Overheating

Tiny
SLOWBOY57
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 PONTIAC AZTEK
  • 3.4L
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 207,000 MILES
Car started overheating, reservoir filling up with antifreeze and bubbling. Did a block leak test which showed no combustion gases. Changed radiator cap, did pressure test on radiator and found water pump was leaking. Replaced water pump, bled air yesterday and drove car for about thirty minutes, A/C and heat worked well.. Later yesterday I drove car about five miles, and it was doing fine on way home I stopped at store when I tried to crank car to come home car would not start. Checked battery cables and made sure they were tight. Tried cranking again, this time giving it gas and was able to drive car home, about 1/4 mile. This morning tried starting car and it started right up turned heat on, and no heat. Decided to try bleeding air again, reservoir filled up with coolant and was bubbling again. Please help. Need car and running out of ideas. Someone point me in the right direction. I replaced thermostat a couple years ago. Cooling fans do come on, but not sure if they come on as often as they should. They do come on when A/C is on. I bled again yesterday, and so far it's doing okay. A little 'sloshing' under dash, but no 'gurgling' sound as before I bled it. Thanks
Saturday, April 22nd, 2017 AT 7:42 AM

12 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
It may have been an air pocket or maybe a head gasket make sure coolant is full and then keep an eye on it. If it goes down it may be a head gasket.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Sunday, April 23rd, 2017 AT 8:58 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,940 POSTS
Hello,

I does sound like it's head gasket even though it did not show up int he test. The test is only about 80% accurate and does miss some problems at times and these engines are prone to it.

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, April 26th, 2017 AT 9:39 AM
Tiny
SLOWBOY57
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
I've been babying car and taking it easy with it. My wife and I drove 200 miles to beach and back without any major problems. The other day my son drove car about 20+ miles, round trip, while car was overheating. Now, it really has a problem, coolant bubbling and backing up into reservoir. Can't drive 2.5 miles without it heating up. How do I check for blown head gasket?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, October 29th, 2017 AT 12:44 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,940 POSTS
Yep the best way is to follow this guide and it will show you how to check for a blown head gasket.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, October 30th, 2017 AT 11:05 AM
Tiny
SLOWBOY57
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Started having more problems with overheating. Took car to Pontiac Dealership to be checked out. They said compression was good and no gases in coolant. Also put new radiator cap on since the one I had put on there was an aftermarket one and they said it was leaking.

Car is still doing as before, overheating and backing up into coolant reservoir and bubbling with a vengeance.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, November 28th, 2017 AT 8:31 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,940 POSTS
Can you hear the electric fans going when the engine is running? This guide may help us find out what's going on.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-overheating-or-running-hot

Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, November 28th, 2017 AT 1:13 PM
Tiny
SLOWBOY57
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Thanks for reply Ken.
Yes sir I heard and saw fans come on.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, November 29th, 2017 AT 5:02 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,940 POSTS
Yep it sounds like you have a blown head gasket that the test is not picking up. The only other thing I can think of is a water pump impeller has fallen apart and is not circulating the coolant as it should. This guide may help as well.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-overheating-or-running-hot

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, November 29th, 2017 AT 11:07 AM
Tiny
SLOWBOY57
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
I would like to double check to be sure there is no ambient air being sucked into cooling system before making a decision whether or not to trash car. Trade-in is only $500 and selling to private individual is only about $1000. New battery, tires, etc that I have on it is worth more than that.

Can't afford rebuild $2500-$4000, or new engine $6000 [estimates I received].

Noticeable sloshing underneath the dash.

Try to bleed air out, but it always comes back.

Would like to know how to check for where air might be getting into cooling system if there's a way.

$6000 engine replacement is out of the realm of my finances.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, November 30th, 2017 AT 7:27 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,940 POSTS
Yep, it sounds like a blown head gasket. You might want to try BlueDevil head gasket repair. My Uncle swears by it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NOO798/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=2carprcom-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B000NOO798&linkId=aab8dcc373176cad7bb92b7e7f767a87

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, November 30th, 2017 AT 12:07 PM
Tiny
SLOWBOY57
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Thanks Ken.
Yeah, it's going on day 2 since I last drove car. Haven't even started it and the reservoir is still full of coolant from where radiator overflowed into it. Not sure why coolant hasn't gone back into radiator. I thought it is suppose to when engine cools down. Hence - cool mark on reservoir.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, December 1st, 2017 AT 5:09 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,940 POSTS
A radiator cap will make it so the coolant doesn't flow back into the cooling system. Or a leak in the system. Here is guide that can help. Try the blue!

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/radiator-pressure-test

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-is-leaking-coolant

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, December 1st, 2017 AT 11:42 AM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Sponsored links