Engine overheating but car radiator staying cold. Why is that?
Your radiator is probably clogged or your thermostat stuck closed. Also, you left out a few details.
I heard a clogged heater core could be restricting coolant flow so imma replace that
you probably have no idea what's involved in replacing a heater core.
Trust me, you want to test it with a garden hose first.
Don't be a parts changer.
I heard a clogged heater core could be restricting coolant flow so imma replace that and see if that solves my problem
You heard wrong. A clogged heater core would prevent your heater from working but would not make the car overheat or restrict coolant from reaching the radiator.
Is your water pump working? It's possible for the impeller to corrode away or come loose.
How would I know if my water pump isn't working?
Yeah, first guess is thermostat. But if you add year-make-model you will probably get a better answer.
I've already replaced radiator, thermostat, a few hoses etc. It's a 1998 toyota camry le. I heard a clogged heater core could be restricting coolant flow so imma replace that and see if that solves my problem
Good possibility
the heater core and it was indeed clogged.
what was it clogged with? Did anyone ever put stop-leak product in the coolant, or mix coolant types?
If the heater is clogged, then the radiator might be too.
How would I know if my water pump isn't working?
You would notice coolant on the ground. There's a weep hole, when the bearings are starting to wear out, you'll notice coolant seeping out of it. You can also buy UV leak dye for coolant.
If it's just a bad impeller it wouldn't necessarily be leaking. What I look for is water flowing through the radiator when the thermostat opens. However I have mostly old cars with the radiator cap actually on the radiator tank and you can see the water moving with the cap removed.
I thought pretty much all radiators have two modes of entry for coolant, I drive my Ranger and it has a radiator top-off and a reservoir top-off.
You could also visually check the coolant with the cap open. It should rise as the coolant heats up and the thermostat opens. If the thermostat is open, but the impeller is busted, the coolant won't move, I don't think.
A lot of older vehicles don't have a separate reservoir, instead they have a larger upper radiator tank.
and I think that some radiators have no caps. Just a hose to a pressurized reservoir.
Yes, I have some like that as well.
Damn that's unfortunate because I pulled out the heater core and it was indeed clogged. So your saying the water pump is most likely the culprit here?
I'd be curious to know the asnswer to the question @MountainManJoe asked when he asked what it was clogged with? I'm assuming if the heater core was clogged it would have no trouble clogging the radiator, but did you say yo changed that?.