Why did my car overheat?

Tiny
NUVISIONS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING
  • 174,000 MILES
I bought a chrysler 2002 sebring convertible with the 2.7l motor. I got it from my mechanics brother. At the time I was told that the car had a leak and need a thermastat. They put the thermastat in but it kept over heating still. Then I was told that I needed a water pump cause it was leaking from there. They put a water pump in and its still running hot when I drive it. Then he said to buy a new radiator cap, I did that and its still running hot. Then he said that I had air in the radiator and he bleed the system. Gues what. ITS STILL RUNNING HOT. I can drive the car for about 20 minutes, the fan kicks on but it still runs hot.
HELP PLEASE.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 10:12 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,874 POSTS
Have you been losing coolant? If so, suspect a leaking head gasket. If not, check the radiator to see if the cooling fins are plugged with bugs or debris, or if they are corroded. If they crumble like a rotten chocolate chip cookie, they aren't transferring heat to the air. The clue is the lower radiator hose will be as hot as the top one but not much heat will be blowing from the fan.

To check for a leaking head gasket, your mechanic can check for the presence of combustion gases at the radiator with a special tool. You could also add a small bottle of dark purple dye to the coolant, drive it a while, then check with a black light, especially at the tail pipe. The dye will show up as a bright yellow stain that you can follow to the source.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 10:12 AM (Merged)
Tiny
LAURABUMMZ
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 75,000 MILES
My car was over heating a few months ago and I thought they were puttin oil in it but I was mistaken I think they were just adding anti freeze. Well now my car started to over heat again I took it to the shop it had no anti freeze in it. Problem solved now 2 days later I am driving I go to start it and it dies again and hard to stear the driving wheel. I get home and I smell anti freeze and my car is smoking from the hood. I didnt open it yet because I was afraid the cover blew and anti freeze wass spewing. I will check in the morning but the only problem was when my car was smoking the gage this time didnt say it was running hot. What could this be? He put the anti freeze in the small meddle hole with a metal cover and with an orange sticker on it. It had to have been the right place because my car was fine after I just dont understand why its smoking and dying again?
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 10:12 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ZACKMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,202 POSTS
If you are leaking coolant, you need to check your radiator hoses, heater hoses, and water pump. One of the parts I just described is leaking and need replacing.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 10:12 AM (Merged)
Tiny
GOFNGAL
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 52,000 MILES
My car smells hot sometimes. The heat gage is normal. It doesn't appear to be low on coolent.
When the car is idling after I have been driving, it smells hot and the radiator fans are not blowing, when I turn the air conditioner on they blow. What hould I have checked first? Thanks
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 10:12 AM (Merged)
Tiny
OBXAUTOMEDIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,711 POSTS
Hello,

Since they come on when A/C is turned on. First thing to check out are the Relays.

Also is your engine light on? If so could be your Coolant Temp Sensor has gone bad and not turning them on when needed.

.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 10:12 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SAUNDRA1
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING
  • 2.7L
  • 4 CYL
  • 4WD
  • 132,000 MILES
My car overheated and now anti freeze is running out of the reservoir. Had the bleeding component replaced.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 10:13 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,755 POSTS
Hi and thanks for using 2CarPros.com.

I am not sure what component was replaced. Let me know. Also, many things can cause an engine to over heat. Components such as a thermostat, radiator, head gasket, faulty radiator cap, plugged radiator, cooling fan issues, low coolant can all lead to a problem. Take a look through these links that discusses the different components.

Thermostat:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-an-engine-thermostat-works

Radiator

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-radiator-works

Cooling fan:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-radiator-works

Here is a link that shows how to check for a bad head gasket:

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

As you can see, there are many things that can cause it to over heat. If you could, tell me if it only happens when in stop and go traffic, if it starts leaking from the overflow when first started or soon thereafter, if there are any leaks, if the radiator cap has been replaced.

Anything you can think of that may help me diagnose the issue may be helpful. Also, let me know if the component replaced was the reservoir itself and if it was done by someone trained in bleeding the system.

I will watch for your reply.

Take care,
Joe
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 10:13 AM (Merged)

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