I recently purchased my car, a 1999 Eclipse RS, with a 96 motor in it. The cars overheating problems started the day after I bought it.

The coolant overflow bottle had a crack in it, and the coolant leaked out. I assumed that was the only heat problem.

And after I fixed the bottle it would still overheat, but only while sitting still, which I discovered was the radiator fan, so I hardwired the fan to a switch, and the problems went away.

But now, it has started again, it overheats while sitting still. I have checked the coolant level, and it is good, I have checked the fan and it is good. Any leads would be great!
And also if it helps, my A/C is out, I dont know if it ever worked, and also the heat doesnt work.

Have you checked/replaced the thermostat?

properly bled the coolant?

sounds like your thermostat is stuck open. it causes the coolant to constantly circulate and never gets a chance to cool down when sitting still, fan on or not.

It's not the thermostat. Normally when the thermostat is bad, it overheats all the time from my experience. Take your radiator out, and shoot some pressurized water through it. Bet you'll see dirt and everything pour out of it.

I had the same problem. It would overheat while idling, but when I drove it cooled down. There are probably better ways to flush out a radiator, but I used a water hose, and once all the dirt come out of the cores, it idled without overheating.

JRock20G said:

properly bled the coolant?

Click to expand...

My question as well. If you've gotten air in the system, you need to 'burp' it. Which basically entails letting the car idle with the cap off.

Burping is only needed when you drain the radiator which he didn't do. Best mix for coolent to dissipate heat is 70% water 30% coolent. I agree with the radiator flush and thermostat. Probably have gunk in the front of it which is blocking the air to pass through 100%. Garden hose works good too make sure it's distilled water you mix with it. Good luck

Try taken out your thermostat out and get a garden hose and pull your drain plug out. Stick the hose in ## radiator and clean it out. The stick the plug in, then full it up run it and repeat and clean out your water pump and if that doesn't even work you might have to replace your water pump and good time to do matinence.