2004 Escalade is overheating. The water pump was leaking so I replaced it and the thermostat. Originally I thought that I still had air in the system but there are no more bubbles in the expansion tank and the hoses feel firm. I noticed that you can buy a thermostat inlet housing as well. I used the old one. Is it possible that I need to replace that? Could the thermostat be hitting the housing and not opening all the way? This car has never overheated before...I did a block test just to be sure and no exhaust in the coolant....

Brian

 

did thermostat look the same as original?

 

The thermostat did look slightly different, but mostly similar. It ended up just not being able to get all of the air out of the system. I replaced the thermostat with a different one built in to a new housing and it still overheated. I found a tube that carried coolant from one head to another connected to a hose on the middle of the cool side of the radiator. I filled the system until coolant came out of that hose (being the highest part of the engine). Started it up and everything is good now. It never goes over 200 degrees :-).

Brian