Why is car running hot?

BUCKDODGER

MEMBER
2010 CHEVROLET AVEO
69,000 MILES

Car started running hot all of a sudden, 4 days ago. Check engine light came on with code for "improper coolant flow". Replaced t-stat/housing with GM part from dealer. Warmed car up then drove approx 5 miles temp held steady. Parked car for approx 2hrs then left to go to town, immediately started running hot-cold-hot and has no power at take-off. RPMs climb but car barely goes, got worse the more I drove. Feels like converter stopped up but plenty of exhaust coming out. Boiling coolant within 2 miles from home.

4 Replies

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,797 POSTS

You may have damaged the motor from overheating. Have a leak down test performed to verify a head gasket.

Roy

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Thursday, August 9th, 2012 AT 12:47 AM

BUCKDODGER

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Its possible that gasket blew and caused overheating but I don't think it was hot enough to blow gasket in that order. Check engine light came on approx 30 minutes before it started overheating and it was parked as soon as it started. Oil and coolant are both clean. I just got a recall notice for plugs and wires due to power loss issues but this is different. May be seperate issues but my primary concern is overheating. Possibly WP?

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Thursday, August 9th, 2012 AT 12:59 AM

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,797 POSTS

As I said, start with a leak down test to verify head gasket. Useless to go forward if the head gasket is blown.

Roy

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Thursday, August 9th, 2012 AT 1:08 AM

CJ MEDEVAC

MECHANIC
11,004 POSTS

I'VE SEEN 3 RECENT SITUATIONS LIKE THIS

YOU GOT WATER PUMPS WITH METAL IMPELLERS

YOU GOT 'EM WITH PLASTIC IMPELLERS TOO

LOOKS LIKE YA MIGHT HAVE A METAL ONE---THEN YOU REPLACE IT WITH A PLASTIC ONE.....OR VISA-VERSA!!!

IF YOU CAN GET A METAL ONE.....MY OPINION, THAT'S SHOULD BE THE STANDARD!

I LOOKED UP YOURS (I THINK) VERIFY IT TOP AND LEFT OF PIC, IN THIS LINK

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/Duralast-New-Water-Pump/2010-Chevrolet-Aveo-LS/_/N-jxjmxZ8ii0v?itemIdentifier=965089_381126_10947_

THIS ONE IN THE LINK IS "NEW"......BUT IT HAS A DANGED PLASTIC IMPELLER :-(

I HAVE 3 PUMPS THAT WERE RECENTLY GIVEN TO ME

2 ARE 90s VWs----THE ONE IN THESE PICS BELOW ARE A 1997 FORD TAURUS 3.0-4V (IF THEY TOLD ME RIGHT)

PLEASE AGREE WITH ME THAT THIS IS A STUPID DESIGN!

(I'M NOT SAYING THE ONE YOU HAVE IS PLASTIC---I'VE SEEN IT BOTH WAYS FOR THE SAME VEHICLE)

WITHOUT A MEGA TEAR-DOWN....THIS IS A SUGGESTION ON POSSIBLY HOW TO CHECK FOR THIS PROBLEM

CAR IS COOL---REMOVE WATER-PUMP BELT----REMOVE LOWER RADIATOR HOSE AS IT ENTERS THE WATER PUMP

SHOVE SOMETHING!....A WIRE....A SCREWDRIVER....WHATEVER, INTO THE PUMP WHERE YOU TOOK OFF THE HOSE......... FINAGLE IT AROUND TILL YOU SHOULD BE IN THE IMPELLER FINS

NOW GENTLY MOVE THE WATER-PUMP PULLEY---IS IT GRABBING?....OR IS IT FREE?.....IS YOUR WIRE IN THE FINS?

NOT TOO HARD--YOU'LL DAMAGE THE FINS

IF IF SPINS FREE...AND YOU FEEL SURE YOUR WIRE IS IN THE RIGHT SPOT........YOU MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT "MR. TAURUS" HAD

JUST SOME THOUGHTS....STUFF A DIYer MIGHT TRY, BEFORE SENDING IT TO A SHOP

.......PS: FYI, THIS COULD NEVER HAPPEN TO A PRE-1986 JEEP CJ!...LAST PIC, HE'S 66 YEARS YOUNG--WILL OUTLAST THE OTHER 2 CARS BESIDE HIM!

YOUR TURN

THE MEDIC

THEY TOLD ME THE MISSING PIECE(S) IS LOST IN THE SYSTEM SOMEWHERE

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