2007 Saturn Outlook overheating

Tiny
LOVEBEINGME
  • MEMBER
  • 2007 SATURN OUTLOOK
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 60,000 MILES
My 2007 Saturn Outlook is running hot/overheating. I took it into a repair shop and was told most of the coolant was gone from the radiator. They did a pressure test and found no leaks. They filled the radiator with coolant and it was fine for about 2 weeks. The check engine light has come on, and it started to overheat again. I had it checked and the coolant was gone again. It's also now getting terrible gas mileage. Any idea what this could be? Thank you
Monday, July 18th, 2011 AT 6:50 PM

20 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Lets start with what are the exact code numbers you have?Go to a auto parts store like auto zone and have them scan your codes for free.
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Monday, July 18th, 2011 AT 7:04 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 34,330 POSTS
If you don't see puddles on the ground, suspect a leaking head gasket. There are two tests that can help identify that. One involves drawing air from the radiator through a glass cylinder with two chambers partially filled with a dark blue liquid. If combustion gases are present, the liquid will turn bright yellow. When combustion gases can leak into the cooling system, coolant can leak into the combustion chamber and go out the tail pipe.

The second test is to add a small bottle of dye to the coolant. After the coolant loss is observed, you search with a black light. The dye will show up as a bright yellow stain that you can follow to the source of the leak. That includes looking at the tail pipe.
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Monday, July 18th, 2011 AT 7:05 PM
Tiny
LOVEBEINGME
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Thank you. I will head to Auto Zone and have them scan it today.
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Monday, July 18th, 2011 AT 7:09 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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If you want to use the tube tester with the liquid they rent those testers at auto zone for free you just have to buy the fluid which they sell for about 8.00. Also have it scanned for codes while you are there. If the engine is loosing coolant like you say running too hot will also boil over the cap a great deal of coolant. If your loosing most of your coolant in two weeks then I would think when they pressure tested the cooling system at the shop they would have found any external leaks at that time.I have seen some thermostat issues with those outlooks.
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Monday, July 18th, 2011 AT 7:17 PM
Tiny
LOVEBEINGME
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The error code is P0449.

Thanks so much for your help. :)
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Monday, July 18th, 2011 AT 10:39 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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Code p0449 is evap vent solenoid control circuit which has nothing to do with the engine overheating. So when it overheats is the radiator cooling fan running?Do you have a temp gun?
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Tuesday, July 19th, 2011 AT 1:26 AM
Tiny
LOVEBEINGME
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
The radiator fan is running. In fact, the first instance
Of a problem I was on my way to pick up my daughter and when I shut
Off the engine, the fan continued to run for a few minutes. I don't
know what a temperature gun is to be honest.

I can't believe how fast it's going through gas. I filled the tank on Friday
and I have drove maybe 60 miles and it's already close to a half tank!
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Tuesday, July 19th, 2011 AT 1:34 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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A half of a tank in 60 miles you would be smelling gas leaking or black smoke out the tail pipe and it would be running pretty bad. There are no codes for running rich which there should be if its burning that much fuel.A temp gun measures surface temps you can use it to see what temp the fan comes on at if the thermostat is opening at the correct temp etc.
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Tuesday, July 19th, 2011 AT 1:42 AM
Tiny
LOVEBEINGME
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Seriously, I did some shopping on Saturday, had to drive about 10
Miles each way for an errand an sunday, and drove to work and back
today (7 miles each way). There is no smoke or smell, but theA/C
keeps blowing at the normal blow, and then blows really lite for a few
seconds.

I'm so confused!

Ignoring the mileage issue, I should have it tested for a leak in the
head gasket? Is this normal for a car with only 60k miles on it?

I apologize for being so ignorant about cars.

Thanks for the advise.
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Tuesday, July 19th, 2011 AT 3:17 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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The a/c could be kicking out because of the engine running hot. There are a few things that could be causing the running hot you said the fan runs but we dont know if the fan is turning on at the correct temp meaning could have a bad coolant temp sensor. Also could have debris blocking the radiator and a/c comdensor fins not allowing enough air to pas thru the radiator. Also could have a bad thermostat or a bad head gasket those would be the most common things.I would check the head gasket last.
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Tuesday, July 19th, 2011 AT 5:21 AM
Tiny
LOVEBEINGME
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Could someone please explain to me what "evap vent solenoid control circuit" means?

Thanks for your help.

Jaime
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Tuesday, July 19th, 2011 AT 5:29 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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The evap vent solenoid is the solenoid that closes off the evap system the fuel tank so a vacuum can be pulled on it so the computer can see if there is any leaks of fuel vapors escaping. That fault is the computer finding a fault in the control circuit of the vent solenoid.
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Tuesday, July 19th, 2011 AT 5:53 PM
Tiny
LOVEBEINGME
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Thanks so much for all the help.

:)
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Tuesday, July 19th, 2011 AT 6:39 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Your welcome thats what were here for.
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Tuesday, July 19th, 2011 AT 6:50 PM
Tiny
LOVEBEINGME
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
I took my car in for the check engine light and P0449 code. I was told the purge and vent solenoids needed to be replaced. I was wondering if anyone knew a rough estimate on what that might cost. Or better yet, the estimated time it might take to do this repair? I've already located the parts needed and it looks as though they are marking up the price of the parts by 100%, is that a normal markup for parts in this industry? They are also estimating 3.5 hours of work to do the repair.

I appreciate any insight.

Jaime
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Monday, July 25th, 2011 AT 6:38 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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I posted the trouble tree for code P0449 if you read the trouble tree it doesn't list a canister purge as repair for that code so is the person diagnose the car just guessing?I would ask him how he came up with both those solenoids being bad when the canister purge solenoid isn't even mentioned in the trouble tree?As far as parts go the shops dont shop around for the best price for you. They get parts from where ever they get parts and mark them up what ever percent they do.
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Monday, July 25th, 2011 AT 9:20 PM
Tiny
LOVEBEINGME
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The mechanic said that 99% of the time when one goes, so does the other. So yes, I suppose he is guessing. That's no good.

I will take the car and get a second opinion. Thank you so much for the info.
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Tuesday, July 26th, 2011 AT 12:04 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
I have never seen them plan there failure together and the canister purge solenoid has a code it would set also if it went bad. Sounds like this guy is just guessing all together.
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Tuesday, July 26th, 2011 AT 4:08 PM
Tiny
BRENDAG2323
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
What should I do! Has new oil & coolant
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Saturday, December 19th, 2015 AT 2:14 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Brenda please start a new question.
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Saturday, December 19th, 2015 AT 8:13 AM

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