My 2000 Tracker just bought is overheating. Flushed system, replaced leaking water pump, new thermostat. Appears to build pressure and acts like not circulating through the radiator or block. Have no circulation through heater core. Have flushed heater core and also just ordered new radiator. I did backflush old but got a lot of gunk from it and flow dreams questionable.
Any other pointers or ideas with similar experiences?
Appreciate any feedback.

 

Radiators are pretty cheap, both in cost and build. Used to be you'd take it out and soak it in a tub of cleaner, and blow/brush the tubes out, but that was when they were brass and aluminum.soldered. Nowadays you just pull em' and recycle the metal, buy a cheap new one made in China as you said.

You may also have a coolant hose where the inner portion has collapsed, cutting the water flow way down so new hoses would fix that. Since your vehicle is 20 years old I hesitate to advise you to put too much pressure to blow the heater core out, as you could cause a leak and those things are a bear to get to on most vehicles. You could run some caustic alkali cleaner and see if that helps, but it's really not good on aluminum and brass, so I wouldn't leave it in there for too long.

 

Water pump okay?

 

Thanks I have flushed the radiator and found lots of crap in it. when I am searching for a new they all have left side hose inlet and outlet and mine has right/passenger side. Frustrating so far.

 

i replaced water pump, fan and clutch. No luck there.

 

I would pull the inlet and outlet hoses to the radiator on your vehicle to make sure they are not an issue. Hopefully, they are and you can simply replace them.

Are there any bubbles coming up to the radiator cap? If so, you may have a head gasket leak. I hope you don't, but if so you can do one of two things:

1 Replace head gaskets and have the heads and block checked for any warpage. Yeah, I would not want to hear this either, but it's a possibility at this point.

2. This is a "last stand" effort but there are a number of companies that sell an "Engine block sealer". You must use clear water with no antifreeze to use these but they perhaps work about 50 percent of the time. Eventually, if you keep the vehicle you will have to repair the head gaskets or the block, After they seal. if they do,. you can add back the anti-freeze/coolant at 50/50 mixture.

It is only a stop-gap measure that will not last for the life of your motor, assuming that you do indeed have a head gasket leak or a block/head warpage issue going on with your Tracker.