Car overheated suddenly, steam coming from under hood

Tiny
04IMPALALSINAR
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • 109,000 MILES
Checked radiator water and fill tank was full. Cap was not hot.

The car overheated on my way home and next day I was taking to have it looked at and had to stop and cool off several times. We checked the radiator for water and the resivor tank was full. The first time it overheated there was no signs of oil or water under hood. After driving 5 miles to town there was some oil and water mix that blew towards the water tank and fuse box.

When I finally got to the ford dealership they were closed and the detail guy looked at it cause there was smoke rolling from hood. It had much more oil and water blow back. I then had to drive it the 5 miles back home and it red lined and the alarms started to go off. I pulled over and let it cool off and just 3/4 mile before my house it started a real fast tick like a piece of plastic in a bicycle tire. The warning alarms were going off. I pulled it on into drive and shut it off. It sounded like there was something still running under the hood.

I have not looked at it again. I am such a girl and a single one at that so I dont know much about cars and have been taken advantage of repeatedly in the past few years. I would love to know what the problem is and not have to deal with the answers everyone loves to give just to sound like their not without complete knowledge of everything manly. The guy at auto zone kicked gravel and wiped oil off fuse box and and kicked asphalt and concluded it must just need antifreeze just after checking and the coolant was not low.

The radiator cap did appear to be dirty which I think would indicate some trash in the radiator. The fans are all working.
Sunday, April 22nd, 2012 AT 5:27 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,705 POSTS
Has anyone checked the thermostat?
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Sunday, April 22nd, 2012 AT 5:29 PM
Tiny
04IMPALALSINAR
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Well at a glance yes, this was just yesterday and shops were closed. Mostly everyone shook their head. I would not be so concerned but I am a broke single mom and not sure how we will get to work and school in the morning.
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Sunday, April 22nd, 2012 AT 5:45 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,705 POSTS
If there was coolant in the radiator, either the thermostat isn't opening or the system has a clog. Replace the thermostat and flush the system to see if that helps.
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Sunday, April 22nd, 2012 AT 5:56 PM
Tiny
04IMPALALSINAR
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ADVICE. DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HOW MUCH THAT WILL COST?
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Sunday, April 22nd, 2012 AT 6:10 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,705 POSTS
If you take it to a shop, I would say around 150.00 (based on where you live it could be different.) You could do it yourself for around 50.00.
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Sunday, April 22nd, 2012 AT 6:22 PM

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