2003 Dodge Stratus - Coolant Not Flowing?

Question

I am working on a 2003 Dodge Stratus (2.7 V6)

The problem started a couple months ago when the gauge for no reason just shot way up to hott and the car wasn't even hot at all... This happened a couple times and at the same time the resevoir cap came loose... So I finally bought a locking cap to take care of that problem.

Then she had her water pump replaced because a mechanic thought that was the problem... didnt help.... SO I tested the Coolant sensor and replaced it, AND I replaced the Thermostat as well... I took it for a test drive and the gauge NEVER left Cold and NO heat came out of the heater core at all...

So today I tore it all apart again and made sure the thermostat was installed correctly and not backwards... and it was fine...

Put it all back together and still the same thing.,..... Upper radiator hose is cold, engine is hot, and no hot air coming out of the heater core....

Do you think I bought a bad thermostat?

Can I test the system to see if coolant is flowing?

The filling tank is ALSO the over flow resevoir....

ALSO, there is NO radiator cap on this sytem... NOR is there a location to plug a garden hose into the system..... Hense part of the reason why I hate this car!!!

I had put the car back together and then after I posted this question a friend suggested I test the new thermostat in a bioling pot of water as did someone above...

I will take the thermostat out..AGAIN and test it tomorrow and see if it's opening properly.. then I will post my findings

Answer 1

Many car engines have cap-less radiators,if so it is important to insure any system "air"be eliminated.Professiionals use specialized hardware. Try this; fill engine coolant "through coolant sensor" and fill coolant resevior to full mark. Start engine and you will see normal results.

Answer 2

I have never seen such a guessing game and the obvious just mentioned as an after thought.
Run the engine till you have it at operating temp.
Turn off engine, carefully place your hands on the radiator core and se if it is hot all over. If there are any cold spots you have a plugged radiator. If you wish to check circulation, take radiator cap off of COLD engine, start and let come to temp where thermostat should open, look in opening where cap goes, you will see the flow if there is no obstruction.
The coolant circulates from the bottom up in the radiator, bet you didn't know that, any way your temp. gauge is electronic so check the sending unit on the engine block, the overheating could have damaged it or the wire may not be making a connection.
Next time a "mechanic" saya "I think" thats the problem, make him a deal, if it's not the problem you will pay only for parts. When pumps fail the generally damage the mechanical seal and they leak. You can check pump operation as I suggested above.
Your heater not working almost confirms plugged radiator, no circulation. You sure thermostat in correctly ? The accordion like piece toward the engine ?
Never start changing parts and running a guessing game. When you have a heating problem, go to a radiator shop, or a mechanic with some common sense.

Answer 3

It might be a bad thermostat.

A few other possibilities:

A blown head gasket will blow combustion gas into the cooling system, causing overheating, blowing off of caps from high pressure , etc.

While the thermostat is removed you can take off all the belts on the engine and fill the block up with water. Start the engine. Any bubbles coming out of the block where the thermostat goes MUST be coming from a blown head gasket: the water pump is not turning since the belt is off of it!

Heater cores can become clogged, as can radiators.

Look at your coolant recovery tank. Air bubbles coming up through it could be a blown head gasket.

Take off your top radiator hose at the radiator. Keep the radiator full with a garden hose stuck in it. You should get flow out of it.

Squeeze the top hose while revving the engine: if the hose "gets hard" when you rev the engine you may have a clogged radiator

Answer 4

inside the heater core look for shut off lever, attached to knob on dash see if its still attached,needs lube, dont use wd 40 use penetrating oil. try taking the radiator cap off again and hold the palm of your hand over the hole, is there pressure trying to push your hand away? with the engine running you have a bad head gasket, locate by pulling spark plugs one at atime, look for burnt antifreeze on plugs once you locate correct plug(s) pull off rocker cover and tighten valve cover bolts arround the offending chambers do it gently, snug not horsed tight. dont forget to bleed air from hoses in cooling system good luk

Answer 5

Sounds like a bad thermostat

Answer 6

Take the thermostat out, for a few days, and see what happenes? if it doesn't get hot anymore. you got to the bottom of you'r problem!!

Answer 7

first off, get your o2 (oxygen) sensor checked out. you may not be getting good enough airflow. it could also be a tranny issue. best advice? bring it to a reputable shop that will test-drive the vehicle for you and tell you what's wrong BEFORE making you pay for anything. get a quote in writing as well.

Answer 8

take out thermastat put it in water on stove in a pan see if it opens and at what temp with your meat thermometer compare that to the temp on the thermo.