clogged and advised replacement or cleaning.  I choose for them to clean it and hopefully this will help.  I am also suspecting my heater core because if the radiator has clogging, I assume its a very real possibility the heater core does too.  I will try to bypass it.
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Bobthebiker

Re: 1997 Sidekick Sport overheating issues, many new cooling parts
« Reply #27 on: February 25, 2010, 04:29:08 PM »
something else that occured to me,   you may have a valve or two out of spec on the tight side, letting it hang open and cause a loss of compression.    I've seen/heard of similar issues on motorcycles,  so its worth looking into this too.
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Online fordem

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Re: 1997 Sidekick Sport overheating issues, many new cooling parts
« Reply #28 on: February 25, 2010, 06:18:40 PM »
Quote from: Bobthebiker on February 25, 2010, 12:04:00 PM
a head gasket does not necessarily fail between two cylinders,  they also fail in ways allowing pressure loss externally, or into oil passages, which is entirely possible.    



I'm not disputing that - what I'm asking is - what, in those compression numbers tells you it's the head gasket - rather than rings or valves.

By the way - unless I'm mistaken the SideKick Sport uses hydraulic lifters - which are not adjustable, chances of the valves being out of spec are not very high.
« Last Edit: February 25, 2010, 06:21:22 PM by fordem »
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