Overheating - solved for now :)

[minxgirl]

the thermostat is stuck shut, I just tested it...
I will double check the radiator etc when Ive replaced it with a new one and I restart it

[shelldrake]

I had a very similar issue recently where the car would "overheat" randomly. The radiator was a known good item(recored recently), the thermostat was the initial suspect item(Replaced for a lower temperature item - 80 degree), the hoses were fine, it was bled in a similar fashion to mentioned ealier(filled up half cut coke bottle - ran for a little - level dropped down indicating thermostat opening - then cap on.

In the end it turned out to be a dodgy guage. I had two other guages that I plugged in that read as expected while the existing one was off the scale. Now, if I see it "overheat", I can stick my had in the slot where the radio goes and jiggle the connection and the needle comes back into range! (I havent had a chance to replace guage yet)

I used a temperature gun to measure points in the cooling system(top hose at startup, bottom hose, thermostat housing...I could tell when the thermostat opened and closed doing this.

Maybe get yourself another guage - You can plug in the "new" guage without having to actually remove the old guage, by sticking your hand up the back to access plug.

[shelldrake]

Thermostat went in the right way right?

[minxgirl]

The thermostat is buggered - Im just waiting on the boyfriend to come home for lunch in the Lantra so I can go downtown and grab a new one.

But yeah - the guages are pretty tired too I need to replace my oil/alt guage ..

Im pretty sure this will be solved by this arvo once I get the new thermostat in

A big thank you to everyone who has posted thier suggestions in this thread