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Question: 2001 Mazda Tribute, miles:
78,300 It has been running hot. I've had the thermostat,
hoses, water pump and radiator caps changed and the car
is still running hot. I've reviewed your website and saw
that people had all this stuff in their oil and I don't.
I just recently had a compression check done and the
mechanic says it is fine. Please help me to figure this
out. I had a mechanic says that it could be a cracked
head or block. What ever that means!
Answer: You may have an radiator
that is partially plugged. Replace radiator with new to
repair problem.
Question: 2002 Lexus RX 330 mileage:
65,000. I am completely stumped on this problem. It's
going on a year now, and neither I nor any mechanics
have been able to resolve it. The engine overheats when
the thermostat is installed. When the thermostat is
removed, it holds a normal temperature. When it
overheats, the scalding water comes out of the small
hose leading to the water reservoir. So, the radiator
cap is relieving the interior section and permitting the
hot water to escape. What is causing this? There, that's
all the question I have. But let me explain what I've
done to try to eliminate the problem. 1. Have already
bought three thermostats. 2. Have installed the
thermostats with the spring assembly toward the engine,
and the rubber seal on the circumference of the
thermostat. 3. Have bought three different radiator caps
(one was actually defective). All caps are made for
Lexus with a 16-psi relief pressure. 4. Had radiator
removed and manually cleaned by professional radiator
shop. 5. Replaced the two main hoses to and from
radiator. 6. When checked with pressure gauge on
radiator water fill section, there are no leaks in the
system. 7. Water does not leak from the system. 8.
Temperature sensor on thermostat housing has been
checked and is working fine. When temperature increases,
hydraulic fan is increased in speed and blows like
crazy. 9. Short circuited hydraulic fan sensor to keep
fan activated at full speed when system was full of
water. Driving car lasted about 5 minutes until engine
completely overheated into red zone. 10. Strangely
enough, I placed the thermostat in the engine last
night, and other than a slight overheating of the system
for about 20 seconds, I was able to drive the car for
over an hour with no apparent over temperature
condition. The next morning, however, I checked the
water and it was low. Took about 2 quarts to fill. This
may have been due to not completely filling the system
the night before. 11. Checked both thermostats today in
hot water on the stove. Both opened at about 190C so I'm
guessing that they both work. They are both new. 12. If
I drive the car without a thermostat, I never have an
overheating problem, nor does the car lose water. 13. A
new water pump was installed last year. 14. New belts
were installed last year. What are some possible things
to check to resolve this mystery? Is there anything in
the engine section where the thermostat housing is
attached, which is mechanical and can be damaged? As you
can see, I'm at a loss for a solution to this problem.
No one has been able to resolve it, and it's now over
one year. This car was not well cared for in the past
and my mechanic changed the pistons, rings, bearings and
seals in the motor, along with the water pump. Valves
were cleaned and the heads milled slightly for flatness.
This car apparently had this problem before I bought it.
Someone has installed an electric fan with silicone
sealant on the a/c radiator. We've disconnected the fan,
but can't get it off due to the bonding of the silicone.
While I would like to think that this has something to
do with the engine overheating, I know it doesn't. It's
just an eyesore and something that will eventually be
removed. So, if you are the genie with the magic
solution, please, please let me know! Hoping that you
guys are better at solving this than the mechanics down
here.
Answer: You have a leaky head
gasket problem or a cracked head. Disassemble to replace
head gasket of cylinder head with new, reassemble to
recheck system.
Question: 2002 Dodge Ram 3500
mileage: 47,000. I just bought this truck from an older
couple it looked great and ran great. Until my seventeen
year old son overheated it. When we bought it, the guy
said that there was a leak in the cooling system that he
could not find. Well I found it! It is coming from the
head gasket into the # 1 cylinder. No antifreeze has
gotten in the oil so do you think that just changing the
head gasket will solve the problem? Any help or tips
would be great.
Answer: In addition to
replacing the head gasket, we would recommend
resurfacing the cylinder head and checking it for
cracks.
Question: 2001 Ford Focus mileage:
110,000. I'm having a problem with the electric cooling
fan. The fan will not come on which causes the car to
run hot. The fan motor works when straight wired to the
battery. It also works if I remove the wire from the
electric fan switch and ground it. During
troubleshooting I have replaced the electric fan switch,
the a/c-cooling fan module and air temperature sensor.
This is why I replaced the fan switch. Also note that
the a/c compressor does not kick in, unless I jumper it
at the accumulator press switch. When this is done the
compressor kicks in and the electric fan kicks in,
remove the jumper and compressor kicks out (like it
should) and the fan runs for a few seconds (like it
should) before cutting off. Also note the code scanner
does not give any trouble codes. It all checks out fine.
What have I missed? I have spent numerous hours
troubleshooting and looking at wiring diagrams, with
very small print, I'm stumped!
Answer: It sounds like you
have temperature sensor that is operating out of range.
Replace the temperature sensor to repair the problem.
Question:
1999 Toyota Camry mileage: 90,000. Hi Guys, My
daughter just made a trip to California from New York to
start a new job. Had timing belt, catalytic
converter, belts, antifreeze (flush and change), new air
filter, new spark plugs, all changed. The car ran
great until she got to the mountains. Overheated
every time she started to go up the mountain. She
is now in Sequoia National Forest and can't get her car
up to her campground because it over heats on the road
up the mountain. Traveling from around 3000 ft. to
7000 ft in elevation. Any idea what could be going
on with it? It runs great until she starts up the
mountain roads. No overheating until then.
She's on her own out there and need some advice as to
where to start to have someone trouble shoots it for
you. Running the heater full blast did seem to
help at times, but is not helping now. Thanks for any
advice you can give us.
Answer:
A partially plugged radiator may be causing your
problem. Replace the radiator with new to repair
problem.
Question:
2002 Dodge Caravan mileage: 76,000. My cooling fan
keeps going out. First time dealer said the module
was faulty, probably getting too much amperage and blew
the fan. I bought a used fan, it lasted 4 months
until it went out. I can't find another used fan.
This makes me think this a common problem and what is
the likely cause?
Answer:
Your best bet is to replace it with a new fan motor
assembly.
Question:
1999 Jeep Cherokee mileage: 128,000. This thing
will not stop overheating. I have put a new head, head
gasket, water holding tank, oil change, flushed twice,
new thermostat housing and new thermostat five times,
two different new radiators, new hoses and a tune-up.
I am at my wits end and I have had help from everyone.
Can you please shed some light on this problem for me?
Thank you.
Answer:
Check the cooling system clutch fan, if there is any
sign of leakage the fan clutch has failed and need to be
replaced to repair problem.
Question:
2002 Chevy S-10 Pick Up mileage: 53,000. Recently
have started overheating, checked fluid levels (ok), and
pulled radiator cap, no movement of water and top return
hose was limp. Replaced thermostat & gasket.
Replenished fluids, let run with cap off (trying to get
rid of air) worked ok for about two weeks, then started
overheating and no heat/defrost. Rechecked fluid
levels cold engine radiator and overflow all were fine.
Highway driving for a week no problems. Then 35 to
50 mph, started overheating, reservoir was low,
replenished, highway speed for 45 miles, temp up and
down, now overheated as pulling off highway and low
speed driving. Fluid levels still ok. Unable
to figure out what’s happening. Overheated in
Olympia.
Answer:
Check the cooling system clutch fan, if there is any
sign of leakage the fan clutch has failed and need to be
replaced to repair problem.
Question:
2002 Chrysler Sebring mileage: 55,000. Car has
been overheating twice at separate stations the head
gasket has been repaired. The overheating fan
relay was replaced. The antifreeze still leaks
from the radiator cap eventually the car will overheat
again. Water pump, thermostat gaskets have been
replaced. What could cause the pressure build up
and how would the mechanic repair? Cap is new.
Thank you I am presently stuck out of town.
Answer:
A partially plugged radiator may be causing your
problem. Replace the radiator with new to repair
problem.
Question: 2003
Ford Taurus mileage: 70,000. I have an overheating
problem caused by the coolant overflowing the top of the
coolant expansion tank. I have replaced the
radiator cap, the thermostat, the temperature-sensing
switch and the water pump. The radiator fan is
electric and runs when the coolant temperature gets to
215 degrees and switches off at 210 degrees. The
running time of the fan is very short (about 20
seconds). When the car is parked, the cooling
system seems to be operating properly. I can see
the coolant level in the expansion tank go back into the
system when the fan comes on. But after about 15
to 20 minutes of driving the coolant starts overflowing
the expansion tank. This problem seems to have
started after the water pump went out and the car
overheated. The problem occurs mostly in cold
weather because when we run the A/C the radiator fan
runs constantly. It seems to me that the radiator
fan is not running long enough.
Answer:
A partially plugged radiator may be causing your
problem. Replace the radiator with new to repair
problem.
Question:
1999 Honda Accord mileage: 97,000. My car is been
over heating and I've replaced the radiator, radiator
cap. For 2 weeks, it ran fine but it soon started up
again. It gets hot suddenly, rapidly. I have
also flushed the radiator twice. Could you please
give me an explanation or how to fix it?
Answer: Your thermostat sounds like it
is malfunctioning. Replace thermostat with new to
recheck system.
Question:
2002 Buick Park Avenue
mileage: 51,000. I've been having trouble with my
car overheating. The engine light ONLY comes on
while using the heater/defrost (NOT when we use the A/C
though). A year ago, I replaced the Water pump and
thermostat (and its housing). Now the Heater
refuses to work all the time. It did start to work
after adding coolant and water, but the car still
overheated. Any suggestions?
Answer: Your radiator may be low on
water causing it to overheat. Coolant may be lost
through a water pump or it could be that the radiator is
plugged which causes overheating resulting in the lose
of coolant.
Question:
2002 Infinity G20
mileage: 64,000. Hey guys, need your help. I have
been stiffed for $700.00 bucks. The engine has
been running hot; temperature gauge on hot, blowing cool
air. First it was "running low on oil; tightened
drain plug. Week later same problem: then my
so-called mechanic installed a thermostat. Couple
of days later; same problem: this time "needed" a new
radiator cause it was leaking antifreeze. Two days
later same problem. This time they want to stiff
me for 1350.00 for a "head gasket”, Can't anyone, tell
me what is wrong with it? Need a second opinion.
HELP!
Answer:
If your car is losing coolant, which causes it to run
hot, it must be determined where the coolant leak is.
It may be an external leak (coolant hoses, water pump,
etc.) Once determining the problem, repair as
needed to recheck system.
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