Re: 164 overheated!!

[Bernie & Diana Bennett <bennetts@domain.elided>]

Glenn:
Our 164 L automatic '91 model, used to do that in the rain. The serpentine
belt (alternator would slow / slip and the water pump too) driving 90 miles
at night in the rain would cause dim lights (wipers, & AC and other
electrical drains were too much for reduced alternator output.)

The belt would squeal occasionally during these episodes. One Sunday morning
on vacation in Georgia, a short trip to church caused a gallon and a half
coolant loss. Never any sign of where the coolant went also.  We got the
belt replaced and tightened and never had the problem again.

YMMV, Best Wishes,
Bernie Bennett
Brenham, TX

Glenn Wasserman wrote:

> I am having a problem with my '94 164Q. For the first time, the car
> overheated yesterday morning. I was not a hot day.
>
> The previous day I had smelled coolant after getting stuck in traffic,
> and I made a note to watch the temp gauge carefully next time I drove
> it. Sure enough, the next morning the light went on and I pulled over
> immediately. Luckily I made it to a parking lot where I could look the
> car over easily.
>
> The coolant had bubbled over, but not much - there was a little sprayed
> on the airflow meter, but not a big mess. Interestingly though, the
> overflow tank was completely empty. I ended up pouring in about a gallon
> and a half of a 50/50 coolant/water mix.
>
> Is it possible the low coolant level caused the car to overheat?
>
> I guess the bigger question then becomes, where did all the coolant go?
> There must be a leak somewhere, hence the smell. I didn't see it
> anywhere, and oddly, no drops on my driveway (although this morning,
> after all this, I saw a few drops - can't be from the A/C because I
> haven't used that in a while). I think I would have noticed over the
> last couple of weeks if the car were leaking coolant onto the driveway.
>
> No milkshake in the oil, thankfully...
>
> Can anyone give me any clues on where to look? I will be bringing the
> car into my mechanic ASAP but it may take a couple of days to be able to
> get the car over there.
>
> Thanks,
> -Glenn
>
> '94 164Q (hot-tempered)
> '93 Spider Veloce (cool as a cucumber)
>
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