Overheating, will not start

Tiny
AMBER DECARLO
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 68,000 MILES
While sitting in the drive through with the A/C running my moms car overheated it didn't make it to the red. She went home after sitting for 3 hours I checked the coolant and it was fine. So I drove to a friends visited then went back home, pulling into my driveway the temperature gauge was just barely above halfway. I shut the car off and could hear bubbling for maybe 45 seconds followed by about 30 seconds of steam. I opened the hood and there was water around the thermostat housing. Next day my mom drove a block away to the store, went inside came out and car wont start it just clicks like the battery is dead.
Saturday, August 3rd, 2019 AT 6:41 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,117 POSTS
Welcome to 2CarPros.

Did you notice any white smoke from the exhaust? Is the coolant level low now? I'm questioning if a cylinder is full of coolant due to a bad head gasket. That will prevent the starter from turning the engine.

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

Are you certain the battery is good and isn't weak?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

Let me know.

Joe
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Saturday, August 3rd, 2019 AT 9:36 PM
Tiny
AMBER DECARLO
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The positive cable was loose so I tightened it and I changed the thermostat, coolant, and radiator cap. No more overheating.
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Wednesday, August 7th, 2019 AT 10:17 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,117 POSTS
Welcome back, Amber:

I'm glad you got it taken care of. As far as the battery terminal is concerned, you would be surprised how many vehicle I see with electrical issues and the problem is a loose terminal or corrosion on the battery. When you said it wouldn't turn, I was thinking the worst because of how it came to be (overheating).

Regardless, great job and let us know if you need anything in the future.

Take care,
Joe
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Thursday, August 8th, 2019 AT 7:55 PM

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