I had a strange problem yesterday. I was going to work when the temp light came on in my gt. It has been overheating for a while so I was expecting it however the guage read 200. then the clutch refused to dissengage then the motor died. I had a hard time starting it because the clutch still wouldn't dissengauge. It finaly started as it pulled the car forward and after a few pumps it worked then didn't. I then let it sit a couple of hours. Refilled the water (over 3 gal.) and drove it home without a problem! Can someone explane what happend? Please?

Your car was so hot that you were boiling the brake fluid in the line. The temp sender will not work unless it is submerged in coolant.

If you put in 3 gallons of coolant it is unlikely that you don't have engine damage. From the sounds of it this is not the first time either.

This is the first time it has got this hot. I have never had to put in more than 3/4 gal in. The temp guage indicated the temprature rose evenly untill it got to 200 theats where it stayed. I only had 1/2 mile left to go so I went. Like I said it ran home fine and to and from work today.

Please explane how brake fluid boiling would cause the clutch to stop dissengauging. I am not questioning it I just want to know the dynamics.

The hydraulic fluid that the clutch uses is DOT 3 brake fluid. You boiled it because the engine and transaxle were very hot.

I understiood that part of it but when it boils won't that cause it to expand and dissengauge the clutch? it felt like the line was cut.

No, as when it boils it turns into a gas state and as you can compress a gas and not a liquid. All you were doing was pressurizing the line and the clutch spring having more pressure would not disengage... (Boyles Law)

He's right about the fluid and don't ya think it's time to find out where your water is going? If it's not leaking, pull your dipstick and see if the oil looks normal.

Oil is fine. Water boils into and overflows the overflow tank and onto the road.

I guess I wasn't very clear. Yes, the brake fluid in the clutch line was boiling. Your temp sender reading ment nothing at the time this was happening. A temp sender will be totally inacurate if it is not submerged in liquid.

I would hate to know how hot that engine was. You likely had it well over 300 degrees block temp when this happened.

Wow 300 do you think it went that high? What would happen if I installed a 18 lb radiator cap? I have had a overheating problem for a while now that I havent been able to figure out. I know it acts normal on untill it gets to about 200 then it tends to blow.

quote Originally posted by Earl: Oil is fine. Water boils into and overflows the overflow tank and onto the road.

Try checking you radiator cap to see if its working properly. the radiator cap is designed to overflow expanded coolant (expands because of heat ) and keep the cooling system at a predetermined pressure.the higher the pressure the system can sustain the hotter the coolant can get before it boils off. If the cap sticks open then you'll boil the coolant off, because the system won't hold the pressure to keep the coolant from boiling, and it will let coolant into the overflow bottle . You'll notice on every car that the cooling system says "never open hot" . Thats because if you relieve the pressure on the system you lower the coolants boiling point to a temp below what the car operates at . Then the coolant instantly boils off and spews all over the place . The reason you might have clutch problems at the same time is that the clutch lines run along side of the coolant transfer tubes therefore the whole lenght of tubing gets very hot (like a steam tube) causing the clutch fluid to boil.

I have tried 3 diferent caps all with the same result.

is your fan working? After I heard that boiling sound coming from under my hood the first time, that's all it took to replace my rad fan and put it on a toggle switch. Does your radiator get hot as the engine heats up? if not it's blocked or has no fluid. Also check the pipe that comes up from the water pump, these are most prone to leaks. You need to find out what's happeneing before you drive it into the ground.

Bad water pump? maby, You will have to raise the back of your fiero to burp the cooling system. Or you will have a air lock and pump no water. Being from Alaska at one time. I use a 60/40 mix of antifreze.