Car overheating. Any ideas?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 14,188
Likes: 288
From: Shitcago IL
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08
Car overheating. Any ideas?
I noticed that recently my car started running a bit hot. Over 210, 220, etc. Fans do come on, coolant is topped off. Today on the higway, going over 70mph, with ambient temps in the 60s, I hit 250 coolant temp. WTF is going on. I looked at the car some more and noticed that the center spoiler that directs the air up is in very bad shape. It's not pointing up, it is really loose and it's being held by one spring. I sort of bent it at an angle to shoot the air up and ran the car on the highway again but still the temps shoot up. What should I check before I take the car somewhere. I will replace the spoiler ASAP, but I don't think the spoiler alone would make the temps shoot up like that.
Any ideas, advice would be appreciated.
Any ideas, advice would be appreciated.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 391
Likes: 0
From: Boston MA
The air dam in the center has alot to do with directing air up to the radiator. You should get a new one asap. The only other thing I would suggest is get up under the front and inspect for debris that might be blocking air flow through the radiator, things such as leaves and plastic wrappers. Possibly a bad water pump or bad thermostat. Good luck.
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Fix the center piece of the air dam and see if that helps. If that doesn't cure it, could be a bad thermostat, water pump, or maybe an issue with the fans.
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 343
Likes: 2
From: tampa fl
check the debris issue. if the t-stat was bad it would heat up at low speed very quickly. the waterpump usuall shows signs of failure by leaking first. highway speed overheat is usually radiator issue and with the condition of your air dam you could have damadged the ducting at the base of the radiator and its ineffectivly routing air at high speed.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 579
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From: Kennesaw GA
St. Jude Donor '10
Had the same problem a few weeks ago with my 04. Don't laugh but do you have dogs?? I park in the garage all the time and also brush my dogs. Seems as though dog hair got sucked up in the radiator and blocked the air flow. You really can't see the radiator that well. If you look under the front of the car what you really see is the condensor coil and not the radiator. Just aft of the condensor is the radiator and a space of about 1" to access it. Had to drain coolant and remove the condensor and clean out the radiator had a small puppy there with dog hair and GA pine needles. A big problem with "ground suckers" is getting stuff in the radiator and cooling fans like plastic bags and "stuff" I even had my cooling fans reprogramed to 190 and didn't help until I got the radiator cleaned now I don't get over 200 when its 96 out. Just thought I'd pass that along.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 25
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From: Waipahu HI
All excellent replies. Also see if the insulation has blown out or is just gone that seals both sides (left and right) of your radiator/condenser coils. Those seals play a critical role in capturing the air from the air dam and not allowing the air to bypass (blow around) those units. You might also be getting warning signs of a sticking thermostat.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,053
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From: "Man been singin' the Blues, since he began to till the ground"...Vancouver, USA WA.
Originally Posted by Ginzo
The air dam in the center has alot to do with directing air up to the radiator. You should get a new one asap. The only other thing I would suggest is get up under the front and inspect for debris that might be blocking air flow through the radiator, things such as leaves and plastic wrappers. Possibly a bad water pump or bad thermostat. Good luck.
The air dam mounts are flimzy at best, It' possibly folding backwards at speed.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 23,340
Likes: 379
From: Marietta Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06-'07, '13, '15
Originally Posted by andrehalito
check the debris issue. if the t-stat was bad it would heat up at low speed very quickly. the waterpump usuall shows signs of failure by leaking first. highway speed overheat is usually radiator issue and with the condition of your air dam you could have damadged the ducting at the base of the radiator and its ineffectivly routing air at high speed.
Guess what, we actually sell that very item.....:o
http://www.southerncarparts.com/prod...roducts_id=136
Hope it is as easy as cleaning the radiator....
See ya,
Jim
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Last edited by southerncarparts; Sep 16, 2006 at 09:36 PM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
Originally Posted by southerncarparts
I agree.....look up under the front end of the car. You will be surprised how much crap has collected on your radiator. Take a shop vac and clean it out then but something that keeps debris from collecting on your radiator.
Guess what, we actually sell that very item.....:o
http://www.southerncarparts.com/prod...roducts_id=136
Hope it is as easy as cleaning the radiator....
See ya,
Jim
Guess what, we actually sell that very item.....:o
http://www.southerncarparts.com/prod...roducts_id=136
Hope it is as easy as cleaning the radiator....
See ya,
Jim
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta GA
Originally Posted by southerncarparts
I agree.....look up under the front end of the car. You will be surprised how much crap has collected on your radiator. Take a shop vac and clean it out then but something that keeps debris from collecting on your radiator.
Guess what, we actually sell that very item.....:o
http://www.southerncarparts.com/prod...roducts_id=136
Hope it is as easy as cleaning the radiator....
See ya,
Jim
Guess what, we actually sell that very item.....:o
http://www.southerncarparts.com/prod...roducts_id=136
Hope it is as easy as cleaning the radiator....
See ya,
Jim
Nice idea.Just checked mine out in the garage... You are right!
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
From: Montreal Drive it like you test it !
My friend 99 was overeating 235 on the hwy. The middle air dam was missing and he told me it was like that when he bought the car. I checked for debris and find none. Shoot compressed air between radiators anyway. No change. Check for air in the circuit. No luck. The surge tank was leaking so we replaced that. I always start with the most easy or evident stuff. Then I switched the radiator cap with mine. No luck. I switch the belt tensionner with mine. No luck. Then I replace the thermostat. Problem solved. Even without air dam the car is at 190 at 70 mph on the hwy.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,651
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From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by southerncarparts
I agree.....look up under the front end of the car. You will be surprised how much crap has collected on your radiator. Take a shop vac and clean it out then buy something that keeps debris from collecting on your radiator.
Hope it is as easy as cleaning the radiator....
Hope it is as easy as cleaning the radiator....
