Overheating, coolant leak, 1995 Grand Am?

Question

I have a 1995 Grand am. Yesterday the batteyr light came on, so my dad checked it and said the alternator may be going bad. Well all is well, today my sister was driving it, and it got really hot and fogged up the window, so she pulled over and the low coolant light came on..
I went up there and put a gallon of coolant in it, it was at 100... Then i start to drive it and it slowly went up... It was almost 250 when i pulled in my parking spot, when I got out, i noticed a leak trail from where i had just driven from.. And the low coolant light stayed on. When I turned off the car it sounded as if the coolant was boiling..
I just got a new radiator about two months ago, and new seals... Anyone know what this could be..
Also, my battery light just came on so does this mean it has to be the alternator if the battery was checked while on and I was toldit should be at like 13, 14 and it wasnt charging basically?

Answer 1

It needs a heater core . Do not try disconecting battery to see if alt. is working it can finish an alt . off

Answer 2

You've try to say a lot.

First for the temperature to be at 250 is not far off of normal. Typically you want temperature ranges for vehicles to be between 220 - 240 (when the thermostat opens to cool the engine)

However it does sound like you have a major coolant leak, which could be giving you an incorrect temperature reading and you may be significantly higher than that. Your first step should be to determine where the coolan leak is coming from. Coolant leaks could be coming from anywhere. However the fact that you said the windows started fogging up leads me to believe that the coolant leak is most likely somewhere near the heater core. Possibly where the heater core exits the firewall. I would start looking there.

Wait for the car to cool.
Open up radiator cap and fill the radiator with water.
Place cap on radiator and run vehcile in driveway.
If you don't see a leak immediately, it means water may not be flowing because the thermostat has not opened. Watch your thermostat, when it exceeds 220, you should be able to see water flow from somewhere under the vehicle. If you don't, check the passenger compartment and see if the carpet inside is wet. If the water seems to be coming from the firewall or is leaking inside the vehicle, it's definitely the heater core that's leaking.

Otherwise look for where the water is coming from.

The voltage when the Alternator is charging the battery should be between 13 and 14 volts, and when the car engine is off, it should be about 12 volts. A simple volt meter can tell you this information or you can take the alternator off the vehicle and take it to any parts store like Autozone and they will test it for free. If the alternator is not charging then yes you will see the battery light.

Answer 3

Two problems, it happens all the time and they are not related. first the alternator had its problem you got it fixed. You replaced the radiator, Good. but what happens is in a car of that age, a new part can make an old part fail. The weak link in the cooling system for you was the Heater Core.(is why it was fogging up the windshield) it could have been a hose but for you it was the heater core. You will have to be replaced and its not fun. If you plan on keeping this car because its paid for, and it has been a good car it might be worth to replace it.

It will be expensive., if its been a problem car you might want to consider replacing the car. sounds drastic but if its not problem car, and its age, it might be something to consider. Good Luck Dave

Answer 4

if you have fog on the inside your heater core has a hole in it, possible thermostat is stuck putting pressure on core, car requires 13.5 to fire the coils and charge----take positive cable loose if car dies bad alternator---DONT touch anything metal with cable---check floor inside car under dash for water.

Answer 5

Is your alternator belt still there?
If it is missing it could cause both the problems as reported.