Overheating

Tiny
SGAMSBY09
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 MITSUBISHI GALANT
  • 2.4L
  • V6
  • RWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130 MILES
I have the car listed above ES model. It has an overheating problem. The car’s in good shape always well maintained. We took it to our (or was ) mechanic we were using for all our vehicles and all he did was replace the thermostat and then said it has a cracked head gasket, he didn’t even bother doing anything else, couldn’t be bothered, he said; "these cars are notorious for blowing head gaskets" and that he doesn’t want to deal with head gasket jobs, said it would cost more than the cars worth. Yeah time to switch mechanics. So while my husband 's not a mechanic he is definitely mechanically inclined and fixes many of his vehicle problems, and is stumped with this one.

The engine runs good except (the overheating of course) and occasionally makes a noise, so after flushing out the radiator checking it for leaks, changing the thermostat, testing for a cracked head gasket (which it’s not, and so called mechanic didn’t do) husband thinks the water pump needs replacing. However, I’ve read plenty online where all these things were done and the problem still resides. We have someone who is willing to change out the water pump for 500 bucks, which I’m willing to do, or buy it from us for $500.00 (which I’m not ready to do). However, before we do that I’d like to know if there are any other things we can do/replace at less of an expense that might actually be the issue or be more cost effective for us to do ourselves instead of having additional work done by the mechanic while the water pumps being replaced?

I know my car isn’t ready for the junk yard, yet, but I do know realistically and sensibly there is only so much that should be spent to save it, and that needs to happen quickly before the snow falls, husband doesn’t want I buried in snow in the yard when we can get hauled away if need be. He also thinks if it needs to go then donating it might be the better way for us to go then the 500 bucks, but I’m sure about that either, as I think you can only claim the value it’s sold for at auction, and how can you trust that figure.

Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated.
Thursday, September 18th, 2014 AT 7:32 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Check radiator when car is hot if you feel cold spots on radiator it's probably bad it should be the same temp all over if that is ok then have coolant system pressure checked for head gasket leak.

This guide can help.

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

let us know please
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Thursday, September 18th, 2014 AT 9:55 AM
Tiny
SGAMSBY09
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Radiator seems fine and a head gasket pressure test came back okay as well.
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Thursday, September 18th, 2014 AT 10:11 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Not much else to go n then wth out seeing this. Is the grounds good and maybe gauge is wrong or sensor not reading correctly. Put an infrared thermometer on upper hose when overheated and see what the reading is if around 210-220 then t's not overheating. It has to be something causing this like poor fan shrouding but again not seeing it this is all I can give info wise.
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Thursday, September 18th, 2014 AT 12:03 PM
Tiny
SAPPHIRE DIVA
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I have this same 2001 Galant LS 3.0 engine V6. My car had been running fine up until this past Friday. The upper radiator hose burst 1st period then later that day it ran hot again and My heat on the car went out and there was a puff of white smoke. My car crank and I was able said driving home and park it. My mechanic put Something called fiber lock he had block and gasket repair with nanotechnology into the car the puff of smoke dissipated. There were no leaks from the tailpipe. So long as the car was sitting still it did not run hot. The next day we replaced the thermostats in my car it ran better he did not cranks hard but I still ran hot. Now the main problem I know that I have with the car is that the temperature cooling gauge on the inside of the car is bad it always says that the car's hot even when you 1st crank it. Also I got it about a month ago and the overflow had melted in the car, they had the radiator hose capped off with a screw. So long as it was like this it was fine, once it was hooked up to the over flow it run hot. What I found out yesterday by calling Mitsubishi is that this particular model Galant is a hybrid between Mitsubishi and Dodge. The 3.0 engine is the exact same engine in an 2001 Dodge Stratus. What could this be because I am a single mother of 5 children and this is my only transportation right now for a couple of more weeks and I need it to stop running hot in order for me to go to work tomorrow. I've taken the last two days off to find out what it is.
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Wednesday, February 19th, 2020 AT 7:41 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
Hello,

Can I ask when the car is overheating do the cooling fans run? Also this guide can check for a blown head gasket if which is the case then all other repairs won't matter:

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

I also would replace the radiator cap if the head gasket is okay. Please get back to me on the fans and test results.
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Wednesday, February 19th, 2020 AT 4:08 PM

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