1995 Pontiac Grand Prix 1995 Grand Prix cooling system

Tiny
LIBDEMKS
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 160,000 MILES
My 1995 grand prix has started overheating. There is plenty of water in the reservoir, no hoses are leaking. However, if you drive it for about 5 minutes, the temperature gauge starts going up and steam starts coming from under the hood. The really strange part is the fact that if it just sits at idle in the driveway, no problem. I let it just run without driving it in the driveway for 10-15 minutes and the engine hit normal operating temperature and didn't go any higher. Anyone know what could cause this?
Sunday, July 19th, 2009 AT 9:43 AM

1 Reply

Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,548 POSTS
Could be a marginal waterpump, some cars have a plastic impeller, which can work loose from shaft and cause reduced flow.

I would start by having a compression test performed to rule out a headgasket.

If OK, I would drain and flush cooling system, replace thermostat, waterpump, and make sure cooling fans are working.
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Monday, July 20th, 2009 AT 10:30 AM

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