Overheating?

SEAN844

MEMBER
2001 BUICK CENTURY
3.1L
V6
2WD
AUTOMATIC
77,300 MILES

I recently purchased the car listed above with approximately 77,300 miles on it. I just replaced the catalytic converter because it was clogged up. Now as I'm driving the temperature gauge will go up and come down, it hadn't been going into the red until this morning. It went all the way into the red and the temperature light came on. It would go back down to about the middle of the gauge then go back up again. It doesn't blow hot air out of the heater either. Any thoughts on what could be causing this?

6 Replies

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
47,702 POSTS

This sounds like a classic low coolant condition, please check the coolant level (engine cold).

Here is a guide to help you:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-engine-and-battery-pack-antifreeze-levels

Here is a guide that might help as well:

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

Please go over these guides and report back.

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Monday, October 17th, 2022 AT 10:19 AM

SEAN844

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4 POSTS

Thank you, I will let you know how I make out once I get it checked. I hope that's all it is. Appreciate your help.

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Monday, October 17th, 2022 AT 2:50 PM

SEAN844

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Hi Ken, I added coolant, and it seemed all right for a few minutes but then the temperature gauge started going up again. I drove around for a few minutes to try and test it out and like I mentioned at first it seemed okay it went up a bit then it went down halfway then went back up again to the point where after a few more minutes of driving it went back up into the red and the temperature warning light came on and I parked it. I shut it off for a few min and just let it idle and the temperature still went up. Not sure what's going on, I'm going to have a family friend who's a mechanic take a look at it.

Thanks for your advice.

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Monday, October 17th, 2022 AT 5:19 PM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
47,702 POSTS

Can you hear the radiator fans come on? If so, It could be the thermostat or the engine temperature coolant sensor. Here is the location of the sensor in the images below. Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.

Image (Click to make bigger)

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Tuesday, October 18th, 2022 AT 10:38 AM

SEAN844

MEMBER
4 POSTS

So, like I mentioned I had a friend look at it and he said it was a few different things causing it. There were a couple bad fan relay switches, a water pump that wasn't pumping any water along with a thermostat that was stuck open. He went ahead and took care of the work yesterday and now it seems to be running well not overheating and the heat is blowing hot air now.