Overheating

2003 CHRYSLER CONCORDE
123,000 MILES • 2.7L • 6 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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NICKCOOK123
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When I bought the car it was overheating pretty bad. Coolant was dumping into the overflow and smoking like crazy. Also the heat was not working. I had the thermostat changed and we bled all the air out of the cooling system. The car runs and drives great but if I do not run the car with the heat blasting full strength , the car begins to over heat. As long as the heat is blasting full strength the temperature gauge stays at about halfway. As soon as I turn the heat off, the temperature begins to rise again. The car is great besides this issue and I do not want to be driving around all summer and spring blasting my heat . Can anyone please help?
Feb 28, 2018 at 4:10 PM
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ASEMASTER6371
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Good evening.

It sounds like you may have damaged a head gasket from the overheat. you have all the symptoms for a bad head gasket. I would have a leak down test done to each cylinder to see if there is compression leaking into the cooling system.

Roy
Feb 28, 2018 at 5:42 PM
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NICKCOOK123
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How much would it cost to have the test done and how much would it be to replace the head gasket and specifically which gasket?
Feb 28, 2018 at 5:54 PM
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ASEMASTER6371
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The test is about $90.00.
the head gaskets require major engine work. a rough estimate is $1,500.00 to $1,800.00.

Roy
Feb 28, 2018 at 5:57 PM
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NICKCOOK123
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Could it potentially be anything else? Coolant sensor? I just do not have the money to put that much work into it. Like I said everything else is working perfect it just slowly overheats if I do not have the heat on full blast.
Feb 28, 2018 at 6:01 PM
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ASEMASTER6371
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It is not a sensor at all. you could have a flow issue with the radiator as that has caused the car to overheat but the head gasket damage is a result of the overheating not the cause.

To check the radiator, use a temperature gun and take the temperature of the radiator at the top and bottom and see if there is about a 40% change in temperature.

Roy
Feb 28, 2018 at 6:09 PM
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NICKCOOK123
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What would cause it to only move the gauge down when the heat is on?
Feb 28, 2018 at 6:12 PM
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ASEMASTER6371
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You are cooling the coolant a little more with the blower fan.

Roy
Feb 28, 2018 at 6:20 PM