This vehicle is overheating and has no heat?

Tiny
TSPARKS007
  • MEMBER
  • 2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 182,000 MILES
I checked the coolant level and the oil level, and they were fine. When you drive the car, it drives fine for five minutes or a couple miles, then the temperature gage starts to climb until you get a message that says the Engine is hot and overheating. It also says no traction control. And it tells you to shut the car off immediately. When you turn the car off, you continue to hear the fan running for several minutes trying to cool the engine down. My first instinct was that the thermostat was bad, so I replaced it. I was worried about adding coolant and just starting the car, so I did a lot of research on how you refill the radiator and the coolant reservoir after draining the system. So, when I started the car, I left the radiator cap off and filled the radiator with coolant and then filled the reservoir up to the fuel line. I was also trying to get any air bubbles or air pockets out. After letting the car run for a few minutes I put the radiator cap back on. When I tried to drive the car, it did the same thing as before and after a few minutes or a mile or two it overheated and said to stop immediately. Everything I’ve read says in these situations it’s typically the thermostat, the fan, the relay, or the water pump. The thermostat has been replaced. The fan is running even after you shut the car off trying to cool everything down. The relay tells the fan when to come on or so I think, so I don’t think it has a bad relay. So that leaves me with the water pump. I just don’t want to replace the water pump unless that is the cause of the problem.
Thursday, February 8th, 2024 AT 6:58 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,912 POSTS
Yep, good call, it can be the water pump because I have seen the water pump impeller fall of or degrade causing the coolant will not circulate. But I think we should check for a blown head gasket which can cause this issue as well. Here are two guides I need you to go over to help see what the problem is:

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

and

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

Please go over these guides and get back to us.
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Friday, February 9th, 2024 AT 9:48 AM
Tiny
TSPARKS007
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Hi Ken. I took your recommendations and checked for a blown gasket before going through the trouble of replacing the water pump. On step one of checking for a blown gasket, it described a milky substance in the oil which would be coolant mixed with the oil. I remembered seeing some of that when I replaced the thermostat. I went back in and checked the car to see if I could find something to show you and the oil cap is probably the best indication of something going on. The other picture shows a little bit of milky substance in the bottom left-hand corner. It was much worse when I originally open that up, but I cleaned it up. Is that evidence of a blown gasket and if so, what do I do? If it’s not that, what could it be and what should I do?
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Sunday, February 11th, 2024 AT 10:20 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,912 POSTS
Yep, that oil cap is telling us blown head gasket, sorry. Thanks for the images. I can upload images of the instructions if you want to try and fix it?
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Sunday, February 11th, 2024 AT 11:24 AM
Tiny
TSPARKS007
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Please do. We are getting rid of the car within the next few weeks (fingers crossed). What about Blue Devil head gasket sealer?
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Sunday, February 11th, 2024 AT 12:50 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,912 POSTS
You know, we have had good luck with Blue Devel, here is a video that can show you how to use it:

https://youtu.be/Xi41RFMP8Ow?si=niEmJUEnGqdqrEH-

Please go over this guide and get back to us.
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Monday, February 12th, 2024 AT 9:09 AM

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