My 95 Pontiac Grnd Prx overheats after driving 30-45minutes.

Tiny
TKLEE1
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
Okay! I Have a 1995 Pontiac Grand Prix SE (6 cyl.). It has 156,000 miles, yet the motor was replaced with the newer motor having 60,000 miles on it when the car was at 140,000 miles.

When the weather gets warm or hot outside, my temp gage seems to rise. If it is warm outside, I can drive my car for 45 minutes, then the temp. Goes up above 210 degrees. If it is hot outside, the temp seems to rise in shorter amounts of time (25-30 minutes). I have to pull over and shut my car off for 15-30 minutes until the temp is down, well enough to drive safely again.
I got my car checked out. The radiator is fine. No leaks, no clogs. The hose is fine. I do have an exhaust leak, and the mechanic told me not to worry about that. I also have an oil leak, although the mechanic did not tell me where it was coming from. He said that because I have a bad oil leak, the motor will eventually go out, and that I should sell the car. Yet aside from this problem, my car is great!
I drove my car today, and I checked the engine oil before driving. It was full. After 35 minutes of driving on the highway, I got off on my exit, and my temp gage began to rise. Thankfully I was at my destination so that my car could be shut off!
Please help me. If this problem can be fixed, I'd love to keep my car and not sell it!
Wednesday, April 4th, 2007 AT 10:17 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
STEELWEELS
  • MEMBER
  • 60 POSTS
If you have an oil leak doesnt mean you have to get rid of it, find the leak, it should be able to be fixed, depending on where it is, find the leak first, you may have to clean the engine with a cleaned you can buy at the store, then look for oil leak, and post it, we can help out, next, the over heating may just be the thermostat not opening or may be too high of a temp fot your needs.
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Thursday, April 5th, 2007 AT 9:03 AM
Tiny
TKLEE1
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I will definitely find the leak. Do you know of any products that I should look for that will clean my engine really well. I don't want to go to Advanced Auto Parts and they give me some weird brand of engine cleaner.
Also, I was told that if I needed a new thermostat, my car would run hot all of the time. If this is untrue, I will know that the mechanic does not know what he is doing, or what he is talking about!
I already have a thermostat that I bought at the store for my car. Should I replace that first and see if that is the problem?
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Thursday, April 5th, 2007 AT 11:57 AM
Tiny
STEELWEELS
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  • 60 POSTS
Change the thermostat anyhow, it may need it, if you live in a cold climate, it will take awhile for the system to heat up, after 20 mins. Of driving it should heat up and will over heat if the thermostat doesnt open, I have to change mine 2 times a year and this usually takes care of my problem, fairly simple to do, for the oil leak, I think it is made by "gunk" engine brite, drive to a close car wash, do not let the engine get too hot, spray it down with water, do not get on top of engine or electrical components or distributor, spray cleaner on by instructions, then drive and look for leaks, valve cover gaskets are usually the first to go.
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Friday, April 6th, 2007 AT 9:08 AM
Tiny
TKLEE1
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  • 7 POSTS
Thank you for your response! I will do that this weekend and let you know! I really love my car, and I want the best for it!
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Friday, April 6th, 2007 AT 9:19 AM
Tiny
LILWILLS
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  • 49 POSTS
Part of your overheating problem could be bad fans you might want to check in to that
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Friday, April 6th, 2007 AT 1:42 PM
Tiny
MCFERRANCE
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  • 100 POSTS
My first thought on this is that the fans are not operating when they should whether it be the fans themselves, or the relays, fuses, sensors, or related wiring.
The thermostat may also be at fault.
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Friday, April 6th, 2007 AT 2:20 PM
Tiny
TKLEE1
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
OK!
So yesterday, I sprayed my engine down to clean it off, so that I can eventually see where the oil leak is coming from. However, I've noticed that the oil leak is not as bad as the "mechanic" told me it was. I filled my oil up last week, and it is still full!

Secondly, I let my car get to 210 degrees, lifted up the hood, and I noticed that my two cooling fans never came on! I still did not change my thermostat, but I will!
However, I really need help in understanding what to look for in repairing the fans. Where is the fuse, and all of the other switches located? Can I fix it myself?Should I take my car to another mechanic? Is fixing the cooling fans expensive?

One more thing, 2carpros. Com is the best car website ever!
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Saturday, April 7th, 2007 AT 9:44 AM
Tiny
MCFERRANCE
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  • 100 POSTS
First would be to spin the fans by hand. If they won't spin, they are bad and the motor(s) need replaced because they are seized.
If they spin, unplug the wire at the fan. If there is one wire, jump the fan terminal to the positive side of the battery. If there are 2 wires, jump one fan terminal to ground and the other to positive. If the fan runs then it is most likely a relay, sensor or fuse.

The relays are usually in a black box in the engine compartment. The fuse may be there as well.

There are other tests to do that require more knowledge in electrical systems and a good manual and wiring diagrams for the novice.

Taking it to another mechanic may be your best bet if the fans spin. Cost varies depending on what parts need replaced and the labor involved to diagnose and replace the parts.
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Sunday, April 8th, 2007 AT 10:18 PM

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