97 Astro Van

[GWguy]

More likely, it could be caused by the pistons pushing air into the water system thru a crack in the head/manifold/head gasket. I seem to remember this happening to a company Ford Escort we had with an in-line transverse mounted 6. I'll ask my office guy tomorrow what the resolution was, if he remembers.

River, I talked with our office manager. Our Taurus had weird problems, like you could hear gurgling in the heater core, the temp gauge would jump sky high and then come back down again... turned out to be a blown head gasket. It was allowing air into the water jacket. When the gauge jumped up, it was because the temp probe was in steam, not water.

I'd look for signs of a blown head gasket. Look for signs of contamination in the radiator. Check the oil for signs of water (usually a tan to brown sludge). Use a radiator pressure tester to see if the system holds pressure.

Best I can offer without seeing it. Hope that helps.

 

[Homer J]

I am not trying to be funny but I have heard of bleeding brakes , cooling system, never.


Please DO TELL

I had a '96 Intrepid that had a bleeder screw right in the thermostat housing. Same kind that the brakes have. Didn't have anything to help with hitting a deer though.

 

[river rat]

Well, the Van had been running good for a few days.

Then it threw the serpentine belt. Bill thinks something locked up on it right before this happened.
He got a new belt to put on yesterday, so I am waiting to see if he makes it in to work.

This is nuts, man.

 

[clevalley]

I would pull the gas cap, drive the van away, drive a new one in its place and screw on the old gas cap... that should fix it!

I would bet a warped head or manifold. Since the problem is intermittent and sounds heat related - the hotter is gets, the more it warps, the more the problem manifests.

 

[morningbell]

I voted for Jack-in-the-box because they have hamburgers...