Guys, quick question. Car is overheating and I've checked a few things, but am wondering what certain symptoms would be for specific parts of the car that would cause overheating.

In my last car when the water pump goes out there'd be a little leak around the lip of it, when the water pump goes out on this car, what kind of symptoms would there be? What about the radiator? The engine fan is working properly, and there aren't any obvious or major leaks under the car and I haven't found any coolant leaks either.

Coolant level is topped off and oil level is also fine.

Could the thermostat be stuck open? Would that cause overheating?
Are there any other things I could be overlooking here?

1992 SC300 5speed

 

It would be stuck closed.

When the car is at operating temp, check the lower radiator hose and see if it's hot. If it's cooler than the top hose, then you've got a stuck radiator.

What part of texas are ya at?

 

I'm up in Lubbock for school.

The car has been off for about 5 minutes, and the lower hose is way cooler than the upper hose. So this means I'm going to need an entire new radiator? Are there any good vendors to buy a radiator from online?

 

before you start spending money try flushing it first and go from there..

 

Won't I have to leave the engine running while the flush liquid is in the radiator? The car overheats before too long. Will I be able to flush it properly, or are you suggesting just a drain and refill?

 

You need it to run a bit longer than that bro. Five minutes is definitely not enough.

 

The car was past normal operating temperature when I turned it off, just short of the red bar according to the gauge. It had been off for 5 minutes when I touched the hoses to check temperature.

 

Yup well seems like we've got a winner.

 

i would recommend flushing it with a hose.. engine off. disconnect both hoses and flush it out connect everything top it off with water and let it warm up. then repeat the process . see if it helps.. you should be able to see how much water is flowing out thru the bottom and if there any gunk or what not coming out...

 

Just stick a water hose on the upper radiator and run water through the radiator. Make sure you remove the lower radiator hose to see if it flows well.