Lucida 2.2 Td Automatic Overheating

[stitch2005]

i've recently bought an 93 toyota lucida 2.2td auto now b4 i start i'll tell you me and engines don't go together

i had been recently been having starter problems so i got the starter motor sorted and then 2 days later i get a overheating problem, got intouch with my local garage (and also drinking partner so i know i don't get ripped off) and i drove my car to him with the expansion cap off to reduce overheating.. on arriving at the garage 5 miles later we could not find a problem after 30mins ov revin engine and looking 4 leaks so i went away an happy man.

now today i got the same problem again so yet again waited while it cooled down the refilled the tank and took it for a test drive with the expansion cap off but this time whenit got hot is was throwing water out of the expansion cap like a water fountain.. whilst i was driving it over the past few days i had the heaters on but when he engine was idle it blown cold air but when i set off it would blow warm air until the point of overheatin where the radiator light would come on 4 a bit and as soon as it went of the temp gauge went off the scale and it was sauna time under the bonnet.

i purchased this lucida off my brother whom has had no problems like this before and has all receipts for new engine rebuild costing £1000 20k ago, a new radiator double finned or something like that as well as many other ickle things, i have blead the system but this problem has come back.... am i looking at a thermostat and if so where is it located on my lucida or is it possible the water pump.

if anyone can point me in the right direction you would make a stressed man very happy...sorry 4 going on but i try to give as much information as possible

[stefptycia]

i've recently bought an 93 toyota lucida 2.2td auto now b4 i start i'll tell you me and engines don't go together

i had been recently been having starter problems so i got the starter motor sorted and then 2 days later i get a overheating problem, got intouch with my local garage (and also drinking partner so i know i don't get ripped off) and i drove my car to him with the expansion cap off to reduce overheating.. on arriving at the garage 5 miles later we could not find a problem after 30mins ov revin engine and looking 4 leaks so i went away an happy man.

now today i got the same problem again so yet again waited while it cooled down the refilled the tank and took it for a test drive with the expansion cap off but this time whenit got hot is was throwing water out of the expansion cap like a water fountain.. whilst i was driving it over the past few days i had the heaters on but when he engine was idle it blown cold air but when i set off it would blow warm air until the point of overheatin where the radiator light would come on 4 a bit and as soon as it went of the temp gauge went off the scale and it was sauna time under the bonnet.

i purchased this lucida off my brother whom has had no problems like this before and has all receipts for new engine rebuild costing £1000 20k ago, a new radiator double finned or something like that as well as many other ickle things, i have blead the system but this problem has come back.... am i looking at a thermostat and if so where is it located on my lucida or is it possible the water pump.

if anyone can point me in the right direction you would make a stressed man very happy...sorry 4 going on but i try to give as much information as possible

There's certainly air in your system. I can think of 2 posibilities the first is a cracked head and the second is a blown head gasket. I hope its the second!!

[montydog1966]

prone to cracked heads. use toyota head only and not recon. filling coolant should take about half hour to do on these busses and do not mix toyota red with water as that blocks rad etc. fill coolant using funnel and be patient. air locks in these are a sod to get rid and keep the engin running and squeesing large black rubber pipe under passenger side when filling. if garage says engin needs to be dropped to fix head then go to another one as it can be done in situe. 1200 for new toyota head fitted is the price you will be looking at if its gone. toyota parts all the way. hope it is not the head tho and just a air block.

[propnut]

The chances of it not being the head are remote. Unfortunately these things are being imported by the hundreds into the UK and as monty has stated cracked heads are the one and overriding major problem on these cars. Problem is when you buy one and you are not aware the dealer/seller is hardly likely to offer up this tidbit of info.

Having said that blocked radiators and failed thermostats are not unheard of either so you may want to take the optimistic route and try changing these first. You really should change them anyway and as Monty has said use genuine Toyota parts. YOU CANNOT use the gasket from the PICNIC/COROLLA OR CAMRY, even though they shared the same engine, the head gasket channels are different on the Estima.

Your mechanic friend should be able to do a block test for you. This is done using a special glass tube with a suction bulb and a special fluid. It is placed in your expansion bottle and the engine run. Air from the bottle is then sucked up into the tube through the coloured liquid. If the liquid changes colour it indicates the presence of exhaust gases in the water jacket. This then is 100% guarantee that the head has cracked and trust me it is always the head not the head gasket. The head starts to crakc between the valves on the rear cylinders then the front two. If you let it get to the extreme state the overheating may be so severe that you end up with collapsed bores/pistons and I am afraid the need for a new engine.