CAEMI

Put a new radiator in last night. Went out this morning to fill, drain, refill and it won't fill. I let the engine run until it reached "operating temp" per the temp gauge but the thermostat either did not open or there is an air blockage or something. In any case, NO CIRCULATION.

Anybody got an idea? Is there some weird voodoo I've got to do?

RoyalXJ

you try driving it?

CAEMI

I'm afraid to let it get that hot - the gauge was climbing toward the red zone when I shut down.

Haynes manual says run it until the top hose is not...but that spooks me more than a little. Don't know what to do. It won't take flow from the hose at the radiator fill cap and does not suck back from the overflow bottle.

RoyalXJ

are you trying to fill the radiator from the over flow bottle ??

JeepingDan

Take the heater hose off the thermostat housing and fill it into the block.
it's the 5/8 hose not the radiator hose.
Thats the best way I found on my own.

CAEMI

That's what the Haynes manual says to do...but I tried both filling from the radiator neck and I filled the bottle. The top hose is not hot like fluid running through.

And I only drained the radiator, not the block. I planned to fill it up, check for leaks, drain, and re-fill with good fresh mix and call it good....but the dang thing won't take water.

What am I doing wrong?

RoyalXJ

try replacing your thermostat. sounds like its failed

TrekkerJmm

Sounds like the T Stat to me also. I would put the "Prestone" flush kit ($3.99) in and flush the entire system out and by putting that kit in it will also allow you to "Burp" the system of air...Tj

CAEMI

I can't imagine the thermostat failing in the two hours that elapsed between pulling the old radiator out and installing the new one. The statistical odds against this must be a million to one. The cooling system worked perfect until a little tiny leak sprung from the passenger side tank seam.

RoyalXJ

pull the thermostat and try it without. if it works then you know what the problem is.

TrekkerJmm

Just gotta rule out the obvious & cheapest first and go from there. You can try "burping" it also...Tj
http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/...BurpAirMod.htm

CodeXJ

You say it has no circulation? I'd lean towards the t-stat being stuck closed or a failed water pump.

javatrooper

Just did the same thing.. the neck slants downwards. You can stick in a wire to break the air bubble but it takes forever. Jack up the rear end to level the filler neck. It will take fluid then.

CAEMI

Yep. That's what I wound up doing. Stuck a skinny necked long transmission fluid funnel in there and filled it. It must have a 90 degree corner or something in there that creates an air trap.

I also pulled the heater hose and filled from there until I got backflow. That worked well, too, up to the point it sprayed back.

I also learned there must be a transmission fluid resevoir in the radiator because now I'm down a quart.

RoyalXJ

thats your trans cooler