Overheating problem only with me, it never happened with my boyfriend.

Tiny
DCHRISTIANSEN
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER
  • 189,000 MILES
Hi, we purchased this vehicle last month. It ran fine for like the first 3 weeks (I do grocery delivery for a living so i'm running it a lot). It had started to overheat (only with me, it never happened with my boyfriend.) We checked the radiator and it was really low so we filled it, reservoir is also filled. It ran good for a couple weeks then it did it again with me, so we checked the radiator and was again low (but reservoir was full). So we went to get fluid when we went to fill radiator was full again. But low the next day. No visible leaks on the ground or inside, and we had head gaskets checked but it all checked out. So we filled again and checked every time we were about to drive and it stayed full (last filled may 3) until I worked today. It was low again. Didn't really overheat went up slightly while idling in a drive through but not much and immediately went down. But im paranoid so I checked once car cooled down and it was really low. It's not happening consistently so it doesn't seem like the overflow is pulling consistently. Every mechanic I have talked to just sends me somewhere else. I guess they aren't understanding me?
Saturday, May 15th, 2021 AT 12:34 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
So we need to ensure there are no external leaks to start. To do this we need to pressurize the system and check to see how long it holds the pressure.

Here is a guide to do this:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/radiator-pressure-test

Also, we may need to drive it to get hot and then pressure test it as there may be a leak that is opening when it gets hot.

Next we need to confirm how the head gasket was tested. Here is a guide that will show how to test the head gasket properly:

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

Again, we may need to drive the vehicle and get it hot and then test it to find out if there is a leak.

The theory here is that you are continuing to fill the system so the fluid is going somewhere. We just have to find where it is and that will tell us what the issue is.

Let me know if you have questions and what you find with this. Thanks
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Thursday, July 1st, 2021 AT 1:29 PM
Tiny
DCHRISTIANSEN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
So we noticed the last time that the radiator fluid was low in the radiator but the reservoir tank was higher. I have now replaced the radiator cap and it seems to be pulling from the overflow and hasn't been empty since.
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Thursday, July 1st, 2021 AT 1:29 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Oh. I am sorry that I didn't pick that up. Now that I re-read it, you said it was low and not pulling from the overflow. I didn't put that together that the radiator was low but overflow was not. When that is the case it is normally the cap is leaking and not allowing pressure to build.

Thanks for the update as that info will sure help others that visit this site.
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Thursday, July 1st, 2021 AT 1:29 PM

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