Coolant Trouble, Head gasket? or Heater Core? Options

[schellmis63]

My car has had a few issues and I hope that someone can give me some help. My hyundai Elentra 2000 seems to continue to over heat after running the car on the road. The car sits and idles and does not over heat, however I can hear coolant boiling in the engine. I was told that this could be a blown head gasket however the only sign of this is the car is over heating, when the radiator cap is over, water will begin to boil out of the radiator. Also the car is not producing hardly an heat in the cabin, even when the car is at running temperature. Many times the cabin heat is very cold then also it will function back to warm. There is no white smoke, no fluid in the oil. No sign of oil or leaks from the spark plugs.Things that I have done, changed the thermostat, new radiator cap, radiator flush and new water pump, radiator had been burbed. After doing all this, the car still over heats,when the gage is running high, I can hear again the coolant bubbling in the engine. When the car is running very hot near the red line, the car radiator cap shows steam and coolant bubbling back into the reseviour. I know that a pressure test is needed but has anyone had or seen these symptoms and could this very well be a blow head gasket? Letting only combustion into the coolant, which is causing the over heating? and loss of warm air in the cabin? Also the car is running great! No signs of any trouble at all. No rough idle or running.

[montego]

it sounds like you have done everything, and yes l agree it does seem now that the head gasket has blown, as you say it needs to have a pressure test to confirm this. try running the engine with the rad. cap off, if water is being forced out of the top of the rad. then its almost certain to be the gasket

[schellmis63]

With the radiator cap off, how long should it take to over heat if the head gasket was blown and with the radiator cap off and its not the head gasket how should the coolant act? Will I see any bubbles or over flow? Also one more question,,, well there might be a few more.. Will this type of blown headgasket, lead to coolant and oil mix in the near future? Also since this car may not be fixable, or worth it... How about the Bar's gasket fix? Where you put it in the antifreeze without draining it? I can't afford a replacement and I do hate to trash the car, its been really good to me and still has the figure of a new car!

This post has been edited by schellmis63: Oct 26 2009, 04:15 PM

[montego]

just run the engine for a few mins. if there is excess pressure (blown gasket) water will soon blow out of the rad.

[schellmis63]

Thanks Montego, I am going to let the car run now,,let you know the outcome!

[schellmis63]

Results, Let car run about 10 minutes. Engine was warm to touch, hoses getting hot. I watched the coolant start to flow over the radiator opening but no bubbling over.. Also no air pockets coming out. This engine was cold when I started this, for its been sitting for a week.

[montego]

your results are inconclusive, you must get the car to a garage and ask them to pressure test the system, this should not cost much.......let us know your results