2001 Toyota Tacoma Overheats at Idle

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RRSHANK
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2001 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 with 140,000 and V6 engine: My truck will overheat when idling in temperatures over approx 60 degrees outside. If bring rpm's up over 1,000 it will cool down and stay cool. Never overheats when driving down road. Would this be thermostat, water pump or radiator?
Aug 28, 2006 at 2:26 AM
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MIKEYBDMAN
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[quote:f0a6cae775="rrshank"]2001 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 with 140,000 and V6 engine: My truck will overheat when idling in temperatures over approx 60 degrees outside. If bring rpm's up over 1,000 it will cool down and stay cool. Never overheats when driving down road. Would this be thermostat, water pump or radiator?[/quote:f0a6cae775]

Sounds more like a fan issue. If you have the electric fans on your radiator, check to see if they are turning while the truck overheats. If it is a front mounted fan, I would suspect the clutch.
Aug 28, 2006 at 7:52 AM
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Suggested Repair

Check the cooling fan. If the truck has electric radiator fans, confirm they run while it is overheating. If it has a front-mounted fan, suspect a failing fan clutch.

Conversation Summary

A 2001 Toyota Tacoma with a V6 overheats at idle in warmer weather but cools when RPM is raised above about 1,000 and does not overheat while driving. The owner asked whether the thermostat, water pump, or radiator was at fault. The expert said it sounds more like a fan problem and advised checking that electric radiator fans turn during overheating, or suspecting the clutch on a front-mounted fan.

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