What might be wrong with my car?

Question

Every time i go through a drive-thru or just let my car sit in place for more than a minute or so at a time, the hot/cold sensor moves up towards hot, it doesn't go into the red zone, but up enough towards hot to make me worry. By the way i just had the engine coolant flushed out, and completely refilled....any ideas why it might be running hot when i just sit still??

Just to add this as well, my moms bf said that he checked the fan and it is working fine...he also said he had to fix a leak in the radiator, it has kept doing the same things even after this work being done, is it probably the radiator? he also said he checked the thermostat and that it is working also....just looking for ideas on what it could be??

Answer 1

Don't know how he tested the fan, but if the PCM doesn't get the signal to turn it on, it won't come on. Check the coolant temp sensor (for the PCM, NOT the dash instrument). Check the water pump and or the belt that drives the pump. If these appear to be OK, then perhaps it is indeed time to check the radiator for flow.

Answer 2

if you just had the cooling system serviced then, i believe that you have a week mixture of water and coolant in the system. if you can find a coolant hydrometer, test a sample of your antifreeze. if it is a very low boiling point, around 230, that would kind of explain it. the coolant wont necessarily boil just yet, but summer is on its way. if you do have this situation, i would take it back to where you had it done and talk to someone in charge.

Answer 3

Either the thermostat or cooling fan.

Answer 4

your fan may not be turning on.... when the engine gets hot the fan should turn on to help cool it off.... either the fan is bad or maybe the switch/sensor to turn it on is bad...

Answer 5

When I had this problem, my fan was shot. It stayed cool as long as I kept moving. If you get stuck in traffic, you'll overheat.

Answer 6

Have your theromostat checked.