Patrick said:
My 1985 Subaru GL Hatchback runs hot
hot too at times. I been told that the water pump needs to be replaced
but that was about 3 years ago---still have not
replaced it. I suggest you remove the
water pump and check it out!!
The experienced owners of the 80's decade Subarus will tell you to
eliminate the easy stuff first, and if nothing obvious (bad cap, fans
not working, bad thermostat, obvious leaks, etc.), do not pass go, do
not collect $200, replace the radiator. To delay that will eventually
lead to gradually more overheating and you having to replace the heads
(not cheap - BTDT).
It would be very unusual for the water pump itself to be the cause of
the problem you are having on that vehicle.
Those radiators have very small tubes, and once they clog, flushing is
almost never successful. Also, the radiator's external cooling fins
corrode away and also get clogged with sand and bugs. You cannot
correct the corroded fins, and if your time is worth anything, by the
time you could hope to get a fraction of the bugs and sand out (and
still only be marginally improved when you finished), you could put a
very good aftermarket radiator in.
Check with
www.radiator.com. You should expect to pay around $105 to
$150. Ask if they have a double-row to fit your car. That would be
better than the standard single-row and worth the extra $10 or $15 of
added cost.
Use only distilled water and recommended coolant, and change by a
schedule according to the type of coolant to stretch the life of the new
radiator.
Bill Putney
(to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with "x")
