Posted on May 4, 2010.
My father's '96 Dodge Dakota model has been strangely hot and not lose water. <cont in details> He started to run hot when I went to college, the first thing I noticed is that the heater was cold, but the fan was still blowing, and it has been slowly increasing the temperature.
On the way back I found myself outside the city. My father flushed the radiator (non-carbonated pipes), noting that there was rust in it and replaced the radiator cap (corrosion) and the next day I took him.
Hot. Then he turned the thermostat the next day, found all gunky and nasty. He replaced it and flushed the radiator.
Again the same problem when hot. So he flushed the system once again and flushed the radiator hose to the bottom (not soft)
I drove it today, and it's the same thing, still hot. It does not sink in the middle of the truck in front, so dad does not doubt that either the water pump. I had a suggestion of it being the head gasket, it does not think that this is his. But he is perplexed and I am increasingly concerned by the issue of a fever-Dodge!
-Kitsu
If your radiator is full of junk is probably your heater core is plugged you can go out and rinse it good or replace This should solve your problem is not much that can go wrong
The water pump is bad. That is why you do not get hot water for heating, too.
If it was the head gasket or a cracked / warped head, you would lose water through exhaust.
Okay
He blushed and replaced the thermostat. Not too many other options. There may be a small crack in the head causing a rise in temperature. (Hopefully not). I would be looking very closely at that water pump. Looking antifreeze is not good enough. Take the fan holding it with a propeller in each hand and try to "stir" it right to left. If there is ANY movement or "play" to change the water pump. Good Luck.
sounds like the thermostat is stuck.
I had that before and it is just like what you described. cheep but he better get one from the dealer.
If the heater is blowing cool air when the T-stat. is not good. It is probably stuck closed.
if its blowing cold air, then the heater core is clogged, your father may also be because the water pump can malfunction and still no leak, as the wheel can break, but it looks more like the radiator Heating is blocked. you have your father back off your chest. also check the fan to see if his work.
