Engine overheating

Tiny
KATIESMONTE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 101,800 MILES
We've replaced plugs and wires. Radiator is not losing any water. Overheats periodically. Seems to heat up when pushing the accelerator pedal, but cools off when in cruise control mode or slowing down. Constantly running at 1/2 mark. Running heater full tilt doesn't seem to affect the motor cooling, however: Yesterday I had heater blowing and had hot air. This morning, I had the heater blowing - and only got cold air?

Thermostat maybe? Block sensor?
Are either easy to fix without going to a dealership/mechanic? (I replaced my water pump and thermostat on my 85 Mustang - but it didn't have the computer sensors like the Monte does.)
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RENAUDTN
  • MECHANIC
  • 636 POSTS
So you mean it starts overheating only when you push hard on the gas pedal, but engine is fine the rest of the time?
If so, it could be that the car overheats only when put under greater load and is fine the rest of the time because the need for cooling is not as bad.

It could be that your cooling system is a little glogged and needs a good cleaning.
Try back flushing your cooling system; maybe it'll help your heater problem too.

What's your level of coolant like?
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SHERMANSLOT
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 180,000 MILES
My car overheats while I am driving it, but when it idles it will cool down. Is that the thermostat going bad or could it be a drive belt?
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
Yes your thermostat could be going bad, also you may want to check the engine coolant temp sensor if your fans arent coming on.
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PITCHER12
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 169,900 MILES
I have a problem with my engine continuing to overheat. I put water in it once or twice a day just to get from home to work. I know I need to put anti-freeze in it but I am afraid that I have a leak and I dont want it leaking antifreeze everywhere. I havent spotted one though. Could this be an issue with my water pump? When I release the pressure on the coolant cap it fills with water and cools it down momentarily. Help!
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
White smoke from exhaust? Oil look normal? Cooling fans working?
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
M_BRYANNA
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO
  • 6 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 122,000 MILES
My car runs hot when i'm not accelerating. I had my thermostat replaced in nov/dec, and my reservoir isn't bone dry. What could be wrong?
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check the thermostat again, radiator if its clogged, and water pump if its pumping coolant-also the cooling fan-
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BRITTANYBLALOCK
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO
My car light came on to add coolant and started to heat up when it is sitting steal? And when I drove the temperature gauge stays at around 25% up! It usually stays all the way at the bottom at 0. I added a little bit of coolant becasause it wasnt that low? The highest it got was 50% on the gauge while at the store. Do I have a bad problem?
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-1
Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,990 POSTS
Make sure your cooling fan is working. When car is sitting/not moving with engine on the fan needs to run to cool it off otherwise it will overheat.
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHYNA WHYTE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO
  • 12,000 MILES
Car is running hot.
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Check coolant level then when hot and fans disconnected check radiator for cold spots if you feel any then radiator is no good. Then have a mechanic pressure check your cooling system for a head gasket leak.
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NICCEL
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO
Engine Cooling problem
2002 Chevy Monte Carlo 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic

my radiator coolant is milky, but the cars doesn't run hot. What could be wrong
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:06 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Hi there,

Oil in the coolant can also be from the transmission cooler if it is internal of the radiator, but a cross leak from a small crack in a head will cause this as well, if left it will develop into a fully blown head gasket issue.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 1:06 PM (Merged)

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