2000, 626LX, V6 overheating
 

I am new to the forum and I just bought my first Mazda. It's a 2000, 626 with the V6. It has 96k on it and runs great except there is now an issue with overheating. I think that it may be the t-state because on the way home it was giong to the H mark and then back. That was until about 2 miles from home when it stuck past the H and as I pulled into the drive it started to steam. For what I see here the t-stat is on the right side of the engine under the air filter? Does anyone have any other items/things/issues that I should check.

I know nothing about Mazda other then what others have told me. So, if anyone knows of things that I should check on the car before I really start to use it please let me know.

Thanks

Still overheating HELP!
 

After I replaced the t-stat I let it idle in the drive for 35 min's and all looked great. Drove it for about 25 miles and still great and then it started to overheat. You could hear bubbling in the rad and it was staeming for a few min's. Let it cool and added some more coolant and continued to the garage. thought that the sensor might be bad, but after about another 15 miles it did it again. Slowly, stop and go driving back to the shop where it sits now.

It is overheating, but the lower hoses and the rad are cool. It sounds as if it is boiling in the overflow even before the gauge hits the "H" and I do stop before it does. There is no rad fluid in the oil, oil in the rad or white smoke. It runs great in the drive for as long as I want to let it go and on the highway as long as it is under 20 miles. (Just got the car so it's not like I am actually driving it this way.)

It doesn't sound or act like a head gasket, but has anyone run into this. Checked the post and didn't see anythng like this and I really need some ideas. Help please !

Overheating...
 

I've got a 2000 626 LX 2.0 man. I had an issue with it overheating that went on for years and spent ungodly amounts of money trying to have it fixed.

The a/c would start going warm and then the temp gauge would start to rise and then it would go down. It was pretty random as to when it would happen. This seemed to be a common problem in other 626's.

Finally fixed it myself last year for $245... don't get me started about this.

I replaced the radiator and the cooling fans (even though everyone else said they were working fine). It was really easy to do.

It's been running perfectly ever since.

I agree. Sounds like you have a block somewhere if your lower hose is cool. I'd start with a good "all-aluminum" radiator off of ebay and change the hoses while you're at it. Get a thermostat that opens fully at a lower temp. I know you just bought one and maybe you already got the one that opens at a lower temp, but if you didn't, what's another $10 - 15 compared to your peace of mind with your car? You could also get a good fan set-up on ebay also. Just make sure that you re-connect up the wires so that the fan is spinning the correct direction... LOL. Get the good coolant made for aluminum radiators while you're at it. Good luck.