1996 Saturn SC2 Overheating

Tiny
LMGRIEGO
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 SATURN SC2
Engine Cooling problem
1996 Saturn SC2 4 cyl Manual 70,500 miles

I have had fan motor, thermostat, temp sensor and radiator cap replaced. Car seems ok on highway but overheating when I am making small trips. Last time I took it in they said that they can't find anything wrong.
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 AT 11:32 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Start the car, let it sit idleing, if you have a thermometer, find the thermostat, measure the temp at the ect when the fan starts, it should be 223-225, if fan never comes on, further testing is required. If you have a/c, turn it on, the fan should come on as soon as the compressor does. Next time it starts to overheat, turn on a/c, does it stop overheating?
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Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 AT 12:16 PM
Tiny
LMGRIEGO
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I don't have a thermometer, but I can say that sometimes after I turn the car off that the fan is still going.
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Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 AT 12:22 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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First off thank u so much for ur donation.I know u have had ur fan motor replaced but when u turn ur a/c on does the fan come on for ur radiator?Also u had ur coolant temp sensor replaced but on ur car when the sensors go bad alot of the time they leak coolant into the connector causing them to get corroded and not send back the proper temp to the gauge and pcm when the car is cold below where ur upper hose goes onto the head ur coolant temp sensor is screwed in the head below there it has a black and yellow wire going to it the two larger parts of the connector are the releases so just squeese each side to release and look at the connector its usually green when there corroded if its green u need to replace the connector u might want to use a flashlight to look at it sometimes there hard to see if it looks ok snap it back on. Also another thing u want to look at is u should have a air deflector hanging down under ur car that directs air into ur radiator especially when ur not driving on the freeway without it it could cause the the car to overheat in the conditions u describe its right there below the radiator. Another thing that is often over looked on a overheating concern on a car is a bag in the radiator area blocking the air flow thru it also cat and dog hair sand etc with the fan running there should be a good amount of air flow being pulled thru the radiator so with the fan on put ur hand in front of the fan and give it a feel. Well checking all this stuff should keep u busy but wernt not going leave out the fact that one of those parts replaced could be bad as well. Let me know what u find.
Louie
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Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 AT 12:28 PM
Tiny
LMGRIEGO
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Louie,
Thanks for your help. Temp went into the red this weekend and so I took it back to garage. They found leak in water pump. They felt bad that that they didn't catch it last time so I only have to pay for the part no labor. Thank goodness. I appreciate your time and I will refer you in the future.
Regards,
Lisa
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Monday, November 30th, 2009 AT 6:26 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
Iam glad u got ur overheating all squared away u hadn't mentioned a leak so good thing they got that all fixed for u.I would love to help u out in future good luck too u. Also feedback greatly appreachiated.
Louie
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Monday, November 30th, 2009 AT 8:36 PM

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