Starting to overheat

Tiny
KIKI48
  • MEMBER
  • PONTIAC
I have a 1998 Pontiac Gram Am v6, 101,130 miles. I got an oil change two weeks ago and then a week later I went to get in my car to go somewhere. It started no problem and got to my destination. When I went to leave the car wouldn't start and had to get a jump, then it started right up. The next morning I went to start it for work and it hesitated then started. Everyday since then, it starts fine, but for the past few days, it would start to overheat some when I would stop at a light. It wouldn't go all the way to hot and stays in the normal range, but its a high normal. It would go back down when I would get on the highway only to start to climb a bit when I stop at a light again. I haven't had my radio or ac unit on for fear that it adds to it, but it starts to overheat without anything on.

what could be the problem and what could need fixed? Also, does the high temps here in TX also have anything to do with it? It is cool when I go to work at 5am then anywhere up to the 90s or 100s when I head home. Thanks for the help.
Friday, July 6th, 2007 AT 11:44 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
FISHSTER
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Just a thought. On my 99 Grand Am, I was running a "high" (hot) normal temperature also. It turns out my cooling fans weren't kicking on. I ended up changing the engine cooling temperature sending unit, and now all is "cool" under my hood again. Hope this helps ya.
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Saturday, July 7th, 2007 AT 10:56 PM
Tiny
KIKI48
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Any idea to what it cost ya? Kind of low on funds and don't want to hold off too much longer. Thanks for the heads up.
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Saturday, July 7th, 2007 AT 11:48 PM
Tiny
FISHSTER
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  • 13 POSTS
The ECT sensor was only $13.00. But make sure you need one. Is your temp. Gauge working on your dash? Are your cooling fans working? Open your hood and get your engine up to operating temperature. Then watch and see if your fans are kicking on. If they're not, I would try replacing the ECT sensor. Also, I just bought my car, and unknown to me, the previous owner had mixed regular anti-freeze (green in color) in the radiator with the Dex-Cool anti-freeze (orangeish-brownish in color). Mixing the two is a no-no. The manual calls for the Dex-cool, but you can run either one of them as long as you don't mix the two. If that's the case, you need to completely flush your system getting as much as you can out.
Hope this info helps you out.
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Monday, July 9th, 2007 AT 10:26 AM

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