My Storm starts... runs for 5-10 minutes.. stalls, then steams...

There is NO indication that my 1993 Geo Storm 1.6L SOHC is overheating
according to my temperature gauge on the bezel inside the car.

It runs for 5-10 minutes... dies and won't turn on again until it's
cool; so I think... must be Thermostat. However, the upper rad hose
is hot and the lower one is cool... so.. how could that be?

Anyhow, anybody with ANY suggestions would be a great help.

Thanks!
Scott

:confused:

Possibly a blockage between the two on the temperature sensor side? That's my guess, sounds very strange.

Had system flushed last year when I replaced Water Pump... (I double checked to be sure, NO blockage)... thanks anyhow (seriously)..

Any other tips would be greatly apprecitated... (anything absolutely ANYTHING) it's driving me crazy...

water pump is broken. hope this helps. :cool:

water pump is broken. hope this helps. :cool:



Yes sounds like it, or a blockage like I said. It is probably the water pump though, especially if the temperature gauge is reading normal, it means the coolant isn't moving through the motor. I just find that strange because most vehicles have the temperature sensor in the block or the intake manifold, so it should be getting an accurate reading if the motor is steaming.

its the oil temp sender switching the engine off, or so I believe. it's getting too hot and that shit switches the car right off dude. :(

I find it hard to believe that the Water Pump has already quit... however, does anybody have a SOLID test I can perform to verify that it is INDEED the water pump? ..

And...
Isn't it true that in rare (really rare) cases the water pump can lock-up and
stop spinning with no belt noise or squeeling? I don't think this lasts long though before the belt burns up from friction. Can't the water pump impellers erode away causing no coolant to be circulated? I really don't know much about cooling systems... how can I test these ideas??

Anyone?
:-0

it can do that. what you described is exactly what happened in my cavalier, buick, and numerous other engines I've seen out there with a water pump out. usually the impellor is somehow disconnected from the pulley (broken shaft, etc ) and it will spin but not move fluid. a solid test is to turn the car on with the rad cap off and add fluid.. if the rad overfills rapidly, its the water pump...

I think you're on to something...

Does it neccessarly mean it's the water pump... I mean.. couldn't it be one of the belts connected to the impellers?... is there a way to be sure?

Lemme know,
Thanks!

usually the impellor is connected to the shaft by a set of gears in the smaller fwd engines. the pulley itself can spin but if a shaft is broke the gears won't turn and the impellor will do nada. the more direct SBC style water pumps the impellor will corrode and attach itself to the pump housing and the shaft will disconnect and spin freely without moving fluid.

this is just what i've learned over time. in your case I'd hope it wasn't a water pump but realize they are often the weak link here. :rockon:

I would highly doubt the water pump is bad. When you say it starts, dies, steams, & then won't restart for 5-10 minutes. When you say it wont restart do you mean it will turn over & not start or it wont turn over? It could be a head gasket leak. it might be the water pump, but I highly doubt it. It would not have anything with it dieing.

Could be that as well, are you experiencing white smoke out from the exhaust before it dies?? That could explain why it isn't overheating on the gauge as well.

good point. however, he didn't mention white smoke initially, so a compression test might be in order.

you can also test it by removing the lower hose and throwing it in a bucket of water and seeing if it pulls it up