having some cooling isues on my fc

db86na · 01-01-2012, 08:51 PM

how do u tell if the water pump went bad?. so im driving today and my coolant buzzer goes off so i pull over and fill it up and go to burp it but it just keeps overflowing out the fill neck and wont stop and what sounds to me is the water pump making a grinding noise

db86na · 01-01-2012, 09:19 PM

it kinda seems like a bad bearing in the pump but when i turn by hand it feels good

LunchboxCritter · 01-01-2012, 09:23 PM

Could the thermostat be stuck shut?

db86na · 01-01-2012, 09:27 PM

would i still get heater if it was

NoDOHC · 01-01-2012, 11:28 PM

Unfortunately, I think that your issue is far deeper than a thermostat (deeper in the engine I mean). I think that you are describing the textbook symptoms of blown coolant seals. The coolant seals typically last about 200,000 miles or 20 years and then they fail. This is usually triggered by an overheating event, but not always.

The coolant seals keep the coolant in the water jacket and out of the combustion chamber. Depending on where in the cycle they fail, the engine may only run on one rotor for a little while after startup until the second rotor has cleared the water out. In extreme cases you may hydrolock (although I have never seen this one).

Basically, coolant seal failure is closest to a head gasket failure on a piston engine.

Your options:
Cry - Won't help much, but you may feel better
Try bars-leak or something similar - this is not a permanent fix, but may buy you a couple thousand miles
Get a used engine and put it in - probably the easiest and least expensive
Buy some $150.00 coolant seals and rebuild the engine yourself - This will cost more than $150.00 and will take a long time for your first time, you could port it while you have it apart...
Get another engine with blown apex seals and make the two into one - I really don't recommend this, but I have seen this work at least twice.

db86na · 01-02-2012, 12:42 AM

it starts on both rotors and has no smoke or acting strange and it never overheated temp was 1/4 way up on the gauge but i didnt even notice the belt was a little loose at first tightend it up and started it and noise was gone but ill check it out more in the morning when engine is cold

RETed · 01-02-2012, 04:50 AM

Start with the small, easy stuff and work your way "upwards"...

http://fc3spro.com/TECH/PROBLEMS/P1/...OT/coolant.htm

If the thermostat is stuck, check the core of the radiator with your hand CAREFULLY.
The core of the radiator should be evenly hot when the thermostat opens.
If the bottom of the radiator (by the lower radiator hose) isn't as hot at the top (by the upper radiator hose) this is a possible sign the thermostat is bad.
The above also would indicate a blockage in the radiator core and / or something wrong with the water pump.

Easy test to see if the thermostat is working or not - throw it in a pot of boiling water.

-Ted

db86na · 01-03-2012, 03:31 PM

did some work today on the fc pulled water pump apart and found a nasty thermostat and also my nasty water pump, im hoping this was my grinding problem and has a bad bearing it was so hard to turn the blades at first then it spun freely

RETed · 01-03-2012, 03:37 PM

I don't like the color of the coolant...
Hope you're going to flush the system very thoroughly...

-Ted

db86na · 01-03-2012, 04:01 PM

oh yes i am gonna replace thermostat and water pump and do a full coolant flush, can i just use some 1211 for a water pump gasket, and when i turn the timming pully by hand i dont have any grinding or any weird noises but the pump feels a bit sloppy that has to be my problem

Raksj04 · 01-03-2012, 09:27 PM

Is that from rust in the system???

db86na · 01-03-2012, 09:34 PM

yes sir this thing has been sitting in a feild since 1996 up intell 4 months ago and the owner i got it from never flushed anything now i have to deal with the problems

Raksj04 · 01-03-2012, 10:15 PM

If your blower motor vibrates on the highest setting $10 says its a dead mouse or other rodent like animal.

db86na · 01-03-2012, 10:21 PM

well there was a ton of mouse terds under the interior when i pulled to paint it but back to the question has any one had a bearing go out in there water pumps and makes a grinding noise

RETed · 01-04-2012, 04:37 AM

The water pump tends to puke it's seal and leak through the weep hole before it gets to kill the bearing...

With the fact that the car was sitting around for so long, it's no surprise the water pump bearing is toast.

"1211"?
Dunno what that is...

-Ted

01-01-2012, 08:51 PM	#1
db86na Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: spokane wa Posts: 47 Rep Power: 0	having some cooling isues on my fc how do u tell if the water pump went bad?. so im driving today and my coolant buzzer goes off so i pull over and fill it up and go to burp it but it just keeps overflowing out the fill neck and wont stop and what sounds to me is the water pump making a grinding noise

01-01-2012, 09:23 PM	#3
LunchboxCritter Simply Rotarded Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 166 Rep Power: 17	Could the thermostat be stuck shut? __________________ LunchboxCritter - 91 NA to J-Spec TII - 88 FC Vert - 04 Rx8 Disclaimer: I am not a mechanic, and I did not sleep at a Holiday Inn. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!!

01-01-2012, 11:28 PM	#5
NoDOHC The quest for more torque Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sheboygan, Wisconsin Posts: 855 Rep Power: 17	Unfortunately, I think that your issue is far deeper than a thermostat (deeper in the engine I mean). I think that you are describing the textbook symptoms of blown coolant seals. The coolant seals typically last about 200,000 miles or 20 years and then they fail. This is usually triggered by an overheating event, but not always. The coolant seals keep the coolant in the water jacket and out of the combustion chamber. Depending on where in the cycle they fail, the engine may only run on one rotor for a little while after startup until the second rotor has cleared the water out. In extreme cases you may hydrolock (although I have never seen this one). Basically, coolant seal failure is closest to a head gasket failure on a piston engine. Your options: Cry - Won't help much, but you may feel better Try bars-leak or something similar - this is not a permanent fix, but may buy you a couple thousand miles Get a used engine and put it in - probably the easiest and least expensive Buy some $150.00 coolant seals and rebuild the engine yourself - This will cost more than $150.00 and will take a long time for your first time, you could port it while you have it apart... Get another engine with blown apex seals and make the two into one - I really don't recommend this, but I have seen this work at least twice. __________________ 1986 GXL ('87 4-port NA - Haltech E8, LS2 Coils. Defined Autoworks Headers, Dual 2.5" Exhaust (Dual Superflow, dBX mufflers) 1991 Coupe (KYB AGX Shocks, Eibach lowering springs, RB exhaust, Stock and Automatic)

01-01-2012, 09:19 PM	#2
db86na Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: spokane wa Posts: 47 Rep Power: 0	it kinda seems like a bad bearing in the pump but when i turn by hand it feels good

01-01-2012, 09:27 PM	#4
db86na Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: spokane wa Posts: 47 Rep Power: 0	would i still get heater if it was

01-02-2012, 12:42 AM	#6
db86na Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: spokane wa Posts: 47 Rep Power: 0	it starts on both rotors and has no smoke or acting strange and it never overheated temp was 1/4 way up on the gauge but i didnt even notice the belt was a little loose at first tightend it up and started it and noise was gone but ill check it out more in the morning when engine is cold

01-03-2012, 04:01 PM	#10
db86na Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: spokane wa Posts: 47 Rep Power: 0	oh yes i am gonna replace thermostat and water pump and do a full coolant flush, can i just use some 1211 for a water pump gasket, and when i turn the timming pully by hand i dont have any grinding or any weird noises but the pump feels a bit sloppy that has to be my problem

01-03-2012, 09:27 PM	#11
Raksj04 I have Ultra power in me. Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 457 Rep Power: 14	Is that from rust in the system???

01-03-2012, 09:34 PM	#12
db86na Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: spokane wa Posts: 47 Rep Power: 0	yes sir this thing has been sitting in a feild since 1996 up intell 4 months ago and the owner i got it from never flushed anything now i have to deal with the problems

01-03-2012, 10:15 PM	#13
Raksj04 I have Ultra power in me. Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 457 Rep Power: 14	If your blower motor vibrates on the highest setting $10 says its a dead mouse or other rodent like animal.

01-03-2012, 10:21 PM	#14
db86na Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: spokane wa Posts: 47 Rep Power: 0	well there was a ton of mouse terds under the interior when i pulled to paint it but back to the question has any one had a bearing go out in there water pumps and makes a grinding noise