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over heating

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Old Mar 30, 2009 | 02:01 PM
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About 3 months ago my coolant fluid got low and my low coolant light came on. I filled and ever since it randomly comes on whether the jug is full or not. In the past three weeks my 89 has overheated 3 or 4 times even though there was coolant in the jug. It did that Friday when I was driving to Jackson, MS 100 miles away. I pulled into a station let it cool below 200 and opened the radiator cap it took 1/2 gallon of coolant in the radiator even though there was coolant in the jug.

I took it to the Chevrolet place there the next morning to check it. They ran all tests and said they could find nothing wrong with it. Fluid was circulating, thermostat was opening, etc... I had them flush the coolant system. I drove the 100 miles home, no problem. 3 hous later I drove it 12 miles to town and it overheated. I let it cool down, there was fluid in the jug but it took about a third of a gallon in the radiator, I drove it home no problem.

It is not leaking. I am thinking it is a faulty thermostat that is sticking randomly. Has anyone experienced this problem with their C4? If so, what was the fix?

IndianLan
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Old Mar 30, 2009 | 03:32 PM
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Stuck thermostat or you need to burp your system. Test your thermostat, stick it in boiling water. Do you have air in your system?
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Old Mar 30, 2009 | 03:41 PM
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sounds like air in the system to me, if your thermostat is opening, just drive it and get that coolent circulating and keep ading to it, or just burp the system as stated before. If it were me id pull the thermostat out and check it just to be sure
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Old Mar 31, 2009 | 07:37 AM
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If it were me, I would just start by replacing the stat and seeing what happens. Testing is great but for your problem it may not give you the exact results as in operating conditions. Besides, the stat is an inexpensive part to replace and see the results.

The other question comes to mind is where is all the coolant going. Is it leaking out as to why it is overheating. Or is it getting so hot that it is pushing it out into the over flow tank.

Also is the tank cap in good shape as far as it is sealing and is it still performing to the rated psi of the cap.
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Old Mar 31, 2009 | 09:46 AM
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What temp are you considering "overheating".
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Old Apr 19, 2009 | 10:28 PM
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Thanks for input, gang. I have flushed the coolant and replaced the thermostat. I can drive around for an hour and watch the temp which stays around 185 to 195 on the highway and 210 to 217 in town. If you cut the economy setting on the temp or it might just decide to do it sitting at a redlight. The temp will start rising quickly and where normally a fan would come on by 220 and start lowering the temp it will just keep rising 240 250 260, etc. If this is normal I never noticed it before. Am taking it to get checked again in the morning.

IndianLan
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Old Apr 20, 2009 | 09:50 PM
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I had a similar problem, losing fluid erratically but the large overflow tank was always full- Finally found the problem, hairline crack in the black fill tank spout- Never saw drips but the crack wouldn't allow a vacuum to build and suck fluid out of the overflow- Replaced fill tank, no more problem-
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