1995 Dodge Intrepid Keeps over-heating

Tiny
LIQUID_NIKI
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 DODGE INTREPID
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 213,100 MILES
OK, about mid-summer, the car started overheating. If I'd sit in idle, there'd be no warning, and the gauge would shoot straight up and the antifreeze would just shoot straight out the overflow hose. We replaced the water pump, and it overheated a few more times, then just stopped. It seemed to only overheat if we ran the air in town. We were told that we should probably replace the thermostat to stave off any future problems. So we replaced the thermostat and lo and behold, it's overheating worse than it did before. If we sit at a stop light for any length of time, it overheats right then and there. If I run the heater it seems to slow down the pace at which it overheats, but it doesn't stop it. It also has dual fans in the front, and one of them does not seem to be working.
Tuesday, September 14th, 2010 AT 5:26 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,179 POSTS
Are you sure the thermostat was put in correctly? As far as the fan, if it isn't coming on, that will cause it to overheat when sitting and not moving. The one fan should come on with the AC. Have you tried to see if the fan with power direct to it?
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Friday, September 17th, 2010 AT 8:47 AM
Tiny
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Thanks for the reply, I am so sorry I haven't been back before now. Working round the clock trying to save up money.

So here's what's new. If I have to drive 30 miles and it's non-stop, the car does fine. If I am driving in town and hit too many stop lights, it over heats.

I'm not 100% certain the thermostat was put in properly, but a mechanic friend of ours did it and I'm fairly confident that it's ok.

The fan on the passenger side does kick on, but the fan on the driver side does not. I'm beginning to think it may be a fan problem. Thoughts?
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Saturday, October 9th, 2010 AT 1:43 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,179 POSTS
They should be coming on. That is where I would start. What you are saying makes sense because at highway speed you have good air flow through the radiator. In stop and go traffic, the cooling system depends on the fans. Just for curiosity, does the other fan come on with the AC? Does it overheat if the AC is on?
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Saturday, October 9th, 2010 AT 10:43 PM

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