When I drive any type of distance my car overheats, however when I accelerate, or turn the heater on, the "temperature" needle go's back to normal. What is the problem ?
2006-11-29 16:29:05 · 7 answers · asked by jaime s 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Check to make sure the radiator fan is turning on and pulling air through the radiator. The radiator could be partialy pluged up and need to be cored or replaced. Make sure you have enough coolent.
2006-11-29 16:34:55 · answer #1 · answered by CJS 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When was the last time you flushed your radiator? You should do this every 5 years at the minimum.
You probably have some blockage in the radiator. Usually you will accumulate 10% blockage per year. If you haven't had it done yet, then your radiator is only working at 30% efficiency.
When you accelerate, you are drawing more air into the engine and your water pump is working harder so the cooling system will work temporarily.
When you turn on your heater, you are allowing the coolant to flow through the heater core which is a mini radiator. The blower pushes the hot air from the heater core into your cab. This will also lower the temperature of the coolant since you're releiving some of the work for your radiator and giving it to the heater core.
You might just have low coolant. But get a flush anyway. While you're at it, replace your upper and lower radiator hoses.
Just a note on some of the other answers:
It is definately not wise to drive if your car is overheating. I believe that car has aluminum heads. If you overheat them, you will warp them and need a whole new head or get yours straightened which is not cheap.
I saw the answer about your head gasket. It's a good possibility this could be your problem. But, you didn't mention any white smoke, so I didn't think of it. Check your oil. If it has a milky appeareance, then your head gasket is bad. Open your radiator cap and start your car. If you see oil on the top of the coolant, you could have a bad head gasket. (sometimes you will have a small amount of oil there which is not necessairly an indicator of a bad head gasket). The dead giveaway is a smoking exhaust and milky oil.
Also if you open your radiator cap and start your engine, you might see it puff like a train smoke stack. That is also an indicator of a bad head gasket.
2006-11-29 16:42:04 · answer #2 · answered by IL Padrino 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are several things you should check, first and most basic is your coolant level, is it empty or low? If so then add the nesicarry amount. Is your car leaking at all? Check your radiator and hoses to see if there is any obvious damage. Other parts that could be at fault is the thermostat or the fan clutch or the water pump. You may also want to do a pressure test to see if it something really serious like a blown head gasket. DO NOT KEEP DRIVING YOUR CAR IF ITS OVERHEATING. If it overheats bad enough serious engine damage will occur like warping the cylender head.
2006-11-29 16:37:54 · answer #3 · answered by wattie b 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It appears like the thermostat is stuck close to me. this suggests water does no longer bypass contained in the radiator like it really is going to even as the vehicle is warmth (and then overheats). the vehicle cooled down even as your heater became blowing because the heater circuit works in spite of thermostat subject, so this blowing has a similar result as a radiator. The thermostat is really basic to modify, and they fee about a similar as a lager. %. one up out of your community motor vehicle factors save. in case you eliminate your previous one, you could attempt it by putting it in boiling water and seeing if it opens or no longer.
2016-11-29 23:14:43 · answer #4 · answered by erke 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
radiator fan on when temp is high?
could have bad thermostat
could have bad fan temp sensor(if fan is not turning on)
when you accelerate you are pushing more air thru radiator which cools the water temp-also when you turn on the heater it takes away heat from the engine coolant(it acts as a miini-radiator)
2006-11-29 16:39:44 · answer #5 · answered by Cliff M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not a mechanic,but I'd check the thermostat in the radiator cap first,it might be sticking.
You could talk the dealer where you bought the car,the service dept. should be able to tell you.
2006-11-29 16:36:59 · answer #6 · answered by Ralph T 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most likly a blown head gasket, hace you checked your head for water, or get a head pressure check done, if there is white smoke coming from your exaust then its deffinately a head gasket. and it could also be a water pump are you losing any water.
2006-11-29 16:38:02 · answer #7 · answered by tony b 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋