Dear Tom and Ray:

My '84 Tercel temperature gauge approaches the red mark when I drive on the highway. At speeds under 40, it's fine. Turning on the heat inside the car seems to make the needle go down a little. I have had the thermostat and radiator cap replaced. My boyfriend checked the water pump and pronounced it OK (he's a weekend mechanic). He thinks the radiator is clogged. Is there a way to check this? And if so, do I have to buy a whole new radiator, or can it be de-clogged? -- Debbie

Tom: Some radiators can be flow-tested, and if they are plugged up they can be "de-clogged." But for this radiator, it's just not worth it, Debbie.

Ray: Right. Based on your description of the problem (the high-speed overheating), and the things you've already tried, it almost certainly is a plugged-up radiator. So I'd just have your boyfriend check the core for any signs of deterioration, and if he sees any at all, go ahead and get a new radiator.

Tom: A radiator for this car should cost less than $200, which is cheap -- as far as radiators go. And I'm sure your boyfriend is dying to learn how to put one of these in (fortunately, it's very easy on a Tercel).

Ray: But in the meantime, Debbie, I would urge you not to drive it. If the temperature gauge is near the red mark, you're overheating the engine and risking serious long-term damage to the engine. And unless your boyfriend is dying to learn how to install a new head gasket or cylinder head, too, I'd park this thing until it's fixed, OK?

Which is cheaper, buying or leasing? Should you keep a car forever or dump it after three years, before trouble starts? Find out in Tom and Ray's pamphlet "Should I Buy, Lease, or Steal My Next Car?" To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1998 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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