Engine overheating

Tiny
KAHUFFMAN8784
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO
  • 6 CYL
  • 150,000 MILES
My 2005 Monte Carlo (3.4 V6) says hot coolant temp, temp guage goes into red but blows out cold air through the heater vents. It seems to only do it when I am stopped or driving slowly. I replaced the thermostat and water pump, each time it ran fine for a few weeks then started acting up again. I already put another motor in it because of a cracked head. Any suggestions? Coolant does not leak and is always full.
Wednesday, May 18th, 2011 AT 4:33 AM

54 Replies

Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,990 POSTS
Hello,

Is the cooling fan working? It sounds like it could have a blown head gasket here are two guides to help us see whats going on.

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

and

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

Please run down these guides and report back.
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Wednesday, May 18th, 2011 AT 5:37 AM
Tiny
KAHUFFMAN8784
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I don't know if the radiator fan works, I guess I am trying to figure out everything I need to check. I usually have a mechanic, but he is sick, and I am trying to do a little homework before I take it somewhere. The car will turn on when it is hot, but if it goes in the red while driving, it doesn't have very much power, but after a few seconds it will run just fine. The new mechanic told me possibly intake gaskets but said it's a big job. Another mechanic told me it's just the temperature guage and that's an easy fix.
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Wednesday, May 18th, 2011 AT 3:52 PM
Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,990 POSTS
Intake gaskets should mean coolant is leaking either into crankcase or out of top motor. This could create an air pocket which could act like you describe.
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Thursday, May 19th, 2011 AT 3:34 AM
Tiny
BRETT_GILBERT
  • MEMBER
  • 0 POST
Thanks for this post I did the guide and found a blown head gasket is causing my problems.
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:03 PM
Tiny
DONNAWELLS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2005 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 140,000 MILES
My car is overheating I have a 05' Chev Monte Carlo
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Try replacing the thermostat-start here.
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DONNAWELLS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thank you
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DDAD77623
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2005 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 85,000 MILES
My 2005 Monte temp light comes on when I drive in town. It goes off when I am on the highway.
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check the coolant level, thermostat and engine coolant temperature sensor-
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HANCH56
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO
  • 128,000 MILES
Engine overheats when I use the AC.
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
When the car overheats are any of your cooling fans running?If so which ones?
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HANCH
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Fans seem to be running, but when the AC is turned on I hear a lot of clicking and the idle goes up and down. Also having trouble logging in and out.
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Check and see if that clicking is the a/c compressor cycling on and off?Also when its overheating are both fans running on high?Is there a lot of air being pulled thru them?Have you checked the radiator and a/c condensor for being blocked with plastic bags debris like sand dirt animal fur etc?Sometimes it's hard to see the blockage of the fins. Also what size engine do you have?
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HANCH
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Yes it is a 3.4 motor. The clicking is the AC compressor cycling on and off. The fans are running but do not seem to change speeds at all. Did not find anything blocking the radiater.
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HANCH
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
OK I just went out and checked out the fans behind the radiater. The one on the passenger side spins freely. The one on the drivers side does not spin at all.
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
AUSTIN C JONES
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO
  • 3.8L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 235,000 MILES
I had a hose blow going down the interstate so I repaired it on the side of the road and drove to the nearest auto parts store to get a hose. Before the hose busted the heat stopped working but the car was not overheating, but now the car is overheating and there is no heat coming out when I turn the heat on even though I have changed the thermostat. My brother was putting a bunch of stop leak stuff in it because the radiator was leaking, but we replaced it and I have flushed out the heater core.
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
If the fan motor is frozen up solid and wont turn then sounds like you have a bad fan motor I would replace it. Sounds like that is your problem causing thr overheating and a/c compressor to cycle from too high of pressure from the fan being inop.
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
I have seen plenty of bad head gaskets that were bad ran fine and had great compression. Chemical block tester is a much better way to tell if the there is a issue with the head or gasket etc. If the car didn't get really hot any of the times it over heated then I would suspect it's ok as far as that goes. When it gets normal operating temp are both the upper and lower radiator hoses getting too hot to hold?If they aren't sounds like there is air in the cooling system.
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HANCH
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I believe that is the problem. Thanks for the help. I remember having that replaced last october, I'll check to see if it is warranteed. Thanks again!
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
That would also explain why the heater is into also. But let's start with the most important the overheating. Also that stop leak is bad news it clogs things up like heater cores.
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:04 PM (Merged)

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