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What can cause my car to overheat?

Tiny
ROSKY-13HOTMAILCOM
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 MITSUBISHI LANCER
I have checked the radiator, pumps and the fans and the problem still persist. Its an awkward problem because the temperature gauge goes up suddenly and then few seconds pass and it goes down again. Does anyone know what could the problem be?
Thursday, August 23rd, 2012 AT 11:49 PM

30 Replies

Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
Have you checked or changes the thermostat? It sounds like that the thermostat may be sticking just a bit then opens.
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Friday, August 24th, 2012 AT 12:51 AM
Tiny
ROSKY-13HOTMAILCOM
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I already changed the thermostat and the problem is still there.
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Friday, August 24th, 2012 AT 12:58 AM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
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What type of stat did you use? If you bought the premium one they tend to that. It will get a touch warmer then normal then open and the temp drops kinda strange.
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Friday, August 24th, 2012 AT 1:06 AM
Tiny
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Im really not sure what stat it is because my mechanic was the one who changed it and the only thing I know is that he bought it in Auto Zone. But if you mention that it tends to get the car warmer it could be that then. Because the temp rises especially when Im coming up a mountain.
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Friday, August 24th, 2012 AT 1:18 AM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
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Ok so if I am understanding correctly it warms up when you put the engine under a load? Does it do fine then when you are flat ground or down hill then?
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Friday, August 24th, 2012 AT 1:22 AM
Tiny
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Thats correct! On flats and downhills its usually normal but in hills it starts to warm up.
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Friday, August 24th, 2012 AT 1:26 AM
Tiny
ROSKY-13HOTMAILCOM
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And also it only heats up when its exposed to alot of sun, at night it doesnt warm up.
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Friday, August 24th, 2012 AT 1:32 AM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
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Ok so different thought then. Have had the cat converter checked for proper flow? Also the radiator is flowing good and the water pump is moving the coolant sufficiantly?
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Friday, August 24th, 2012 AT 1:34 AM
Tiny
ROSKY-13HOTMAILCOM
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Well the cat converter I havent checked. I will take it to be check and I'll let you now. Thanks for the help.
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Friday, August 24th, 2012 AT 1:45 AM
Tiny
ROSKY-13HOTMAILCOM
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But what does the cat converter has to do with the temp problems?
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Friday, August 24th, 2012 AT 1:56 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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A partially cloggged converter would restrict exhaust gas flow and this can affect the engine operating temperature.

Symptoms indicates an inefficient cooling system and the most common cause is a partially restricted radiator. You mentioned checking the radiator, what did you do? Did you have it serviced?
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Friday, August 24th, 2012 AT 8:50 AM
Tiny
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The mechanic changed the radiator, its a new one.
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Friday, August 24th, 2012 AT 11:29 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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There are two possibilites.

Engine is overheating or the gauge is not reading accurately. When overheating occurs, does the temperature drop once the speed of vehicle or rpm drops for a while?
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Friday, August 24th, 2012 AT 2:07 PM
Tiny
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Yes it drops suddenly.
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Friday, August 24th, 2012 AT 2:18 PM
Tiny
ROSKY-13HOTMAILCOM
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It only goes up when Im going up a hill then it normalizes. I can only use the car normally at night because it doesnt warm at all.
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Friday, August 24th, 2012 AT 2:20 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Do you have coolant losses issues?
When overheating occurs, does the coolant gets pressurised and overflows into the recovery tank?
Do the fans stay running when the gauge is reading high?
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Friday, August 24th, 2012 AT 4:28 PM
Tiny
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The coolant is working normally. And when the car overheats nothing appears to be wrong. I have taken it to 2 mechanics and even to the Mitsubishi dealers and none find a problem with the car.
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Friday, August 24th, 2012 AT 5:30 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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It could be that the engine is not really overheating. What you have is a false reading and it can be from the meter cluster, ECT or even a poor ground circuit connection. I would suggest using a scan type thermometer to monotor the cooling temperature to confirm.
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Friday, August 24th, 2012 AT 6:21 PM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
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Thats what I was thinking too. Changing the temp sender.
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Saturday, August 25th, 2012 AT 2:55 AM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
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Still I would check exhaust flow too as a partialy plugged exhaust can cause your systems.
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Saturday, August 25th, 2012 AT 2:59 AM

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