I have the v6, 160xxx, 5 spd.

I started it up and it was idling high. I drove it cold around the block and it was bucking a little bit and when i would punch the gas nothing would happen. I think it is a throttle position sensor type deal. But then out of nowhere it overheated and when i parked it was pouring coolant out from under the radiator somewhere. It has never even so much as ran above normal temperature even for a minute.. I am unsure if the two are related but I wanted to pick your brains. Ill have to look at it tomorrow because it is too late tonight.

 

Ok so i started to look at it today. The mounts on the side of my radiator broke and pushed the rad into the lower hardlines that run by under the fan. Im going to replace the radiator first.

As far as the throttle response is concerned I am having thoughts that because the cooling system failed it is not letting coolant into the engine and it is malfunctioning because of that. I recently changed the oil, but I didn't change the wires or plugs. Im gonna do a tune up as well and hopefully that corrects it.

Any other thoughts or information from anyone would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

Just put the new radiator in today. Filled it up. No heat still. Engine idles erratically still. I did not put the new plugs and wires on yet, I figure they are not part of the problem for now..

Thoughts:

Head gasket
Thermostat
Water pump


Anyone have any ideas at all?

 

Just kidding.

Its fixed now. I read around the site a little bit and got a few ideas.

Heres what I think went down:

Rad supports broke.
Rad pushed into hardlines and punctured.
Engine got airbound in the cooling system and caused erratic idle/throttle response.

I took the top radiator hose off and poured about half a gallon into the motor directly.
After I started it it idled perfectly and the heat was hotter then it has ever been.

 

Thanks for this little tutorial. I am having the same issues as you were: overheating, erratic/high idling, etc.

I'm going to attempt the same fix as you, as I have already ruled everything else out, even replaced the radiator cap in hopes it was just faulty (and 20 years old).

Thanks!

 

LOL forgot about this. You were kind for calling it a tutorial. I just kind of talked to myself in a thread ha.

How'd you make out?