Car Overheated / Overheating / Overheats [MERGED]

[NTRCOOL]

OVERHEATING? The issues and their solutions have remained the same- either you don't have enough cool air reaching the rad, there's a cooling system obstruction which is preventing coolant from circulating, or your head gasket has failed and is allowing coolant to be consumed or pushed away from the engine.

Discuss all possible overheating problems and solutions here.


OK,
I just left my house to go over to my GF's,and happen to look down and see my needle right before the red mark. This just happened out of nowhere. I stop the car as quickly as i can, and pour in some coolant(Coolant a little low). Still same thing. Welp im in the middle of the road, and HAD to get it home. Im only 5 min from my house. I decided to try and make it(I really had no other choice). Welp I drive no faster than 20mph, and the temp needle is BARELY into the red the whole way.And occasionaly to the left of it. Am I ok?? Do ya think any damage was done?? And im thinking either thermostat, or water pump. For each of those, whats a round about $$ figure to get replaced?? Any info you have would be GREATLY appreciated!

 

[Indian]

When you installed your fan did you check to make sure if they are puller fans or pusher fans,and make sure they are in the right place? They could be coming on,but you could have them set up with a pusher/pulling or a puller/pushing. Also, I have seen the thermostat be put in upside down,so check that also. You said the temp sensor is not working,do you mean the one for the gauge or the one for the ecu?

 

[nightgamer]

he did not say it was the sensor and it could be the fans are not kicking on so it would be the switch
have u flushed the coolant system if so i would change the sensor and make sure the thermostat is working and installed the right way

 

[velocitysport31]

when you put the mls headgasket did you have a fresh deck on the head and block, if so that could be the issue. Also if it whats your temp sensor your car would be running like crap. What kind of fans do you have?

 

[sk8anddsm]

Well the car heats up most when im cruising down the interstate or when i come to a hill it tends to heat up, the fans are mounted up right i made sure when i installed them...i may need to change the sensor or get another thermostat i may try the thermostat first cause its a little cheaper ive put so much money into this thing trying to rid it of the problem...and yes the head was decked everything was straight going back on.

oh and the fans are autozone special haha i know thats bad but when im not at school i work at autozone so i get a discount

 

[rlacasse1]

If you still can't find a solution you could try to wire the fans to a switch to see if that will fix the problem.

 

[but]

he did not say it was the sensor and it could be the fans are not kicking on so it would be the switch
have u flushed the coolant system if so i would change the sensor and make sure the thermostat is working and installed the right way

he said the fans are working

 

[JEFFREYCASTGSX]

Well the car heats up most when im cruising down the interstate or when i come to a hill it tends to heat up, the fans are mounted up right i made sure when i installed them...i may need to change the sensor or get another thermostat i may try the thermostat first cause its a little cheaper ive put so much money into this thing trying to rid it of the problem...and yes the head was decked everything was straight going back on.

oh and the fans are autozone special haha i know thats bad but when im not at school i work at autozone so i get a discount

Those fans dont move half the air that the oem do.

 

[sk8anddsm]

what would cause the car to heat up going down the road? And i live in west virginia so its pretty cold right now

 

[BIRDCLAWTSi]

do you have an infared thermometer? i would check the upper and lower hoses and compare the readings, that will tell you if the t-stat is opening. what is the temp on your logger? the gauge sensor might be going bad. or crappy connection. do you have a fmic? that could be restricting air flow as well.

 

[williillii]

Trying to figure out why my car runs so hot sometimes...

Its not pushing coolant into the overflow or shooting clouds of steam....but the gauge goes up to the halfway point and sometimes a needle or two past it. It used to stay right on the bottom part of the water symbol on the gauge.

It will usually stay cool when stopped, unless idling for like 15 minutes then it will start to overheat. If I drive above 45mph without the heater/blower on at least one the gauge creeps up to the center. I've noticed it tends to get real hot right when I get off the highway too. And once I've been driving for 2-3 hours it will just start to overheat unless I put the blower on 2-3 with the heater on.

I can find any leaks. I haven't put any coolant in the car in about 3 weeks (since I fixed a leak) and it is still right around full. Recently replaced thermostat 3 weeks ago. All hoses replaced in the last 2-3 months. The radiator was replaced in July. Radiator cap is about 4 months old. I have the stock radiator fan moved to the a/c fans metal shroud on a temp switch, and a secondary fan from a mazda 323 wired to a switch thats always on.

Any one have any ideas what I can do about this? I'm leaning towards the waterpump, but don't those leak out of a weep hole by the bearing once they go bad? Any help is appreciated..

 

[1995gsx20g]

your temp sensor may be at fault for this. have you verified with your eyes with the car running idling for 15min that the overflow fills up a considerable amount? and if so at what temp? could tell you alot more even just the level increase can tell you.

 

[williillii]

Good point, you mean the sensor for the cluster, right? I'll get the logger on it and see what it says..

The fans do kick on full speed and stay on till the gauge comes down though so Im thinking its correct.

 

[Metalpunk68]

Ok so heres my problem,I Keep Overheating and i dont know why.
ive done a transmission flush,and replaced my themostat sensor thing.checked fuses,i'm at a loss i got it to stop about 2 months ago when i did all that,and its doin this again

 

[JEFFREYCASTGSX]

Under what conditions does it overheat? How long does it take to overheat?

 

[Metalpunk68]

I Run It For About ten min and it starts to overheat,even at idle it contnues to overheat

 

[JEFFREYCASTGSX]

Does the heater work? Where did you buy the thermostat from?

 

[kenuwine4g63]

It could be a blown headgasket..But if the temp gauge fluctuates up and down its your thermostate not opening and closing on time. Now if it just gets hot just sitting for 10 minutes like you said and your car is puffing white smoke its your headgasket. I am for sure if you've done everything else thats what it is...Happen to me too many times

 

[Metalpunk68]

I Bought The Thermostat at kragen,its not puffing white smoke.and yes the heater is working when it first started overheating i blared that to keep the temp down.think it might be the fans?

 

[JEFFREYCASTGSX]

Does it have a FMIC? Might want to re-check the coolant level first.

 

[kenuwine4g63]

Are the fans coming on??

 

[Metalpunk68]

No It Has The Stock Sidemount

Im Not Sure They were the last time i checked ill check the fans again

 

[JEFFREYCASTGSX]

So how the coolant level? Do both the top and bottom hoses feel pressurized? Is the radiator hot? Can you feel a difference in temp in the radiator?

 

[Metalpunk68]

Coolant Levels are fine,the fans are not kicking on but the wires and fuses are fine.any ideas?

 

[kenuwine4g63]

If they're not coming on check the fuses, connections and all. But if they are working, and your car overheats where you have to keep puting in more water or anti-freeze and your resevor(###### spelled it wrong) is boiling the antifreeze thats in it its the HG...how did it act the last time you drove it

 

[Metalpunk68]

ive checked the fuses And Connections theres a black looking relay thing?idk how to check it