Temperature problem in Saturn

JEDIKEVIN20

MEMBER
SATURN

I have a 1997 Saturn sc2 standard 160,000 miles 1.9liter. Lately my car seems to have a temperature problem whe n it just sits in nuetral after about 9 minutes. I noticed the problem after getting in some severe traffic. I started to notice that my temp was slowling moving up and eventually got to the mid line. Also the car started to seem just a tad sluggish until I got out of the traffic and started to drive for a bit. Once I got to my destination I opened to hood to find that a small amount of radiator fluid had leaked out through the cap and there was a colored fluid stain that went down the radiator reservior to the ground. Couple days later I just turned on the car and left it in nuetral and it did it again and I decided to drive around my block and as I drove the temp went back down. Is my radiator having some kinda problem with the car sitting in nuetral or is there some sensor not working correctly?

1 Reply

LOCOMECHANIC1

MEMBER
2 POSTS

I would recommend that you check your engine coolant temp sensor (located at base of head, drivers side) My 97 saturn did the same thing. It turned out to be a cracked sensor. Unfortunatly this also did not inform the computer that the water was HOT. So it would not turn the electric fan on.(My temp gauge was also reading alot lower than it actually was) Replace sensor, if overflow tank continues to leak, replace cap.(I had to do this also) By the way my 97 has 207000 miles on it and we still drive happily ever after 70+ miles a day. Hope this helps good luck!