1996 Chevy Lumina HELP ME PLEASE!

DREYDAY_16

MEMBER
1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA

Engine Cooling problem
1996 Chevy Lumina 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

My 96 chevy lumina has a problem with over heating and I've already changed the thermostat, water pump, flushed out the coolant system, replaced upper and lower intake gaskets. Yet, still it over heats. Then while I'm driving and the car starts to overheat and I make a hard left turn my overheat gauge hand goes to normal and everything runs normal for a while. And, also my car makes a hissing noise after I turn it off. I've found and ruled out the cracked head gasket thing for the simple fact that when I rev up my car its very smooth, no sputtering. Help me PLEASE! Help me please! I am a self learner and I repair my own car, so you might have to put it in Laymens terms for me.

3 Replies

RLBSTUCKINHOU

MEMBER
11 POSTS

YOU HAVE RULED OUT ALMOST EVERY THING BUT A COLLASPING UPPER RAD. HOSE. YOU MIGHT ALSO REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT AGAIN ALTHOUGH RARE I HAVE HAD BAD NEW THERMOSTATS.

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Wednesday, April 30th, 2008 AT 12:50 PM

CROCK5677

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7 POSTS

Have you replaced the coolent temp sensor?

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Monday, May 19th, 2008 AT 1:15 PM

DNAPRORACING

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120 POSTS

What Can Make an Engine Overheat?

Overheating is caused by anything that leads to a loss of coolant, prevents the cooling system from getting rid of heat, or causes excess heat in the engine itself:

Coolant leaks (water pump, radiator, heater core, hoses, freeze plugs, head gasket, engine internal).
Weak radiator cap (does not hold rated pressure and allows coolant to boil over). Pressure test the cap to check it out.

Cooling system clogged (deposits built up in radiator or in the engine due to maintenance neglect or use of hard water). Use a cleaner, then reverse flush system to clean it out. A badly clogged radiator may need to be rodded out or replaced.
Thermostat stuck shut (replace).
Inoperative electric cooling fan (check fan motor, relay and temperature switch for correct operation).
Bad fan clutch (replace if slipping, leaking or loose).
Missing fan shroud (reduces cooling efficiency of fan).
Slipping fan belt (tighten or replace).
Too low or too high a concentration of antifreeze (should be 50/50 for best cooling).
Bad water pump (impeller eroded or loose - replace pump).
Collapsed radiator hose (check lower hose).
Debris in the radiator (remove bugs & dirt).
Late ignition timing (reset to specs).
Restricted exhaust system (check intake vacuum readings and inspect converter, muffler & pipes).
Radiator and/or fan undersized for application (increase cooling power by installing larger radiator and/or auxiliary cooling fan).

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Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 AT 9:20 PM