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!

 

[greathuskie]

radiator scoop is done, but has anyone else had experience with the mishimoto running hot? it looks to be very well built...i also have their fan.

 

[chenk18]

I had a problem with mine running hot. I had 2 12" Mishimoto fans with it and my temperatures rose uncontrollably. When I contacted them they said it might be because I had just the fans and not the shroud. So, I put the stock fan back in to see if that was it, and it was. I haven't made a shroud for it because the stock fan is working and I haven't found a big enough piece of aluminum.

I hope this is how you post the link to my thread:

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/newbie-forum/370214-overheating-confused.html

 

[slow gst]

I had the water pump replaced 75 miles ago its oem, I also replaced the thermostat and coolant temp sensor. I drove the car 5 miles and it overheated the coolant just bubbles and comes out of the overflow so I waited a half hour for it to cool down and filled it back up with coolant and drove another 9 miles home and watched the temp gauge not move at all. I'm stumped I have no idea what it could be.

 

[black_eclipse96]

so are you saying the temp gauge isn't moving at all or staying where it should

 

[Killian]

Did you replace the cap at the same time as all the others? Is the system holding pressure?

 

[slow gst]

The gauge stayed in the middle where its supposed to and I replaced the cap awhile ago

 

[black_eclipse96]

did you flush and burp the system? usually when it overheats it's a good thing to replace the cap, t stat and temp sensor.

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

Maybe it was just an air pocket. Is it losing any coolant now that you have refilled it and the temp guage is staying in the middle? As long as you have no leaks, it is not overheating, and the system is staying full you should be ok.

 

[slow gst]

It only loses coolant when it overheats and dumps out of the overflow. I checked the oil and its not milky so I don't think it could be the headgasket..

Could it possibly be my FMIC blocking the radiator? On the highway tonight the car was fine but once I got off and hit a few lights it started to heat up and by the time I got home there was a coolant trail leading into my driveway..

 

[scott91370]

Not new to DSMs, just first time poster.

I've been chasing this problem for about 4 years now. Normally I don't drive it when it's hot out, but the tranny in the truck is shot so I don't have a choice.

In the begining the temp gauge was always rock solid. Never moved summer or winter. A few years back it started getting warm with th a/c on with no changes to the car.

Parts replaced (not just because of this):
Water Pump (2nd one in 2000 miles)
Cap (mitsu - 500 miles)
Thermostat (mitsu - 500 miles)
Radiator (Koyo - 500 miles)
All hoses (up/low, heater, to/from turbo - less than 10k)
Coolant at 50/50 mix & burp for about 30 minutes after fill up to make sure there is no air in the system

Also, my compressor went out, so I did some a/c replacement, all with less than 500 miles:
Compressor
Drier
Condensor
Hose between the condensor & evaporator
Expansion valve

Today it was about 98* & humid so a/c was pretty much needed. But I wanted to see if the a/c on caused the overheating.
A/C Off:
Drove 20ish miles on the highway (temps fine)
Got to town and got stuck in the red lights (temps fine)
Went to the car wash, rolled the windows up and turned on the a/c- got hot in about 30seconds- stayed that way through the whole car wash.

Came out of the car wash, turned the a/c off, rolled windows down and drove about 1 mile without stopping at 30mph and car cooled back off.

I did not turn the a/c back on after that.
I do not have actual numbers because my datalogger will not connect (bad cable I think).

I have had 3 mechanics look at this and nobody can figure it out.

Thanks in advance for all the info that is on this board and for any answers you guys have.

 

[TSITurbo95]

Do you have a FMIC? Are both fans turning on?

 

[fede]

maybe air in the system?? are both fans working properly??

 

[scott91370]

I do have a FMIC but I took it off at one point to rule it out (put a 'straight pipe' in for testing). Car still got hot.

Both fans work and turn on at the correct time/temp

No air in the system. I ran that thing for at least 30 minutes, burping it and filling it.

 

[TSITurbo95]

So you have an aluminum radiator with 2 fans and its still over heating? Sounds like a faulty thermostat, but can't because it only happens when the ac is on. Try different fans? More CFM's. Try burping it again, still could be air in the line.

 

[slickers111]

TSITurbo95, your car still has a sexy ass.
Are you sure the car is actually getting hot? Not that the thermostat Sensor is malfunctioning.

 

[scott91370]

Yes, it has a new sensor (connection on old one got loose and I replaced it). The temps, before my datalogger crapped out, were getting up to 235. That was when I stopped driving it.

I did have a slim lilne in but I was able to get the stock fan back on the passengers side.


And if there is air in the system I don't think it will come out. I am not exagerating when I saw it was at leat 30 minutes burping the system after it was to operating temp.

 

[19EagleTSIAWD95]

So i have a 2g TSI AWD, and just yesterday i was normally driving it and it just started to get hotter and hotter. dont know the problem. we burped the coolant system, my fans are coming on, its stock, and i just am stumped as to why it does this. any ideas?

 

[wickedz]

sounds like the radiator is clogged. It happen to my 1g just normal driving. It went hotter and hotter, then just overheat. Save yourself the hassel and engine, and get a new radiator and im sure your problems will be cured.

Or stuck thermostat

 

[kd42010]

DO you have a thermostat? If so its probably stuck.

If not then like the guy above me said check your radiator, it may be time for a new one.

 

[v-mac]

just recently put on the FMIC. the issue is not as bad as it sounds but just enough to make me uncomfertable. i drove 2 hours to the mtns and when i got to them i started goin up and my car started getting hotter than normal..so i would let off the gas and it would cool off some....basically going up the mountains having to boost to get up for a extended period of time seems to make the car heat up to about 3/4 the way up the reader....anything i can do to handle this? the car drives fine down highway and around town but i dont like this...WTF

 

[Blurred Talon]

It happens a lot, search ducting or duct or ducts on here along with fmic. I had some links but just reformatted my computer and lots everything.

Basically, air follows the path of less resistance so if there are gaps then the air will go there rather then through the fmic and then the rad.

 

[RiGs2G]

there are a few threads on this. Make sure your cooling system is in top shape and working corretly. You need to mak ducting from the FMIC to your radiator and possibly better fans to help keep the car cooler. Its something Im fighting myself.

 

[v-mac]

thanks guys ill get on the ducting deal

 

[cutty2fast]

when i got my car it only had the one fan on the drivers side of the radiator (the 16g j-pipe wouldnt clear the fan), and the stock side mount, but after i put the fmic in i started having random overheating issues i got a 14inch slim fan and put it on the other side of the radiator and now it doesnt go over 200 for nothing.

 

[slickers111]

I would do the duct thing.
The getan aluminum rad, with slimline fans.