Overheating when driving, perfect when idling

[prof_hussam]

Hi, awesome club here

So I got my car a couple of months ago, a 1995 FTO GPX MIVEC, the temperature gauge is in the middle most of the time, but recently, starting a month ago, when I drive for a longer period of time (e.g. more than an hour), the engine heats up, as soon as I stop (e.g. traffic light) the engine cools down within seconds, accelerate again and the engine gets hot again (little more than 3/4).

It's getting worse and worse, today i only drove for 15 minutes and the engine heated up faster (and hotter) than usual. (it still cools down as soon as I stop)

Since it get's normal when I stop, it isn't the fan (nor the thermostat, I believe) and there are no leaks (water levels are fine too). I'm Guessing either the radiator got blocked from the inside, or the water pump is failing.

I wanted to flush the radiator myself BUT is it doable since I don't have any equipment at all nor a garage Or should I take it to a mechanic ?

If I wanted to take it to a mechanic, who do you recommend?
I live in Clayton (On Campus) but I don't mind driving a bit further for a good mechanic.

[dstocks]

Firstly, are you losing water at all? Take of radiator cap (when car is cold), turn car on and check for bubbles while idling.

If not losing water and no bubbles, does the level in the overflow bottle increase when the car gets hot. If so, replace the radiator cap.

When the car is hot and the aircon is on, do both thermo fans spin.If not, then one may be faulty.

Lastly (and this is my guess), change the thermostat, it may be partially blocked.

Had the same symptoms a couple of weeks or so ago.

Hope this helps.

[prof_hussam]

So, I couldn't see any water bubbles, water level in the reservoir seems to be stable even after the cars has warmed up, and when i took the radiator cap of the radiator and warmed up the car the water started to overflow from the radiator.

The radiator feels cool until the car has properly warmed up Then the radiator starts to warm up slowly as well.

I can feel the water flowing in the large plastic pipe that connects the radiator cap to the radiator.

Fans are working properly, and As I said, when the car is idling it's temperature is perfectly fine, only when driving for a while it gets hotter.

[Astron_Boy]

I dare say your cooling system needs a flush, most likely scenario.

Cooling systems are easy to flush, do a good search, brand of car makes little difference. Youtube it even.

If you're not confident any mech should be capable, there's nothing special about an FTO for them to charge extra with the BS 'import' excuse.

Edit: if your hoses need replacing *hard and crispy when you squeeze them* dstocks, above, has replacements.

[dstocks]

My bet is the thermostat.

[payaya]

Blocked radiator. Replace it.

[bjk]

On a similar note, I got the thermostat replaced recently, and it's still having trouble under load. Still heating up, and still even pushing water into the overflow tank.

Thinking I might just get some radiator specialists to take a look at it?