2G: Overheating at Idle

[slinkmerc]

Hi I have a 97 RS and i'll be in somewhat heavy traffic and my car starts to overheat i turn on heater in an attempt to cool down a bit but doesn't really help much(the heater is blowing out hot air).

I recently changed out the thermostat, radiator,radiator cap,upper radiator hose, and coolant. I'm pretty stumped.

I can drive and it'll be perfect, but i'll be at a somewhat long light and it'll start creeping up then I give it gas and immediately go down, i should add i have also recently changed out the water pump and all timing related items.
Help me please!

[1983gsp]

Too much antifreeze and not enough water, Inadequate airflow across the radiator/fans not operating properly , AC not working properly/condenser being overworked, air pocket in cooling loop, radiator is full of debris:flush/rod out/replace

[slinkmerc]

Originally Posted by 1983gsp

Too much antifreeze and not enough water, Inadequate airflow across the radiator/fans not operating properly , AC not working properly/condenser being overworked, air pocket in cooling loop, radiator is full of debris:flush/rod out/replace

I use 50/50 antifreeze as I said it has a new radiator ac works how do I check for an airpocket in cooling system? Fans work and turn on.

[jayson427]

Alot of guys say to run 70/30 more distilled water then coolant. To burp your system just take the radiator cap off and let your car run for a little while. Some guys say park on a downward incline others say doing it on level ground works fine. During the process squeeze your hose a few times to make sure all the air bubbles come out.

[DSMnOOb00]

Sounds like a fan issue to me, since your only over heating at idle, when your driving there is air being pushed into your car so it cools down. At idle there is no air so it's up to the fans to force air thru the radiator... Check the fuse and fan connections make sure they are both running

Try to run the A/C and see if the driver side fan turns on..

Goodluck

[drakenj]

I recently had fixed a similar issue in mine except mine would do it in gear (auto trans) so check if the fan turns on at all since u have other things replaced its either air buble in the cooling system or I would go with temp switch that fixed the problem for me its like 14$ in any autozone.

To check for an air bubble in cooling if u can get the bleeder lose on ## termostat hosing great if not which was the case for me I just let my car run for like 2,5 hours with the yellow container that bolts up in place of the radiator cap. If u don't have it just grab a chair a cold beer let the car run with the cap off and just stay on top of the coolant. When u make sure there is no air few the car up a bit and cap it it will be hot so u might want to hold the cap thru a few rags

[eclipse420ags]

Thats what mine was doing early on on when my headgasket blew.

[Tha Fella Dylan]

I just had the same exact problem. Turned out to be my rad cap. X2 on the air pockets. Good luck.

[MoparDSM]

Originally Posted by eclipse420ags

Thats what mine was doing early on on when my headgasket blew.

Same here

[wrecked GS]

I agree with DSMnOOb00m, its gotta be a fan problem, if your not losing coolent, and it only overheats at idle, sounds like the signs of a bad fan motor or somthing in the wiring, just let your car idle up to operating temp and check under the hood and make sure both the fans are spinning

[my dreamt dsm]

From my experience there's not may ways car overheat while at idle. One major one is air bubbles in the system and the other is the fan.
How to cure the air bubble is to open the radiator cap, car started, have extra water/coolant on hand, turn on the heater to all the way hot, defrost mode, non circulate. As you do that you will see coolant moving in the system if it's not really filled up. Air pockets and bubbles will work their way out and up. Just fill until the coolant is full to the cap. If it's not full, it usually takes 5-10 minutes for all the air to get out. While that is happening watch if the fan comes on. If not, that maybe the problem.
If you have the fan turn up the way I describe. Both fans should come on. If both don't come on, you have a fan problem.

[JediMindBlazZin]

I'm also having overheating problems for a couple of days now. I chaged the radiator cap, thermostat, and top hose yesterday. My fans for some reason where having a short and werent turning on, so I connected them straight to the battery to have them constantly running. I did a complete flush on the radiator a week ago and let air bubbles out with the radiator cap off and car running yesterday. The car still overheated today, and i have to go back to Cali tomorrow, any suggestions on how I can fix it by today? I have a fmic.

[96talon_njj]

drill a small hole in the flange on the thermostat and put it at the 12 o clock position. mine was overheating so bad but after i figured it out it hasnt overheated since.

[JediMindBlazZin]

Originally Posted by 96talon_njj

drill a small hole in the flange on the thermostat and put it at the 12 o clock position. mine was overheating so bad but after i figured it out it hasnt overheated since.

Were you able to take a pic before installing?

[1clean95gst]

Ok fellas, riddle me this. I've replaced radiator with mishimoto, 62c.thermostat, silicone hoses, slim fans and shroud, water pump...and still I get high temps. The car does not appear to lose fluid and the fluid does not smell like exhaust (sign of head problem), the fans work, and it still hearts up on highway to town. I have a vrsf.intercooler with condensor and radiator. ,2 fans push 2 pull..4 total..why in the world am.i.overheating?. 1995 eclipse gst for.the record with dnp manifold and 16g turbo

[dsm-dsm]

Did you check the shaft on the water pump?

[1clean95gst]

Brand new. Appears to be fine. It it possible to have a problem with aftermarket turbo manifold cooking radiator?

[007jimmy]

Try wrapping your manifold with header wrap and put a lower heat shield on. Also ducting between your IC - AC condensor - radiator. More fans dont help at highway speeds, only at idle.

[1clean95gst]

Originally Posted by 007jimmy

Try wrapping your manifold with header wrap and put a lower heat shield on. Also ducting between your IC - AC condensor - radiator. More fans dont help at highway speeds, only at idle.

Awesome recommendations!! What do you recommend for ducting? Materials?

[007jimmy]

Be creative. I mean you can use sheet metal, aluminum, plastic and i have even seen members use some sort of tape. Yea i said tape lol and it did work! Use cardboard for templates to work with to test fit.