My engine is overheating?

Tiny
BDAVIS94
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 210,000 MILES
My car is overheating which is causing my car to completely shut down and also causing the battery light my oil light check engine light and coolant light to all come on at once. It is also causing my car to leak all my anti freeze out of the reservoir and out of the hole on my water pump. What can or is causing this? I just don't know if it's the thermostat, the water pump, the radiator or if there is pressure in my lines not allowing it to circulate through my car. If any one can please help it is the only transportation me and my fiance have back and forth to work, doctors appointments and taking our children to and from school. Without our vehicle we will be truly devastated and have no means or resources to provide for our family because we do not have the money currently saved at this point. Due to the fact we also have a baby on the way and have been putting are extra savings into preparing for are new born daughters arrival. I am truly begging anyone that may be able to help and relay some insight on what is or maybe the problem that is causing are car to overheat and spew out every last drop of anti freeze. Please and thank you.
Friday, December 13th, 2019 AT 7:38 AM

67 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Clearly the engine is overheating so the only way to know if it is one of the things you named or something else is to test each one of them. The reason it is leaking all the coolant out of the radiator and cap is because it is getting so hot that the coolant is just boiling out and the pressure finds the weakest point to exit the system.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-an-overheating-engine

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-overheating-or-running-hot

I attached the system info so you can get familiar with how it works but we need to start with filling the system and monitoring if the cooling fans behind the radiator are coming on. If they are then we need to check the upper hose to see if it is hot. If when the temp is in the middle of the gauge that the upper hose is not hot to the tough then your thermostat is not opening and needs to be replaced. It could be a failed water pump but a thermostat is much more likely. I would remove it and put in boiling water and see if it opens before the water gets to 215 degrees. If it doesn't open then that is the issue.
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Friday, December 13th, 2019 AT 7:02 PM
Tiny
NATE331
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
  • 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 120,000 MILES
I have replaced the thermostat and the water pump, and for the first week or so I'll have minimal problems with my car overheating. Now, the car overheats and I get no heat when I turn it on. What could it be? Is the radiator the only thing left?
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,548 POSTS
Are the cooling fans working? this guide will help us

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-overheating-or-running-hot

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Cooling fans are working on time-radiator not clogged-could be airlock in it-try bleeding the cooling system -don't work get it block and pressure tested

This guide can help us

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

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NATE331
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Nah its not leaking, I did a radiator flush, changed the thermostat and water pump. I think its the coolant temp sensor, but for some reason I keep getting conflicting answers on where it is. I thought it was on top of the radiator hose, but I hear its near the thermostat housing. Any clues?
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NATE331
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
It was the head gasket leaking cost me $980.00 to have it fixed.
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BRITTANY THOMPSON
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 3.1L
  • 6 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 270,000 MILES
My car is overheating. It is back flowing out of the reservoir.
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
Hello,

This sounds like stuck thermostat which is common. Here are two guides that will help you confirm and repair the problem which diagrams below to show you how the repair will be on your car:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-thermostat

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-overheating-or-running-hot

Please run down these guides and diagrams and report back.

Cheers, Ken
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
AZKICKER911
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 3.1L
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 318,000 MILES
2003 malibu is overheating. With the heater on, it keeps going back and forth from hot air to cold air. Temperature needle keeps going up and down. Put in new thermostat, radiator, and cooling tank. Ran fine for a couple of days and then started overheating again. Is it possible for the thermostat to be opening and closing while driving?
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Did you replace the pressure cap? Re check the thermostat as a new one can be faulty, ensure fans are working correctly, if thermo make sure that they are turning on and staying on until the comes down and if viscus coupling type fan get a mechanic to inspect coupling for leaks and that it is driving the fan fully.
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
AZKICKER911
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Looks like the new thermostat was bad. Removed it and so far no problems. I will drive it a few more days and if all is still well, I will replace it.
Thanks.
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PMANNIN
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
  • 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 108,000 MILES
Where can I find the intake and out flow hoses to the heater core to flush it. It might be clogged. I just done a complete a full gasket change on the gm 3100 engine. And now my car keeps over heating. Trying to figure out how to burp the lines and if that dont work. How do I flush the heater core. Wheres the hose location or diagram.
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
The heater core if it was clogged wouldn't cause a overheat. Is both upper and lower radiator hoses getting too hot to hold?
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Also is the radiator fan working and blowing really hot air out of it when it turns on?
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Plus is the radiator fan blowing tons of air out of it?
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PMANNIN
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
The driver side hose that leads to the water pump is jot. The two on rhe passanger side are cold. Yes thw gan kicks on hard and blows a ton of air.
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PMANNIN
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Im sorry the driver side hose that runs from the radiator to the thermostat gets that hot the one that goes to the passanger side dont it stays cold.
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
When the fan blows out tons of air is the air really hot or cold?If only one radiator hose is getting really hot sound like there is no flow thru the radiator. Did you ever replace the thermostat when you made the repairs?
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PMANNIN
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Yeah but the thermostate gasket dont fit in the slot on the engine. The gaskets bigger than the divit made for it. And melts the gasket every time. I reved it up to 3000 4000 rpms and the hose going to the theromstat did get hard. It stayed loose. I took it to the shop to get flushed and they told me the head bolts were never changes I wasnt getting presure. Which the head bolts were steel. Not aluminum. But still not heat car still over heating. And I got a nother question with that. How do you torque the headbolts right on this car. Does the front sequence. Mean the same for the back headbolts?
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Sounds like you need to get a factory thermostat and gasket so it will fit properly then or find a aftermarket one that will fit correctly. Also which gaskets did you replace and why?Was it overheating before you changed the gaskets etc?
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 AT 2:29 PM (Merged)

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