1997 Monte Carlo

Tiny
VIKING
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 CHEVROLET TRUCK
I have a '97 Chevy Monte Carlo with about 102,000 miles. A while back the temperature gauge started moving towards hot (three quarters to seven eighths of the way up), and then back down to normal in about 30-60 second cycles. I have had the thermostat changed 2X, had the cooling system flushed and refilled, and still no change. It only does it while going down the road, not while idling. Any help would be appreciated.
Saturday, December 30th, 2006 AT 12:22 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
What size motor?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, December 30th, 2006 AT 5:08 PM
Tiny
VIKING
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
3.1L
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, December 30th, 2006 AT 5:17 PM
Tiny
VIKING
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Also, the upper radiator hose makes a knocking noise after shutting the car off, only if the temp gauge is in the high range though.

If I make it out of the car quick enough to check it, I can see it shaking while making the knocking noise.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, December 30th, 2006 AT 5:55 PM
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
I may be confused?, Is the concern the rising temp or the knocking noise or both?

To help you to get under the hood quicker, have the lovely counter part :wink: in your avitar drive or shut off the car while you are already looking at what is going on.

The cyling of the cool down is probably the fan coming on when your temp is rising to its maximum. If it isn't going into the red or danger zone, I wouldn't worry about it.

The gauge may not be accurate. There is a coolant temperature sending unit for the gauge that may be bad and giving wrong readings? But maybe I'm misunderstanding the concern.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, December 30th, 2006 AT 9:52 PM
Tiny
VIKING
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
The rising temperature is my concern. I'm still making payments on the car, and I don't want to be paying a couple hundred dollars a month on a car that's burnt up.

The temp gauge doesn't go into the red zone, but it gets very close and that concerns me. The hose knocking seems to be either the result of the temp getting high, or the cause. I'm thinking at this point of replacing the hose and seeing what happens.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, December 31st, 2006 AT 8:35 AM
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
Sounds like air pockets in the engine. Open the bleeders and refill it with coolant. Look for loose connections on the coolant sensor
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, January 21st, 2008 AT 3:25 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Coolant Flush Content

Cooling System Flush
VIDEO
Cooling System Flush
Instructional repair video
Cooling System Drain and Flush
GUIDE
Cooling System Drain and Flush
Your car's cooling system is designed to keep the engine from overheating while in operation. In time, the engine coolant will need to be changed and flushed to help...
VIEW MORE