C7 Tech/Performance Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Overheated

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 24, 2026 | 02:58 PM
  #1  
Sayfoo's Avatar
Sayfoo
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Veteran: Army
20 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,222
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
Default Overheated

35 miles from home from a 2k mile trip, I got stuck in traffic. After 20? minutes of stop and go, I got a over heating message and chimes. About 1 minute later there was a "explosion" under the hood and coolant sprayed over the windshield, out the wheel wells, etc. After towing my '14 home, I found that the cap on the coolant recovery tank is gone. I haven't had a chance to really look the car over yet.
Any suggestions or ideas??
Reply
Old May 24, 2026 | 06:17 PM
  #2  
mmartinez's Avatar
mmartinez
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Active Streak: 60 Days
Liked
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,135
Likes: 802
From: Espanola New Mexico
Default

Replace the cap, refill with coolant start and run the car, check that the fans are coming on. My first thought is that the thermostat may have stuck closed.
Reply
Old May 25, 2026 | 08:08 AM
  #3  
Tinkertech's Avatar
Tinkertech
Melting Slicks
All Eyes On Me
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 2,157
Likes: 1,032
From: North Texas
Default

Rinse off any coolant ASAP or your paint will suffer.
Reply
Old May 25, 2026 | 10:05 AM
  #4  
kodpkd's Avatar
kodpkd
Le Mans Master
Active Streak: 30 Days
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 5,453
Likes: 2,169
From: Loveland
Default

OUCH! I kind of get that the cap blew off after it overheated. It will be interesting, what you find that caused it to overheat.

Last edited by kodpkd; May 25, 2026 at 11:35 AM.
Reply
Old May 25, 2026 | 11:30 AM
  #5  
Tinkertech's Avatar
Tinkertech
Melting Slicks
All Eyes On Me
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 2,157
Likes: 1,032
From: North Texas
Default

Cap should have opened, released pressure, at ~ 15lbs and not 'blown off' the tank.

Released coolant due to over pressure should have exited the drain tube onto the ground.
Reply
Old May 25, 2026 | 11:48 AM
  #6  
Sayfoo's Avatar
Sayfoo
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Veteran: Army
20 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,222
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
Default

The cap blew after about 400 miles of normal temps, so I don't think the stat was closed. I refilled the coolant tank with water, started it up and ran to normal temp, but I cannot find a leak so far. New cap is being delivered today, so I'll start and pressurize shortly. The radiator looks clean and the fan came on. I did wash off the coolant after getting towed home.
Actually, I think I was lucky that the cap blew when it did, rather than on a lonely stretch of Az or NM. Interesting and frustrating.

Last edited by Sayfoo; May 25, 2026 at 11:50 AM.
Reply
Old May 25, 2026 | 02:53 PM
  #7  
Photomania's Avatar
Photomania
Melting Slicks
Supporting Lifetime
Community Builder
Conversation Starter
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,491
Likes: 748
Default

If it was my car, I would go ahead and replace not only the surge tank cap, but also the thermostat.

Reply
Old May 25, 2026 | 04:38 PM
  #8  
kodpkd's Avatar
kodpkd
Le Mans Master
Active Streak: 30 Days
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 5,453
Likes: 2,169
From: Loveland
Default

True,,,,, but not with a 160* stat.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-4

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
Old May 25, 2026 | 07:15 PM
  #9  
Sayfoo's Avatar
Sayfoo
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Veteran: Army
20 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,222
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
Default

I got the new cap on and as the car heated up, I noticed a drip about 1/2 way between the rear of the fender well and the edge of the door. Offset about a foot towards the passenger side.
Heater core?? Or hose??
I'm assuming it's a major pain to access or change out.
Reply
Old May 25, 2026 | 07:19 PM
  #10  
PicaVette's Avatar
PicaVette
Instructor
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Jul 2025
Posts: 209
Likes: 276
Default

Originally Posted by Sayfoo
I got the new cap on and as the car heated up, I noticed a drip about 1/2 way between the rear of the fender well and the edge of the door. Offset about a foot towards the passenger side.Heater core?? Or hose??I'm assuming it's a major pain to access or change out.
I think that is the general area of the coolant reservoir that is know to leak. There are several post about replacing the oring under it or the elbow and the oring. Does not look like a hard task to do
http://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/...reservoir.html

Last edited by PicaVette; May 25, 2026 at 07:22 PM.
Reply
Old May 25, 2026 | 08:08 PM
  #11  
Sayfoo's Avatar
Sayfoo
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Veteran: Army
20 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,222
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
Default

Originally Posted by PicaVette
I think that is the general area of the coolant reservoir that is know to leak. There are several post about replacing the oring under it or the elbow and the oring. Does not look like a hard task to do
http://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/...reservoir.html
This is very possibly the problem. I'm not thinking heater core so much as I don't have any liquid inside on the floor or any fog on the windshield.
Big thank you.
Reply
Old May 26, 2026 | 10:28 AM
  #12  
cbrider73's Avatar
cbrider73
Advanced
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 89
Likes: 70
From: Backroads, TN
Default

Common issue for 2014s to have a bad fan module (built into the fan assembly) that will randomly just not kick the fan on, usually after a decent highway drive and getting into traffic. The car probably overheated because the fan didn't kick on and built up enough pressure to blow off your cap. The fix is installing a Z06 fan.
Reply
Old May 26, 2026 | 11:51 AM
  #13  
Sayfoo's Avatar
Sayfoo
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Veteran: Army
20 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,222
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
Default

Originally Posted by cbrider73
Common issue for 2014s to have a bad fan module (built into the fan assembly) that will randomly just not kick the fan on, usually after a decent highway drive and getting into traffic. The car probably overheated because the fan didn't kick on and built up enough pressure to blow off your cap. The fix is installing a Z06 fan.
The highway/stop and go senerio is exactly what happened.
Yesterday, when I refilled the system, I noticed that the fan came on immediately after starting.
Is this normal? Fan on even when cold starting?
What is the normal fan operating sequence?
Reply
Old May 26, 2026 | 12:00 PM
  #14  
cbrider73's Avatar
cbrider73
Advanced
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 89
Likes: 70
From: Backroads, TN
Default

Originally Posted by Sayfoo
The highway/stop and go senerio is exactly what happened.
Yesterday, when I refilled the system, I noticed that the fan came on immediately after starting.
Is this normal? Fan on even when cold starting?
What is the normal fan operating sequence?
Typically, if your fan comes on immediately on cold-start it suggests an issue with the coolant temp sensor...
Reply
Old Yesterday | 02:43 AM
  #15  
Bill Dearborn's Avatar
Bill Dearborn
Tech Contributor
25 Year Member
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,044
Likes: 9,808
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Default

Originally Posted by Sayfoo
The highway/stop and go senerio is exactly what happened.
Yesterday, when I refilled the system, I noticed that the fan came on immediately after starting.
Is this normal? Fan on even when cold starting?
What is the normal fan operating sequence?
Was the AC turned on? If the AC is own the fan is supposed to be on.

Bill
Reply
Old Yesterday | 11:28 AM
  #16  
cbrider73's Avatar
cbrider73
Advanced
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 89
Likes: 70
From: Backroads, TN
Default

Originally Posted by Bill Dearborn
Was the AC turned on? If the AC is own the fan is supposed to be on.

Bill
True with the AC. I believe all C7s will turn on the compressor (and fan) when the temp is set to LOW, even if you don't push the AC button...have to have mine set at 61 degrees to keep the system from wanting to run the AC compressor. Kind of frustrating.
Reply
Old Yesterday | 04:56 PM
  #17  
F4Gary's Avatar
F4Gary
Race Director
Veteran: Air Force
25 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 11,252
Likes: 2,073
From: Grapevine Tx
2018 C3 of Year Finalist
2016 C3 of the Year Finalist
Default

My 2017 GS overheated last month. I had replaced the thermostat last summer as it was failing open. The normal failure. This time it failed closed. Once I swapped it out I'm back to normal. I did change the o-ring under the expansion tank, it takes a #116 o-ring. I also changed out my radiator cap, it is a 20lb cap and it releases between the bottom o-ring and the top o-ring on the cap.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Overheated

Old Today | 01:05 PM
  #18  
Chevy Cust Svc's Avatar
Chevy Cust Svc
Race Director
15 Year Member
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 16,002
Likes: 824
Default

Originally Posted by Sayfoo
35 miles from home from a 2k mile trip, I got stuck in traffic. After 20? minutes of stop and go, I got a over heating message and chimes. About 1 minute later there was a "explosion" under the hood and coolant sprayed over the windshield, out the wheel wells, etc. After towing my '14 home, I found that the cap on the coolant recovery tank is gone. I haven't had a chance to really look the car over yet.
Any suggestions or ideas??
Your safety is our team's top priority. We can only imagine how frightening this experience must have been for you and we'd like the opportunity to learn more so we may explore ways we can assist best. For our assistance, please visit: https://s.chevy.com/support-request and fill out the support request form with all pertinent details. This form helps our team gather the right information and ensures your request is routed appropriately. Your cooperation is much appreciated.
Reply
Old Today | 01:53 PM
  #19  
F4Gary's Avatar
F4Gary
Race Director
Veteran: Air Force
25 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 11,252
Likes: 2,073
From: Grapevine Tx
2018 C3 of Year Finalist
2016 C3 of the Year Finalist
Default

Originally Posted by Chevy Cust Svc
Your safety is our team's top priority. We can only imagine how frightening this experience must have been for you and we'd like the opportunity to learn more so we may explore ways we can assist best. For our assistance, please visit: https://s.chevy.com/support-request and fill out the support request form with all pertinent details. This form helps our team gather the right information and ensures your request is routed appropriately. Your cooperation is much appreciated.
Reply
Old Today | 02:14 PM
  #20  
Macleod52's Avatar
Macleod52
Drifting
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,291
Likes: 363
From: Iowa
Default

Originally Posted by Chevy Cust Svc
Your safety is our team's top priority. We can only imagine how frightening this experience must have been for you and we'd like the opportunity to learn more so we may explore ways we can assist best. For our assistance, please visit: https://s.chevy.com/support-request and fill out the support request form with all pertinent details. This form helps our team gather the right information and ensures your request is routed appropriately. Your cooperation is much appreciated.
In other words you, as representatives of GM, aren't going to do squat except tell the OP to go to the dealer to fix the issue. GM won't be compensating anyone for anything.

Last edited by Macleod52; Today at 02:14 PM.
Reply




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:03 PM.

story-0
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-2
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-5
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE