engine Overheating

Hello,

These car had big problems with the head gaskets being blown to confirm the issue lets run down this guide.

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

this guide can help as well

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

Please run down this guide and report back

Cheers

My Malibu is overheating I have changed thermostat twice replaced water pump, replaced intake gasket had radiator flushed had radiator checked for compression replaced radiator container and cap only thing i have not changed is heating core and head gasket. My question is i was wondering if i removed the thermostat would that stop my car from overheating i know i would not have a heater but i live in Houston TX so it doesn't really get cold in winter besides its just a work car for me. I really just want to get it not over heating and sale it as soon as possible the car has been good to me mileage is 160,000 but has turned to a MONEY PIT!

Engine Cooling problem
2002 Chevy Malibu 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 39,655 miles

My car overheated several times about a year and a half ago.
Since then I have hardly driven it because I have never had the funds to take it and find the reason.

I do drive it to the doctor one time a month which is about 8 miles away.

I also drive it once a week to a meeting I have which is about 2 miles.

It has not overheated since 1 and 1/2 years ago but
I have a light coming on that has an arrow pointing to fluid, the light is red and does not have any writing.

I took it to one person who gave me a free reading and he told me tha someone had put antifreeze in the car and it did not take antifreeze. He said it takes DEX-COOL.
HE said that was the problem and when the person put antifreeze in the car it mixed with the DEX-COOL and turned to pure sludge.
That is what it looks like when you look into the water tank, thick muddy stuff.

I took it to another person yesterday and they told me it was the Intake Gasket.

I need help so badly. I am a woman who is disabled and am having a very hard time getting by financially.

Could you please help me?

I feel like because I am a woman and alone that these people in this small town are taking advantage of me.

Any help you could give would be so very much appreciated.

Thanks,
Tamatha

most likely it is a bad intake gasket that needs to be replaced. this is very common in these vehicles

Thanks for answering my question.

Now, if you read this could you please tell me what you know about the cost of getting this intake gasket fixed?

Any help or info at all will be helpful.

Thanks,
Tamatha

depends where you go, but I would think around the $400-800 range. but like i said, depends where you go

Engine Mechanical problem
2002 Chevy Malibu 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 99093 miles

My engine has been overheating. We have taken the sensor of to see if that would help as the fans were not kicking in when it reached a high temperatur. Next we are going to check the thermostat. It is swallowing an awful lot of coolant, but it is not coming out anywhere. Please tell me what can be the problem. I cannot afford to be stopping every five minutes to put in fluids.

I have been doing some research on these vehicles and from where I sit, looks like I got me a Chevy Lemon, a every chevy owner has the same complete and more.

If you are loosing coolant but there is no liquid visible anywhere you need to inspect your oil. Suspect a cracked head gasket.

did you ever solve this? and what was it?
[quote:23bfeb3637="Haviva"]Engine Mechanical problem
2002 Chevy Malibu 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 99093 miles

My engine has been overheating. We have taken the sensor of to see if that would help as the fans were not kicking in when it reached a high temperatur. Next we are going to check the thermostat. It is swallowing an awful lot of coolant, but it is not coming out anywhere. Please tell me what can be the problem. I cannot afford to be stopping every five minutes to put in fluids.

I have been doing some research on these vehicles and from where I sit, looks like I got me a Chevy Lemon, a every chevy owner has the same complete and more.[/quote:23bfeb3637]

Engine Performance problem
2002 Chevy Malibu 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 140,00 miles

Hi, I have a 2002 Malibu with the V6 3100 SFI engine. Personally i think its junk. Ive already had the intake gaskets replaced a few years back. But now its overheating again. Recently i put a new thermostat in it, just put new coolant resevoir and radiator in it yesterday, but its still overheating. Coolant level in the resevoir is staying the same so its obviously not leaking, there is no coolant in the oil or no white smoke comes from the tailpipe so it cant be headgasket. But i cannot figure out for the life of me whats wrong with it. Any suggestions? (Also it does not blow heat untill engine is already overheated)

Recheck the thermostat by testing it if okay -check the water pump if its circulating coolant thru-out the engine. If okay -could be air in the system-try bleeding it don't work last resort is to get it block and pressure tested.

we have replaced the overflow tank, water pump, thermostat and heat sensor, my car is running hot was overheating but no longer just running hot about 240-250. It is not building any pressure and the heater stopped working. No one can seem to figure out what is wrong.

Have you checked for a head gasket problem?

Engine Cooling problem
2002 Chevy Malibu 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

When the engine heats up the coolent is running out from the right side of the engine. There is a lot of moisture that is accumlating in the tail pipe as well. Does this sound like a bad intake or something more serious like a head gasket or cracked head? There does not appear to be any liquid in the oil and the engine sounds normal and the car seems to drive normal other than overheating due to the coolent leaking out.

have you solved this yet? and whats it


[quote:fae9b28250="derek wunder"]Engine Cooling problem
2002 Chevy Malibu 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

When the engine heats up the coolent is running out from the right side of the engine. There is a lot of moisture that is accumlating in the tail pipe as well. Does this sound like a bad intake or something more serious like a head gasket or cracked head? There does not appear to be any liquid in the oil and the engine sounds normal and the car seems to drive normal other than overheating due to the coolent leaking out.[/quote:fae9b28250]

Engine Cooling problem
2002 Chevy Malibu 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 95000 miles
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My car is overheating about every ten minutes, I have replaced the thermostat recently becuase it was doing the same thing. All of the coolant is being forced back into the overflow resivior and when it stared and I had to finish getting it home my father told me to turn on the heater and turn the fan on high so it would help cool the engine off but when I did all that came out of the heater was cold air so I was wondering if it could be the radiator or the water pump and if so which one is more likely?

Did you bleed the cooling system when you replaced the thermostat? Feel the radiator for cold spot which is an indication of clogging.

Water Pump

One way to test for a bad water pump is to squeeze the upper radiator hose when the engine is hot and idling. Careful, because the hose will be HOT! If you do not feel much coolant circulating through the hose when you rev the engine, the pump may be bad. The other cause might be a bad thermostat that is not opening properly (remove and inspect the thermostat), or a clogged radiator.

If it Continuous do below:

Have it block and pressure tested-do the block first to pinpoint a combustion leaking into the cooling system or a gas analyzer to sniff for hydrocarbons at the radiator fill neck.

Pressure test: do not do a pressure test if there's leakage at the headgasket this might cause coolant into the cylinders and lock it up or bend a connecting rod if cranked thereafter. The headgasket should be repaired before doing the pressure test.

If the block and pressure test passes check the following: ,Pressure test the Rad. cap,Clogged radiator,air lock in the cooling system ,Fan clutch,Radiator electrical fan,collaspe hoses,water pump

Engine Cooling problem
2002 Chevy Malibu 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 137000 miles
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I took my car into a shop, because it was overheating, at the shop they told me my radiator had a crack and was leaking water. I neede to replace the radiator. So my dad and brother went and purchased a new radiator. But now the car still overheats. In a matter of a mile or so. Now what can the problem be?

check intake manifold gasket for leaks
check for leaks on top of the tranny bell housing

make sure you replace the thermostat too
good luck
let me know

my car is overheating, i have changed thermostat, radiator hose, and bleed the cooling system,, the guage inside car barely passes the normal tempt. i can drive for 5min and stop and look underhood and its comeing out the overflow, the resivor is hot... what do i do?

If the temp gauge is barely going over normal, I need you to test something for me. With the engine COLD, remove the radiator cap and start the engine. Does the coolant shoot out? If so, chances are you have a bad head gasket. Let me know.

Engine Cooling problem
2002 Chevy Malibu Automatic 207000 miles

At one time my cooling fans wouldn't work, replaced fuses, relays and thermostat then they worked. Now it overheats. Sometimes when my gauge gets almost to red, it blows out cold air. I had put coolant in the reserve while car was off and cool, then started it up and added more when the thermostat opened up, but just a little. I ran it reving up the motor, my fans came on. I ran it about 15 minutes, then my coolant kept overflowing, almost like it wasn't going down into the motor. It's got a 3.1L engine. Any and all help would be appreciated. Need anymore info, just ask. Thanks.

If its not a clogged radiator, weak water pump,air lock get it block tested-

Engine Cooling problem
2002 Chevy Malibu 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 130000 miles

My car was over heating and there was a crack in the water tank, so we had it fixed but it still over heated. Two days ago, we replaced the radiator with a brand new one, and it still was over heating. The guy looked at it and checked the hoses and fans to make sure everything was working properly, but it still over heats after driving a couple blocks. What could be causing this? My husband thinks it's the water pump. Could this be possible?

have you solved this yet? and what was it?


[quote:ca27265197="khschoirgurl05"]Engine Cooling problem
2002 Chevy Malibu 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 130000 miles

My car was over heating and there was a crack in the water tank, so we had it fixed but it still over heated. Two days ago, we replaced the radiator with a brand new one, and it still was over heating. The guy looked at it and checked the hoses and fans to make sure everything was working properly, but it still over heats after driving a couple blocks. What could be causing this? My husband thinks it's the water pump. Could this be possible?[/quote:ca27265197]

Engine Cooling problem
2002 Chevy Malibu 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 153,00 miles

My 2002 Chevy Malibu has been running hot lately. What could be the cause of this problem? Also the AC doesn't get cold like its suppose to.

chck andsee if the cooling fan is working ok

Engine Cooling problem
2002 Chevy Malibu 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 106000 miles

I am leaking coolant at the intake manifold. I need to know how to replace the gasket

The lower intake gaskets that you are talking about is a bit of a job. I've done many of them, but it could take you up to about 6-8 hours to do. If your willing and have all the tools, I can e-mail you a step by step procedure. let me know if your willing.

Yes please send me the step by step instructions that would be so helpful. Thank you so much!! my email is bjorae@yahoo.com

[quote:ac5085c632="basstech"]The lower intake gaskets that you are talking about is a bit of a job. I've done many of them, but it could take you up to about 6-8 hours to do. If your willing and have all the tools, I can e-mail you a step by step procedure. let me know if your willing.[/quote:ac5085c632]



Yes please send me the step by step procedure that would help a ton! Thank you so much my email is bjorae@yahoo.com

Ok...I e-mailed you the 42 steps required to access the lower intake gaskets. If you have any problems just let me know.
Thanks for coming to 2carpros.com

Engine Cooling problem
2002 Chevy Malibu 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 200000 miles

no water in my oil but car will not keep coolant. i cant see it leaking and car was not overheated but steam(not smoke) is boiling out towards back of engine what could this possibly be? i was told craked head or head gasket...what else could it be?

It could be a lower intake gasket failure. This is a common issue with these engines. A cracked head or failed head gasket will usually be accompanied by an extermely poor running engine..
Further more, if the lower intake gaskets are to blame (which they probably are) look into the DEXCOOL lawsuit settlement. GM settled a class action lawsuit dealing with these intake gaskets -- you may qualify to have this repaired for free...

took car to shop they really couldnt telll where i was loosing coolant from but told me i need a whole new engine...other than loosing coolant my car runs fine with full power no sputters or white smoke from tail pipe... thanks

If you can see steam out of the back of the engine -- like you said --- and the mechanic cannot see the leak -- then you should take your car to a competent mechanic..Coolant does not get comsumed like oil -- and it does not leak undetected. Coolant should NEVER be low. If coolant is not in the oil and it is not on the ground, then it could be in the tranny fluid. This would indicate a broken radiator...I reply with repair information - NOT fixes..

Engine Cooling problem
2002 Chevy Malibu 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 120000 miles

The car overheated so I changed the thermostat was ok for awhile but started to overheat , this time I changed the psesure cap it didn't help it blows all the coolent out the overflow could you please help me someone told me it could be the radiator

cooling fans coming on?

cooling fans are working

If radiator cooler at bottom than top then clogged up.Replace or try and flush