2004 Kia Optima Trying to overheat

Tiny
STACI PRICE
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 KIA OPTIMA
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 83,200 MILES
My car keeps trying to overheat. It never has but it gets almost in the red everyday. When I turn off the AC it will go down a little. But it is hot in Louisiana and I need my AC. The AC does work fine, it just makes my car to run hot.
Friday, May 23rd, 2008 AT 6:21 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Hi there,

Time for a full cooling system service. Replace the thermostat, have the radiator cleaned & flow tested, check the pressure cap & flush the old coolant. Make sure that the fans are working (two) with the A/C on as well.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Saturday, May 24th, 2008 AT 5:25 AM
Tiny
DOUGSEGO
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
It sounds as if we have virtually the same problem: almost overheating 80K 2004 Optima with ac on. I've tried almost everything: new water-pump, new thermostat, radiator flush, verified hoses not collapsing, verifiying both fans operational. I'm going to lean-out the anti-freeze from 50% to the 35% minimum recommended and see if that works. Please post to your site if you find anything. Thanks. Doug
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Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 AT 5:32 PM
Tiny
DOUGSEGO
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I had an intermittant indication of overheating with my Optima. I tried everything to isolate the problem: new water-pump, new thermostat, radiator flush. However, when the needle approached red, and I turned off and turned on the engine again, it would show normal. This turned out to be an electrical problem, and was eventually isolated to (you're not going to believe this) A LOOSE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE!
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Monday, July 14th, 2008 AT 10:20 AM
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Hi dougesego,

Thanks for the in put. It all helps. This is a good example of looking at all the possibilities and keeping on top of basic maintaince issues, modern cars and the electrical systems are a pain at the best of times, but a simple problem as a loose or dirty terminal can sure through a spanner in the works.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Monday, July 14th, 2008 AT 5:15 PM
Tiny
VINCENTRICO
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
My 04 Kia optima gets hot when a.C. Is on. Virtually changed everything one can think of, anyone have any suggestions?
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Friday, August 30th, 2019 AT 1:01 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Hi,

This post is over 11 years old. Can you start a new post with your specific vehicle and the detail on what you have done and what is happening to the vehicle? When does it overheat? Does it overheat if you let it idle or only on the highway? Just let us know the details on a new post and we will help get it figured out. Thanks

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/new
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Friday, August 30th, 2019 AT 11:50 AM

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