2002 Dodge Intrepid Overheating

DEBHOW

MEMBER
2002 DODGE INTREPID
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
69,000 MILES

May 2009, my car overheated, pump replaced behind radiator, radiator cap, & timing chain, charged 1300. Now car overheating again, this time dealer says water pump to blame because top hose getting hot and bottom hose cold, and as result timing chain needs to be replaced and water pump for 1700. Is it time just to get rid of the car? My H/C guage when it gets in middle car starts getting hot. Dealer saying car will blow head gasket at any time. Please any answers for me.

2 Replies

CARLIFE65

MECHANIC
200 POSTS

Yes they are right, you need a waterpump

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Sunday, October 25th, 2009 AT 12:50 AM

MOUSE23

MEMBER
2 POSTS

My two cents worth for future readers:
I was having a hard time changing coolant in. My trepid.

Pouring coolant in the plastic can is not enough. Air is trapped in the engine cavities and need to be evacuated with the relief valve under the intake manifold, several times. Circulating-relief-circulating relief.
Also, filling the can to the brim like the older cars is not enough. In older cars the plastic can is for overflow, but on the 2002 Trep the second compartment next to the fill hole is the overflow and there should be some coolant in there as well. The manual talks about a TOOL (!) To get coolant in there. But McGiver uses a plastic sqeeze bottle that fits tightly on top of the fill hole.
The third part of the plastic can is the overflow for the overflow and when that overflows it goes onto the ground.