C
christina
Guest
I have a 92 Toyota 4runner with 186k miles. It has been running just fine throughout the summer and fall. With winter here now I tried using the heater and it wouldn't blow any hot air and I noticed that the temperature gauge stays on cold. Figuring it was the thermostat we replaced that first. While doing that we discovered that the old thermostat was missing the whole inner piece, letting the coolant to flow through constantly. I don't know if it broke off but we can't find it in there or if the previous owner cut it off to cover up this problem when I bought it. So we replaced it and now it overheats shortly after it's started. Thinking maybe a faulty thermostat we replaced it with another one and also tried a new water pump. Still overheats. I know that this kind of vehicle has had problems with the head gasket and there was a recall so I checked into it and it was replaced at 88k miles. So it has had a lot of miles put on it since them but it doesn't leak antifreeze or anything so I can't see that being the problem. I noticed that with the thermostat out the radiator is hot, but with the thermostat in the top is hot and the bottom is cool. I am puzzled because why wouldn't it overheat without the thermostat if that's the problem. Any ideas?