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Water pump/thermostat/radiator?

Tiny
JENELLEPERE
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 18,600 MILES
My car keeps running hot while it is idle, and will not keep fluid in the radiator reservoir. I continue to fill it, but it will not allow me to put more than about a gallon of water/antifreeze in it at a time. And now, come to find out, the fan is not turning on. The fluid is not getting to the radiator, as it gets hot, it just boils and overflows out of the top of the radiator reservoir cap, and the fan doesn't turn on to cool the engine. Are these issues related? Is it perhaps the thermostat sticking, just not allowing the fluid to get into the radiator and therefore not turning the fan on? Or is the water pump and fan just broken? Water is not spraying out of the water pump, and there is no fluid under my car at any time. The water only disappears while I'm driving. Help! Thanks!
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Tuesday, April 16th, 2013 AT 9:59 AM

4 Replies

Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
The thermostat is my first thought. The fan sounds like a separate issue? Will the fan run, if you turn on the ac? Can you ckeck for voltage and ground at the fan connector? Any applicable trouble codes? To check codes yourself, at the least, you need an obd2 code reader. Some of the national brand autostores will check codes for free.
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Tuesday, April 16th, 2013 AT 10:29 AM
Tiny
JENELLEPERE
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
The ac is broken, so I really can't say. I haven't had it checked for codes yet, but I will do that when I go buy the thermostat today. I really don't know anything about cars, I just know that I have a lot of car troubles. I've just kinda gathered my knowledge from my past issues and put two and two together. Between my brothers, the auto parts stores, and you guys, I think I can figure this thing out. Thanks for your help and time! I'll start with the thermostat and come back if it doesn't help.
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Tuesday, April 16th, 2013 AT 10:35 AM
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Let us know what you find. As far as the radiator cooling fan, you could use jumper wires from your battery for voltage and at the fan connector, just to see if fan run? You probably should use an inline fuse on one of the jumper, just to safe. Sometimes I use an inline fuse and sometimes I don't. At the fan connector, lite blue wire is voltage, black wire is ground.
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Tuesday, April 16th, 2013 AT 11:09 AM
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
I should have double-checked my post. You can use jumper for ground also.
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Tuesday, April 16th, 2013 AT 11:12 AM

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