Thermostat help, just changed coolant, overheating now

[reverend_sean]

So I just changed the coolant in my restop s13. I followed the flush, refill, run, flush, refill, run method with distilled water until it came out clean. every time I would let the car heat up until the thermostat opened and water flowed through the block. I did that 3 times and each time the water became more and more clear until it was clean. So I figured out what a 70/30 water to coolant solution (plus 6 ounces of Water Wetter) is for the 7 liter system (2.1L coolant) and poured the coolant/Water Wetter mix into the radiator, because the block was already full of distilled water, and then I would top off with water till it was full after running it. I started it up to run the solution through the car and now it seems like the thermostat will not open and the car is over heating!!!!!! It seems like it is running in limp mode because it will not rev correctly, but I have never experienced limp mode before so I don't know for sure. the 3 times I drained, flushed, filled the radiator for the last hour it opened every time, now all of a sudden it doesn't want to open?!?! Can anyone offer insight? I searched, coolant, thermostat, radiator and didn't really find anything that seemed to help. Thanks!!

[reverend_sean]

I have no idea why this happened. I let the car cool down for 30-45 minutes. started it back up, and now the thermostat opens again and the engine revs freely.

[SpeedMonkeyInc]

Just be sure you get ALL the air bubbles out. Did you jack up the front of the car as high as you could and use the bleeder screw?

[NIK90s13]

+1^^^ You need to bleed the coolent system. There is a 10mm screw on top of the intake manni. with a little yellow sticker that says not to open when hot. That is the bleeder.

[reverend_sean]

Thanks a ton, I missed that point some how. I haven't driven the car yet, I will jack it up first thing tomarrow and bleed it. I have never noticed that screw before!?

[reverend_sean]

So you bleed it with the car running and once water starts coming out of the hole there is no more air right?

[ranisron]

^^ That's what I always thought.

also, any remote possibilities of the Coolant temp sensor going bad?

[NIK90s13]

The car does not need to be running. I do it with the car off, the water pump will pump water out if it is running. Raise the car slightly, pull the bleeder and washer, fill with coolent till it comes out of the bleeder, cap it back off, put thr rad cap back on, run the car, repeat if nessary.

[reverend_sean]

As soon as I poped it open, coolant just started pouring out so I think I am all set. BTW, the bleeder is on the thermostat housing not the intake manifold. I knew I had seen it before, but could n't remember where to look!

[kandyflip445]

I don't know about the SOHC but on the DOHC it's on the manifold. I would make sure it's well bled from that point and then top it off if needed when you lower the front back down.

[Frenzy13]

^^^ He said he has a redtop... so he's got an SR not a KA.