Engine overheating

Hi and thanks for using 2CarPros.com.

Based on your description, it sounds like the cooling system is low on antifreeze. Make sure the coolant is full. Check both the over flow reservoir and if possible, the radiator. Make sure the engine is cool before opening the system Also, here is a link that discusses why a heater may not work. Look at step 1.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-heater-not-working

Now, if the coolant is low, it would explain both problems, no heat and overheating.

Let me know if this helps or if you have other questions.

Take care,
Joe

I checked the antifreeze last night and it was bone dry. I filled it up to the fill line in the tank. After running it for thirty minutes, the engine temperature stayed right in the middle. For a brief minute, I turned the vents from defrost to heat and the heat came out cold for a minute. The heat got warmer and the engine did not over heat. I let it run continuously for an hour and there was no heat issue or overheating of the engine. Do you think the heat went briefly cold for a minute due to the antifreeze running through the engine after it had been bone dry?

Welcome back.

Yes, the heat took a minute because the coolant had to circulate through the heater core. Now, since it was that low, make sure it is still full. Once the coolant refills the system, it could drop again in the radiator. Remember, if you loose heat again, chances are it is low on coolant again.

Also, watch for leaks. If you lost that much coolant, chances are there is a leak. Take a look through these links. The first one discusses how to do a pressure test on the system. The second shows how to locate and repair a coolant leak.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/radiator-pressure-test

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-is-leaking-coolant

My concern is that it runs low again, causing overheating and engine damage.

If you have questions, please feel free to ask.

Take care,
Joe

I was driving down the highway and noticed my temperature gauge dropped to cold then not even a minute later I realized that my A/C was blowing heat.
What could be the cause of this?
Could it be one thing that causes both?
Or could it be multiple things?
Car still drives great.

Good morning,

This could be from either the thermostat being wide open or the temperature sender unit.

If the sender unit failed, it would make sense since the A/C stopped working. When no signal is sent to the ECM, it goes into a protect mode.

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

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-an-overheating-engine

Roy

Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor Replacement

Removal Procedure


imageOpen In New TabZoom/Print

1. Relieve the coolant system pressure.
Warning: Refer to Battery Disconnect Warning (See: Battery > Technician Safety Information > Battery Disconnect Warning).

2. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
3. Drain the coolant below the engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor level.
4. Disconnect the ECT sensor connector.

Caution: Use care when handling the coolant sensor. Damage to the coolant sensor will affect the operation of the fuel control system.

car overheated and shook, then shutoff on me. diagnostic said thermostat failed. drove it without the thermostat, still overheated. unclogged thermostat and still nothing. it starts rough but still overheats. what could it be?

head gasket, intake gasket, clogged radiator, have pressure checked for internal leaks.

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

check this out

I commute with this car about 80 miles a day. Lately it's been trying to overheat. Sometimes successfully. It has a new water pump which I replaced recently when I did the timing belt kit. It also has a new thermostat and housing/outlet. The system has been flushed and refilled with dex-cool antifreeze/coolant. After all that the car still wants to overheat, but only when doing freeway speeds or going up a hill ect. Basically when the engine is reving or turning more then 2000/2500 rpms. I have to keep the heater going full blast and sumtimes that isn't even enough to keep it cool. I now have the radiator out of the car and i flushed it out with the garden hose. It doesn't seem to be clogged. The tubes that I'm able to see( only a few) don't look clogged. Should I replace the radiator anyways? Or try reinstalling it and see if it helped? Or do you think it could be a clogged cat converter? I appreciate any help. Thanks in advance. Eric

Symptom indicates inefficient cooling and with the aid of the heater, you are able to control the overheating, that points to a clogged radiator as the most likely cause since the thermostat is new.

If you were able to see a little clogging at the few tubes, there could be more for those you can't see.

Ok I thought would go ahead and replace just so all the based are covered. So I'll replace it and see if that solves the problem. Thanks again

You're welcome.

Good luck.

Engine getting hot it bubbles and then it seems ti boil the water in the expansion tank, the other day I took out
the thermostat and it seemed all right but now she tells me it is still doing it and also I performed a combustion test to see if there was any combustion gases in the coolant and there wasn't and water pump seems to be moving water because I turned on the heater and there was hot air and I took off the bottom hose of the radiator and it seemed to running through pretty good does any body else have a idea. Thank You

Did you do a chemical head check? and I would get the radiator core cleaned as you may still have plugged core tubes, this will restrict flow not stop it.

My 2004 chev aveo, i was not getting much heat from it all winter. heater would be on all the way and turned up all the way and i would get warm air then cool then warm. now when my car idles in traffic, the temperature gage is climing up to the 125 celcius. is it my theromostat that has to be replace or the heating core.

i would definetely make sure the cooling fans are coming on, the coolant level is full and i would change the thermostat as well. be sure all the air is bleed out of system after doing this

I have changed the thermostat and housing and gasket. I must have not bled the system correctly because the car it still overheating. How do I bleed the air from the system? Which cap do i take off.. the overflow or the actual radiator cap?

Look for a bleeder near the thermostat housing and open it while the engine is running and the radiator cap is off. Some cars have them and some don't. Here is a guide to help you do some testing on why it would be overheating, please check it out and get back to me so I can keep helping or if you have fixed the problem.

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

and

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

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken

my air condictioner was not working well then this morning my car overheated

Is the cooling fan coming on when a/c compressor is on? What does the condition of the antifreeze look like?