Car Has Lost Its Mind

[hacknfrack]

This is possibly/probably related to another thread I have going: http://www.beretta.net/board/ib3/ikonbo ... ;f=8;t=796

Tonight when driving my car home ('90 base model 2.2L 4-cylinder), it started overheating according to my thermostat.  The needle climbed up into the top quarter of the guage., almost touch the red/orange and then my fan would kick on and the needle would drop.  Normally my needle never climb above half.

Conbined with this, I turned on the vent and turned it to hot and it would cycle between blowing out warm air and cold air (it's 34 degrees outside right now).

The engine is also sounding excessively loud and low.

Clues as to what is going on?

[94beretta]

maybe thermostat?and/or possible leak, are you loosing coolant?

[hacknfrack]

I haven't noticed a collant leak.  Over the summer, it tended to get low on long trips, but has check out fine for the past few months.  I never found a leak, though I was certain I smelled it.  I will check the level in the morning once things have cooled down.

[94beretta]

if you smelled it could be heater core or you may have a small leak and it may just mist check the black cloth on the underside of the hood look for damp spots ,on the v6 3.1 there is a small pipe that runs across the front valve cover from thermostat housing to coolant res .on mine it had a small rust spot on the pipe and i never noticed a leak  until i had a day of racing around and i ran a little hot popped the hood and it was sparying from a tiny spot. this may also apply to your 2.2

hope this helps

[Mr Goodwrench]

Sounds like a headgasket or waterpump maybe pluged heater core??

If u are using coolent and u dont see any leaks sounds like a headgasket.  smell your exhaust if it smells sweet ur burnning coolent..  or a milky film in the oil (kinda looks like a milk shake)..

Like I said in the other post 2.2 are pinned for headgasket problems along with a few cracked ones as well..

Mr Goodwrench

[hacknfrack]

The oil looks okay.  It's an amber color with hints of brown.  It's been a little while since a radiator flush, would that be a good place to start?  Last one was 5 years/80k miles ago.  At that same time, I had the Valve Cover Gasket replaced.

[gar187er]

thermostat....they are cheap and easy to replace...i changed mine about once a year to aid in cooling....found that in the cold pennsylvania winters, and the hot summers, they tend to stick more....

[hacknfrack]

So far today the temperature is reading normal and the vents are blowing the correct temperature air. I've read my mysterious coolant leak could be a sign of a head gasket leak.

Any thoughts and could this contribute to poor engine performance?

Thanks.

[1988GTU]

Yes.  Is there coolant leaking towards the front right corner of the head?  Any signs alteast?

[hacknfrack]

There's some possible evidence.  I'l try to get some pictures tomorrow when it's light out.  There is some greasy looking residue on the passager side of the engine bay down near the bottom of the frame.

Like I said, though, I'll try to get some pictures.

I do notice a sweet/coolant smell from the front of the car more than from the exhaust.

[Mr Goodwrench]

Try in the cheaper things first: coolent flush, theromstat, replacing worn- old hoses, checking the water pump,
u know things like that..  

Theirs new stuff out that like Headgasket In a Bottle or engine sealer when flush the coolent try some it can only help prolong the life of the headgasket.

As for loss of performance yes if u have a headgasket gowing out your loosing the seal for compression and possible of coolent leaking in to the cylinders gas air mix..

Mr Goodwrench