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MD11Fr8Dog
08-21-2003, 09:28 PM
Drove down to my one of my favorite fishing spots in my 92 Trooper this morning, its about a 20 min drive from home with the last 2 miles on a narrow, bumpy dirt road. Just as I was approaching my parking spot I noticed water spray on my windshield. I looked up to so no rain and when I looked back out the front I saw the steam!!! :(

No sense in wasting time waiting for it to cool down, so I put on my boots and vest and rig up my fly rod and have a grand time - 20" rainbow on a hopper . :flipoff2:

Time to go home, so I start up the truck and move to a spot with easier access to the river. Using my paper coffee cup from this morning's breakfast I top off the radiator - needed alot. I also inspect where the steam was coming from a little more closely and note that it looked like it was coming from the upper driver side of the radiator.

I've been running hot off and on these past 3 summers, mostly when climbing. This was the first time it actually overheated, it ususally just gets close to the H. Last summer I had the fan clutch replaced, but this spring during a servicing, I had an Isuzu shop tell me it could use replacing. The "new" fan clutch last summer did seem to help, I used to get hi temps when parked and idling, so I just ran with. The dealer also checked my t-stat this spring as well, and told me it was fine, and flushed my system.

As I was still having some overheating issues this summer, I was contemplating a new radiator, swapping that fan clutch back out, electric fan, etc. Well, I was kinda forced today. When I got home, I went to flush the system to get that river water out and noted that there was water on the front of the radiator again from the drive home. So I figure a leak and pull the radiator. While I'm at it I pull the t-stat.

The radiator had a ton of crap on it. Also, it looked like about 5-6 areas where there may have been leaks based on corrosion, including the place where it looked like the steam was coming from and the " steam leak" appeared. This was the worst spot of corrosion.

This brings up the question - recore/repair this radiator, or just get a new one? Price to expect for a new one?

Also, I checked the t-stat, and assuming that my thermometer is correct (the meat always comes out right out of the oven!! :cool:), the t-stat opened well above 170*F (76.5*C stamped on the t-stat). In fact it was well over 180*F and approaching 200*F (almost boiling here at 7000ft). Anyway, get a new t-stat right? And the fan clutch while I'm at it, eh??

One last question, where is the drain for the block, or is there just the drain on the radiator (which was a pain in the a$$ to find :rolleyes:)?

Thanks, sorry for the length!!

Berg
10-14-2004, 02:14 PM
Hey sean..
what did you find out?
We have the same problem on a 92 Tooper.
where is the radiator drain plug that is so hard to find?

I'm thinkin water pump is toast but not sure..

berg

MD11Fr8Dog
10-14-2004, 08:53 PM
Hey sean..
what did you find out?
We have the same problem on a 92 Tooper.
where is the radiator drain plug that is so hard to find?

I'm thinkin water pump is toast but not sure..

berg

I ended up with a new fan clutch, new radiator and new t-stat. The truck makes ice now!! ;) I just sold the truck last month though! The drain plug is on the passenger side of the radiator all the way over. Look hard, its there! Mine was rusted closed, a bear to open and clogged.

Berg
10-14-2004, 11:32 PM
Thanks sean..

Found the drain plug but the petcock is broken off with no way to turn it(plastic).
Took the t-stat out and that cooled her down. T -stat would not open even in 212* water.
BTW.. what did you sell your for. Thinking it's time to sell ours.
needs CV boots
radiator petcok fix
power steering gear leaks
112k and have not done the timing belts.

Nice to know what a 92 might fo for.

berg

MD11Fr8Dog
10-19-2004, 11:20 PM
Thanks sean..

Found the drain plug but the petcock is broken off with no way to turn it(plastic).
Took the t-stat out and that cooled her down. T -stat would not open even in 212* water.
BTW.. what did you sell your for. Thinking it's time to sell ours.
needs CV boots
radiator petcok fix
power steering gear leaks
112k and have not done the timing belts.

Nice to know what a 92 might fo for.

berg

Sold it in town for $2500. I originally asked $3200/obo, no calls, then lowered to $2750, got one call and was satisfied with $2500. It had 154K and a bunch of new stuff (cd player, speakers, rad, tstat, fan clutch, starter, windshield, rims, tires, etc.) and 2" Indy4X4 lift w/ Rancho 5000 shocks. Went to a local girl and she is thrilled to have a 4wd. She is a local reporter for the local news rag, and she took a couple other offthe female reporters 4 wheeling. She was all excited and couldn't wait to tell me they got mud all over the truck!! ;)