overheating 3.4

[brianstormchaser]

About a week ago I bought a 1997 4runner with 149000 miles on it I noticed that it was not getting warm enough to register in the normal range on the gauge so I started to replaced the thermostat and I took it a part it didn't not have one in it so I put a new one in it and about 10 min of driving it overheated. Ideas I'am thinking water pump this is the second 4runner this has happend like this that didnt have a thermostat and the water pump went out on the second day. Is pulling the thermostat a used car dealer trick for overheating.

 

[SCSPerformance]

It is a trick, but running without a therm. is not good for the engine. Could you have possibly put it in backwards? Although new, it's also quite possible that the unit could be defective which is more common than you think.

 

[Swimmerboy2112]

My money is on the water pump being no bueno. I saw it fairly often when I was a Toyota tech.

 

[Skidmarcx]

It means that somebody doesn't know how to diagnose an overheating condition... I'd check the radiator for blockage... If you have access to a temp gun you should see ~30 degree difference from top to bottom... Could also be a fan clutch

If the water pump was bad it MOST LIKELY wouldn't flow with the thermostat removed thus overheating to begin with