Radiator flush..I may have a problem..

[EXTRPR50]

Hey fellas, My 93 notch with 5spd/5-0h and 91k miles is having Major overgeating probs. After 2 minutes of driving, the temp guage, which is usually right on, rockets upward. I see a small puddle below the water pump area, and the wp is literally smoking hot. Some smoke comes out of a little hole at the top of the wp.
Could my recent, 1 month ago, radiator flush have loosened up some crap and clogged something? Because before this flush, the car was great with ac blasting in the florida heat. Thanx alot. What to check first?

 

[Black Sun 5.0]

Could be the case. Sounds like you need a new water pump. I'd also replaced the t-stat while I was at it, install a 180* if you haven't already.

 

[Fett]

Did you feel the two hoses? Right before the thermostat opens the lower hose should be hot, but the upper hose should be much cooler. If it isn't, then something is blocking the flow, most likely problem is the thermostat itself. Beyond that, it could be blockage, or the water pump isn't moving the water.

If I were you, I would go ahead and first remove the thermostat housing and replace the thermostat, if it is moving fine and nothing is blocking the passage, you might want to go ahead and replace the pump at the same time. Depending on the age of the water pump, you might as well go ahead and plan on replacing both anyway. As mentioned above, if you go with a 180* thermostat, it will open sooner. The thermostat and pump are cheap enough, and both are easy enough to replace.

 

[97gsr]

you could also take off the belt and see if the water pump shaft rotates smoothly. if not then your impeller shaft could have broke not allowing any coolant to move through the system. was the weap hole on the water pump leaking at all. you can usually see a trail of fluid from the hole. if that is the case then i would replace the water pump and t-stat while you are in there. before you put the new t- stat in i would check to make sure that it opens up at the correct temperature also.

 

[EXTRPR50]

how do I check that? In a boiling pot of water or something?

 

[ninety15.0]

yup toss it in a boiling pot of water with an accurate cooking thermometer. good luck man

 

[Mustang5L5]

Your water pump is toast is coolant is coming out of the weep holes. Time for a new one. It would cause the overheating problem in itself