Okay guys don't give me to much of a hard time okay!!!

My girlfriend has a 96 Taco 2wd 4 banger with a 126k on it that keeps over heating, or at least the temp gauge keeps saying it is.

First thing I did was give it a Flush the first time it happened, seemed to fix the problem for awhile and then a few weeks later it did it again.

So I put in a new radiator which seemed to fix the problem for a month or so....well now its doing it again?

The reason I say "at least thats what the gauge says" is because the gas gauge is always going from empty to full even with a full tank. And when the gauage says the truck is over heating it goes from red hot to right in the middle where it should be and back and forth again . Which if it is over heating there is no way it could cool down and heat up that fast again.

Do I need to change the water pump? and if so how hard is that on this truck?

Any help would be great guys thanks

buy a real gauge and see what the temp is for real :shaking:

buy a real gauge and see what the temp is for real :shaking:

And where would I plug that gauge into in order to find out if it is over heating or not?

thx

they come wih a temp sender

Thank you sir..

I'd also replace the thermostat, and check/replace the temp sender and check the wiring for shorts.

For sure, if I have to replace the water pump I will do everything.

However I have never done a water pump change, how hard is it? looks like just take off the belts and I should be able to pull the old one out and then put the new one in correct?

Thx guys

Jeremy

I have found that investing in a $90 hand held temp gun comes in pretty handy, its wayyy faster and easier than installing an aftermarket temp gauge to just check to see if the stocker is working.

2rz's are not known for cooling or head problems unless you have not serviced the cooling system.

I would be checking for short to ground between the coolant temp sensor and the guage.

I have found that investing in a $90 hand held temp gun comes in pretty handy, its wayyy faster and easier than installing an aftermarket temp gauge to just check to see if the stocker is working.

2rz's are not known for cooling or head problems unless you have not serviced the cooling system.

Well im glad that somebody must actually have fixed an automobile in their life!! I do agree, buy a cheapy hand held, i think harbor freight even sells them now for about 40$. If the temp tester shows less than 200 than you most likley have a wiring problem, and it sounds like you do, from the other symptoms that you are expereincing, but dont waste your engine or more money on parts you dont need properly diagnose the problem and fix it!