W124 quick overheating...help needed
 

Subject is my 95 E320, 123K miles, new water pump 1 1/2 yrs ago, 2 new fans about 45 days ago... after the fans all was in harmony...no overheating of any kind.... then two days ago temp went up rather quickly after only idling for about 5-10 minutes (I don't sit idling too much normally... drove it home 2 minutes.. next day, got on the highway and 15 minutes later zooommm temp redlined...

Radiator container doesn't seem to be missing fluid.

Fans are still working...and when the fans were NOT working, temp stayed normal when I drove the car, with all the wind flowing through... so what else can it be?

I am afraid it might be the water pump again (but just after 25-30K miles doesn't seem right - it was new, not rebuilt) :( ....

Oh, hoses seemed to be fine (they were changed when the water pump was done)...

edit-- oh shieiT, could it be the head gasket :( ..?

Thoughts? It's at the mechanic now, so I really just want to have a clue when he diagnoses it this a.m.

Thanks!

Sounds like your thermostat is not opening. Does the hose between the t'stat and the radiator get hot? If not then change your thermostat.
regards,
Mark

Yeh, it sounds like either thermostat or radiator.

Thanks guys, it was the thermostat!:cool: Too bad I don't have time to diagnose, etc... would've been an easy job....

What do you figure on labor? one hour?

Thanks for the feedback. Most people ask for help and never bother to report back once their problem was solved, when in fact their info may help others. Thanks again.

I think like you do.. Most of the time one gives an opinion or something and you never hear back.. LOL....

Anyway, 1 thermostat and $90 later (1/2 labor and aboutu $28 for the thermosostat) I was on the road... Too bad I just wouldn't have had the time to diagnose / repair it myself... oh well... You typically get used to $300-$500 repair bills, so this was great!

Now you know to look at the T in the future which cost $!2 and takes 15-30 min, oh well.