Car Stuck! Engine Coolant boiling over - Update

[SJ]

Update- Head Gasket Problem

Towed the car home . . .35 miles . .  $145 . . ouch!

1. Checked fan motor, jumper from battery post to + in back of motor.
- Got spark, then nothing . . no more sparks. Hmmmmm
- Checked the fusible link for the fan motor ground. Its located a few
inches from the motor. Looked broken . .removed it.
- Link was cracked and open. looks like an old crack, no new metal showing.
Maybe it was intermittant.
- Replaced fusible link, cleaned all contacts and hardware.
- Checked fan motor with jumper, works ok.

2. Applied jumper from battery post to 3 contacts at the resistor block.
- All 3 positions work . . .3 different speeds.

3. Tested after-run circuit.
- Ignition on and off (need to energize the timer in the after-run relay)
- Jumped contacts at the air temperature sensor at back of engine.
- Fan went on.

4. Test A/C fan circuit
- igniton on
- climate control to Auto
- radiator fan comes on

5. Ran engine
- Checking water flow
- Water pipe coming from heater radiator was cold. I thought it should get
hot after a few minutes.
- water valve is in open position
- still old after 5 minutes . .shut off engine. . . .maybe something blocked
in heater plumbing.

6. Took apart cooling system.
- blow air thru heater core at the shut off valve . . .watch water and air
rush out at the thermostat housing. . . no obstructions
- put finger inside thermostat housing and feel for water pump impeller .
.turn engine with wrench . .impeller turns
- tested water thermostat in pot of water on stove. .opens at 87C  just like
its supposed to.
- put back cooling system, used old thermostat with guts removed(need the
flange for proper O ring sealing).
- fill up system with water

7. Test for air bubbles caused by head gasket per Bob Myers.
- Attached clear plastic tubing in place of upper radiator hose. Duct tape
it in place.
- attached clear tube to overflow nipple in radiator, other end of tube into
large jar filled with water.
- attach and tighten reservoir cap
- Start engine
- water flowing  . .. water pump is ok.
- large and small bubbles in the water flow(maybe its the residual air in
system)
- Rev engine for few minutes to blow out air . . lots of water flowing
- bubbles in water  . . bubbles blowing out the radiator overflow nipple .
.can see them in the jar of water
- engine warming up . . .more bubbles . .steady stream of bubbles
- engine warmer - lotsa bubbles . .big bubbles
- starting to do the volcano act . .shut off engine.
Fan never came on, temp guage at 1/4 <>1/3

Conclusion:
Water bubbles being generated internally in engine
I guess I need to replace head gasket.
Are there any tricks to replacing the head gasket?
New head bolts required?
Are these heads prone to warping? I'll do a quick check with a straight
edge.
Do I need the Timing Belt tools . .crank holder and torque multiplier
adapter?
How do you pop off the head? Loosen head bolts and crank the engine so
compression pops the head?


Will read the manual tonight on head removal.

SJ



>From: "Robert Myers" <robert at s-cars.org>
>
> Watch the coolant in the tank as the engine idles.  If you see a flow of
> gas through the plumbing with the engine only warm not hot then suspect a
> head gasket leak.
>
>
 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
> >90 100q, normally aspriated, manual
> >
> >Wife drove car to a wedding shower. When she pulled into the parking lot,
> >the expansion tank boiled over. The parking guys waited till engine
cooled
> >off and added water. No leaks.
> >Wife said temp guage read normal. She got a low water warning light when
she
> >pulled into the parking lot.
> >
> >I just came back from checking out the car. The water that was added has
not
> >leaked out, so I can eliminate any big leakers.
> >Started up the car and let it idle. Temp came up normally. After about 10
> >minutes or so, temp guage read 1/3.
> >No leaks noted . .both hoses were hot.
> >After another few minutes, the expansion tank boiled over(I had the cap
on
> >loose). About 2 quarts and lots of steam came out.
> >The radiator fan never came on.
> >
> >The radiator is new, about 5k miles on it. All the hoses  are new.
> >Timing belt and water pump replaced 35k miles ago.
> >Thermostat replaced about 25k miles ago.
> >
> >My hunch is a stuck thermostat.
> >I will pick up a new thermostat and gasket and go to where the car is
stuck
> >and attempt replacing the thermostat in the parking lot.
> >
> >As I recall, unbolting the hydraulic pump and moving it aside opens up a
lot
> >of access room to the hoses and thermostat housing. After that, one has
> >access to the two thermostat housing bolts.
> >
> >Any other opinions as to the nature of the problem?
> >
> >
> >SJ