Overheating as excellerating, the radiator hoses collape and the engine overheats. I think it's the thermostat valve but don't know its location.

You didn't state when it overheats, if it is while driving the fault can be : belt driving water pump slipping , lower radiator hose collapsing, most common is clogged radiator. Start the engine with the radiator cap off when it is COLD and observe the flow in side. If you see really fast flow of coolant you have the bottom portion of the radiator stopped up. The only way to know is to remove the radiator and have it flow tested.
A blown head gasket or cracked head will cause steam to come out of the exhaust, water in the oil (milky). If it is running hot while idling , check fan to see if it is turning as it should when it should. Older cars have fan clutches that go bad, newer ones have temp thermostats that go bad.

You might have a clogged radiator. If so replace the radiator. I would first replace the thermostat as it might be bad. When they go bad they usually stay stuck in the closed position. When closed there is no flow of water to or from the radiator. You can check the thermostat by removing it, it is located on your upper radiator hose, the return hose. To check it boil a pan of water and and using a pair of pliers hold the thermostat in the hot water. If the thermostat is bad it will not open. Hope this helps.

Bad thermostat

change the radiator please.

When the car is completely cool,check the electric fan(s) for smooth rotation.

Clean/check/change the thermo sensor,contact and wire.

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Excavate air pocket in coolant system / check for head gasket leak

This test will kill two birds with one stone.

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MAKE SURE THE COOLANT SYSTEM and ENGINE IS COLD!

RAN THIS TEST IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA ONLY!

You will spill some coolant during this air pocket purge test.......BE KIND TO THE ENVIRONMENT and ANIMAL please clean up after the test!

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Put the front end on a pair of ramp or park your car on a VERY STEEP HILL (radiator facing top of the hill) .

Top of the coolant reserve tank

Let it ran for 10-15 minutes.

Monitor for air pockets escaping from coolant reserve tank.

Small amount of bubbles is OK at 1-5 minute mark

After the thermostat open up (after 195 F warm up) at
5-12 minute mark or after high idle you should see less bubbles.

If you do not see any in rush of bubbles then your thermostat may be partially stuck or rusted badly inside the thermostat hosing.

Give the thermostat host few gentle taps.

If you see larger bubbles surfacing after 15 minutes then should do a hydrocarbon (HC) dye test to test for potential head gasket leak.

Let engine cold down and top off coolant reserve tank.

Start monitor for coolant lost

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A coolant flush is require every 2 years or 24,000 miles.

I recommend the thermostat that has a relief pop-let to reduce the change of burst radiator and coolant hoses.

Make sure you get a new thermostat gasket,black RTV and fresh coolant for the job.

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the thermostat can be easily changed from up top, the T-stat is located at the engine end of the upper radiator hose under the flange the hose connects to. Make sure u follow manufacturer's cooling system bleeding procedures when you refill after the T-stat is changed out.

Follow top radiator hose to engine and thats where the thermostat is located under the housing at the end of the top hose at the engine.

If you follow the top radiator hose to the engine. The part that the hose is connected to on the engine is the thrmostate housing. you'll find the thermostate underthat housing.
Good luck and hope this helps.

The thermostat is behind the upper radiator hose...remove the upper radiator hose and loosen and then remove the two bolts on the outlet (where the upper radiator hose ends) The thermostat is inside that outlet...Another thing to check is if there is water in the oil...If there is water in the oil then it could have a head gasket problem..Did you ever replace the thermostat? If it is stuck then it would also cause overheating...Excessive exhaust backpressure because of a clogged catalytic converter could also cause overheating..Also check belt tension and condition. A loose belt that slips may prevent the water pump from circulating coolant fast enough and/or the fan from turning fast for proper cooling...Another thing it could be is a faulty Water pump -- Any wobble in the pump shaft or seepage would call for replacement. In some instances, a pump can cause an engine to overheat if the impeller vanes are badly eroded due to corrosion or if the impeller has come loose from the shaft. The wrong pump may also cause an engine to overheat. Some engines with serpentine drive belts require a special water pump that turns in the opposite direction of those used on the same engine with ordinary V-belts... Also check the Fan -- With mechanical fans, most overheating problems are caused by a faulty fan clutch, though a missing fan shroud can reduce the fan's cooling effectiveness by as much as 50% (depending on the fan's distance from the radiator) which may be enough to cause the engine to overheat in hot weather or when working hard.

Hi,

I had the same problem with my 1993 Liberty LX. Remove the thermostat (located inside bottom radiator hose engine connection - take the connection off and thermostat is inside). Reassemble (minus thermostat), reconnect bottom hose. Slowly (very, very slowly) refill the radiator and remove the bleed plug ( located beside the top hose connection to the radiator - a black square plug with a phillips head cross in the middle). When the radiator is full and clear water (no air bubbles) is coming out of the bleed point, replace the bleed plug and then the radiator cap.

Run the engine for five minutes (approx) or until normal engine temperature is reached. Allow the engine to cool down and recheck the water level - fill if necessary ensuring that the bleed plug is open and clear water is coming out of that point. Replace Bleed plug and then radiator cap. Run engine for five minutes (approx) and then test dive. If the engine overheats keep filling the radiator until there are no air bubbles coming from out of the bleed point.

This fixed my overheating problem. Good luck and safe motoring.