| From | Message |
DrDakota
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/09/2004
00:33:15
|
 Subject: 3" Body lift, now overheating?
IP: Logged
Message:
2001 4.7L AWD CC...just got a 3" body lift installed (PA) and few hundred miles later it overheats, get on the freeway and all is good, figured the radiator cap was due. So I changed it out. A few hundred miles later, same thing...but twice. It gets real hot, an idiot light go off, I speed it up (like go on the freeway or across a big parking lot) and its all good again. Is it a fluke? Is the t-stat going? Is my Robershaw 160 going south, its only 18 months old? Is it a coincidence that I just had it raised? The bottom hose looks good...is there a problem with having the radiator higher than the engine?
Any ideas or problems of your own?
|
97_blk_dak
GenIII
 
2/09/2004
02:45:05
|  RE: 3
IP: Logged
Message:
I noticed the same thing on mine after I added the bodylift and 180 t-stat. Since I did at about the same time time, don't know which caused it, but I assume that it has to do with the fan not hitting as much of the radiator. I will fool around with it a little more if the problem happens again when it warms up. It hasn't happened since last summer when it was 90+ degrees out.
1997 5.2L V8 4X4 CC
My Pics
|
DrDakota
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/09/2004
13:14:37
| RE: 3
IP: Logged
Message:
The fan actually is across more radiator now than before...I find it hard to beleive thats the problem?!?!? Maybe since the cowl isn't as optimal now? I'm going to back flush and put in a new t-stat (180, 160 was a typo)...see if its just a coincident that it came about when I lifted it.
Anyone else had this prob?
|
Tx-Hop
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/09/2004
15:56:29
| RE: 3
IP: Logged
Message:
Don't the 4.7's also have an electric fan? You might want to see if they left the cowling off the stock fan or maybe the wires came loose on the electric one. Also did you open the radiator durning the lift? As in drain it? You might have air trapped in it.
|
durtydog
GenIII
2/09/2004
17:49:44
| RE: 3
IP: Logged
Message:
i had the same problem in the summer!just like you said the fan covers more of the radiator with the lift so go figure!
my friend just gave me his over sized fan and shroud that was on his durango that he sold!
his durango was overheating due to towing.
he said expect louder fan noise and less power!
the other option is an electic fan.
98 club cab sport 5.2 4x4
busier than a one legged man in an ass kicking contest
|
DrDakota
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/09/2004
21:13:07
| RE: 3
IP: Logged
Message:
Tx-Hop, the electric fan is functioning. I have changed the cap since the lift...the first time it overheated. I beleive I filled it correctly and full...although the radiator being higher than the engine and the confusing coolant path makes me wonder if there isn't some sort of bubble (kinda like 3-mile island for you old guys). Is there something tricky about filling these engines that I overlooked? I just filled in the filler hole and then started it and topped it off, then screwed on the cap...like I've done for years.
|
wildhawk
GenIII
2/09/2004
21:13:23
| RE: 3
IP: Logged
Message:
Doesn't this kit include radiator hose extensions? If so, maybe the hoses/system werent burped properly when everything was refilled and air was trapped in the system. Ive heard of this happening during hose/radiator replacements, but have never actually experienced it. A good radiator flush is certainly cheaper than the cost of overheating damage. Good luck!
|
DrDakota
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/10/2004
11:09:23
| RE: 3
IP: Logged
Message:
Burped properly? Am I missing something? With the engine off I filled it, started the engine and added more, everything was flowing past the filler, looked good, so I capped it. Was I supposed to pat it on the back to burp it (just kidding)....but seriously, did I miss something?
|
draugluin
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/10/2004
14:47:19
| RE: 3
IP: Logged
Message:
Well you can fill it when the engine is off, and everything might look fine, but it still can cause overheating cause of the air pockets.
This is one of the most common problems with new engines when they are built, and set in a car/truck, and often times you have to suck all the air out from the engine through the cooling system. Forget what the tool they use to do that with is called...
But yea, it's probably not a component mistake but an installer mistake. Which is usually what it always is, User Error.
|
wildhawk
GenIII
2/10/2004
15:16:19
| RE: 3
IP: Logged
Message:
My best friends a mechanic, so I double checked with him on this and he recommended the following:
Let the truck warm up to the point where the thermostat is open and then remove the radiator cap. Basicly, your looking to make sure that the water is actually flowing through the system. In rare cases, air can be trapped in the water pump or behind the thermostat and cause the system to stop flowing properly.
Whenever you add radiator hoses, flush the system, etc, you need to make sure that you warm the truck up to the point where the thermostat is open, squeeze the hoses to get the air out of the system and into the top of the radiator and then top off the system. This is what I mean by burping the system. (DrDak - Sounds like you did all this except for squeezing the hoses?)
He also recommended that if nothing else works, you should put a small nail sized hole through the silver outer portion of your thermostat. This will allow air trapped behind it to escape into the top of the radiator. I know this sounds weird, but apparently there are thermostats manufactured with additional small valves specifically for this purpose, though they are rarely used on US vehicles. My buddy worked for years at a shop that specialized in classics and hotrods and apparently they even had a standing order to punch this small hole on all thermostats they installed.
|
durtydog
GenIII
2/10/2004
16:06:37
| RE: 3
IP: Logged
Message:
the filling is not the problem.there is no bleeding the system like on some japan makes!
i think it's the gap from the bottom of the shroud!it takes in air while the fan is pushing it out!
im going to close the gap with rubber mud flap (18 wheeler) and see what happens!
of course when it gets warm here again!
98 club cab sport 5.2 4x4
busier than a one legged man in an ass kicking contest
|
matt
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/10/2004
19:54:56
|  RE: 3
IP: Logged
Message:
I put a 3 in body lift on a 2000 4x4 with the 4.7 3 and 1/2 years ago and it has never over heated. I would say you have air trapped in the rad. and need to run the engine with the rad cap offf till it gets to op temp and fill it up this should take care of your problem.
|
DrDakota
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/11/2004
10:41:31
| RE: 3
IP: Logged
Message:
Well it seems that I was doing everything right. As far as purging the air, etc. When I got down there to check out the T-stat and put in a backflush T (just for good measure) I found out that the guys who lifted my truck did not put in a lower hose extension, they just strecthed the living-bejeezus out of the hose and thusly kinking it. When I inspected the work I noticed a couple of zip ties down there, I just figured it was for insurance to make sure the hose never touched the fan...little did I know the zips where helping the hose kink. Well problem solved and another ars to chew! Thanks for all the input, now I have to head over to ORW on Balboa in San Diego and chew some butt!
|
Sunburn
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/11/2004
19:25:50
| RE: 3
IP: Logged
Message:
I've had my BL on for about a year and I live in the desert (HOT) and never had this problem....
|
DrDakota
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/12/2004
14:20:23
| RE: 3
IP: Logged
Message:
Sunburn- is your hose kinked? Thats the problem, not the BL.
Heres a copy of the letter I sent to ORW...
Dear ORW-
Last December I had a 3" PA body lift installed on my 2001 Dodge Dakota by your install department.
Since then I have had at least 3 occasions when my truck overheated and numerous occasions when it got really hot but did not reach the 'red'.
I first replaced my radiator cap and back flushed my engine. This did not help so last Tuesday I set out to change the thermostat when I came across a kinked and greatly stretched bottom radiator hose that was held away from the fan by 2 zip ties. The hose was so stretched it was tearing and was starting to collapse in the center (even though it has a coiled wire in it) and the end closest to the thermostat was kinked almost completely closed. The zip ties were holding it away from the fan were also causing the kink. When I removed the hose clamps the hose was under so much tension that I'm amazed the radiator wasn't bent or the plastic thermostat housing wasn't broken! I can't believe I spent over $700 for this mess (lift plus install).
The only reason I spent an extra $400 for the install was because I thought ORW was a knowledgeable shop and would make sure all the minor details were covered, i.e. the radiator hoses, fuel hoses, steering linkages, etc.. Now I'm wondering if more stuff is wrong with my install! I now have no faith in ORW's install.
Performance Accessories says that the Dakota kit does not come with a radiator hose extension and suggests that an install of a 21" universal hose is required if an extension is not used. Since ORW does body lift, wouldn't you have radiator hose extensions avaliable or universal hoses available? Your installation department was obviously aware of the problem since they zip tied the hose back, but they chose to jury-rig the problem and pass it along to the customer rather than to fix it!
I paid $400.00, (FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS!!) for that install and you guys didn't even bother with an extension, or a universal fit hose, or even telling me about the kink, or the jury-rigged zip ties. I am very angry for paying ORW $400 for an incomplete and malpracticed install.
I am very displeased with the installation and will never buy another product or use your installation department again. Moreover, not only will I not refer a customer to ORW, I will go out of my way to make sure that none of my off-roading friends become ORW customers. I can't even express how pissed off I am at your complete neglect for a job well done and trying to pass off sub-standard work at such a high price!
A very dissatisfied ex-customer.
|
Ty Browning
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/02/2012
20:45:09
| RE: 3
IP: Logged
Message:
I have a 2004 Dodge Dakota 4.7 v8 and also had a 3 inch body lift put on about a year an a half ago, and haven't had any problems with the lift so far until now!! Reading all these over heating problems and now my truck is over heating the mechanic told me my cap was bad an letting air out and air bubbles were getting, and my upper hose was about to burst!!! Can anybody give me any tips or ideas what else I should do besides placing the cap an upper hose???? Thanks.
-Ty
|
Bucket
GenII
5/03/2012
21:07:36
| RE: 3
IP: Logged
Message:
I don't have an 04 but an upper hose and a radiator cap is a small investment and a good start, could be thermostat or waterpump.Also check the lower radiator hose for a kink since you lifted it, make sure it looks ok, might even swap that one while your at it.
|
Ty browning
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/04/2012
16:05:32
| RE: 3
IP: Logged
Message:
Yeah I probably should replace the lower hose too I'm
wondering if 4 wheel parts didn't put a longer universal hose
when they lifted it an it's stretched and jacked up!!! I hope not!!
|
Bucket
GenII
5/10/2012
20:02:50
| RE: 3
IP: Logged
Message:
Well it's easy enough to crawl under there and have a look.
|
| | P 1 |
|
Post a reply to this message:
Username Registration: Optional
All visitors are allowed to post messages
|
