I'll try to make a long story short. I have a 95 Pontiac Sunfire GT. Summer before last, it overheated and I had to leave it (8 hours from home) with a mechanic.
The guy was nice - tried to save me money and not do anything that wasn't expensive or questionably necessary. I had some sense that he was trustworthy. He said the tests did not show that my head gasket was blown. He wondered if it might be the water pump but he did change out the coolant and replaced the radiator cap and had gotten it to where it would drive a good ways without overheating. I brought it home in cold weather.
Since then, this is my year: Summers I have to drive it with the heat cranked up full blast, and even then I have to pull over an let it cool if it's real hot out or I'm going more than a dozen or twenty miles. Spring and Fall I still have to run the heat full blast to keep it at least in the low end of the "yellow" on the temp gague. And now this winter, I am finding that the "heat" isn't. cont'd
2007-02-05 03:52:21 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
When I run the heat in cool or cold weather, the air coming out (feet or face or defrost) is barely warmer than the outside air.
What do you think this is? Could it be the water pump? The thermostat? Even in cold weather when the "heater" is on full blast the temp guage goes very close to the yellow.
what do you recommend. I add coolant every couple weeks. Do people test anything that you think it might be - for free? What kind of money do you think I'm about to have to put out (unless I give up and buy a new (used - I'm kinda broke anyway) car...
I really appreciate your knowledge and input!!! I'll answer any questions you have as well as I can!
2007-02-05 03:55:29 · update #1
Sure sounds like a head gasket leak.
Before going any further, warm it up, shut down, and see if there are cool spots on the radiator core. If that's the case - radiator is clogged, and needs to be flushed of replaced. Otherwise, pull the spark plugs and look for greenish residue on the electrodes. If found - definitely head gasket or head.
2007-02-05 04:00:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Feel the top Radiator hose after eng running to operation temp.
Is top Rad Hose hot?: 190 degree ,Yes? coolant moving.
.No, coolant not moving, Air lock disconect top hose at Rad,start Eng,Coolant not shooting out,No coolant.
You stated when driving car starts to Heat,# 1 this would rule out fan as a player,because driving you have air flowing thru Rad.
A Blown Head gasket to cyl,It will affect eng operation,also steam out Exhaust.,That is with an Internal leak Head gasket or crack in Head or block,#2 Head gasket can also cause coolant loss on the external,Visable to the Eye. You didn"t state what caused the Over temp, problem two years ago,or how long Eng was operated ,Was water added to High temp, Eng?
2007-02-05 05:09:05 · answer #2 · answered by section hand 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Consider yourself lucky you got it as far as you did. Now, QUIT driving it and getting it over heated, or you WILL have a blown head gasket and/or warped heads to content with.
It could be a number of things. I can't see it from here, or I'd be able to tell you more.
The list would include....
Water pump bad
Thermostat bad
Clogged radiator
Bad hoses, especially the bottom one that can collapse due to suction
And a host of other possibilities.
Take it in and find out for sure before you ruin it beyond repair.
2007-02-05 04:01:00 · answer #3 · answered by oklatom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the name of the thing is the thermo-switch is in the bottom side of the radiator.
when the temperature of the radiator goes higher than 190 degrees that device turn on the electrical fan motor.
replace that thing and you will be OK.
you heater is not working ,because "someone"jump wire the thermo-switch and the fan motor is running all the time ,every time You turn ,the key switch ,on.
because You are"kin of broke" my advice is:You may go to look for a Pontiac mechanic ,at the dealer,and hire him for out side work,I know most of them do it.
the deal is
"straight the car as factory wiring." in the cooling system and replace the thermo-switch.
all together part an labor must not reach $100.00
i will bet on $80.00.
2007-02-05 04:01:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, in a nutshell. Your thermostat is stuck in one position.
Not all the way open. Not all the way closed.
They are supose to open and close depending on the temperature of the coolant.
The hotter the coolant gets, the larger the opening get to alow for increased coolant flow.
The cooler the coolant gets, the thermostat closes to restrict the flow of coolant.
Have your thermostat changed and it sould be all better......It's a fairly simple fix, and reletivly inexpensive. +/- $100.00
2007-02-05 04:02:30 · answer #5 · answered by Mr. KnowItAll 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like a head gasket , it is an easy test for combustion chamber gases in coolant system that any good shop can do.if it is a head gasket it might be too late if you ve been driving it that long
2007-02-05 04:01:11 · answer #6 · answered by Kevi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could be a defective thermostat or plugged radiator core. Does the radiator fan work?
2007-02-05 03:56:40 · answer #7 · answered by bad_bob_69 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋