My car constantly overheats. I've replaced the radiator, thermostat, and water pump...am I missing something?

Question

I've got a 1994 Buick Century Custom, 3.1L, V-6. I've replaced the radiator, thermostat and waterpump, but still it overheats. What should I try next? Both my push and pull fans work up front, but still the car overheats. What cooling item did I leave out, or at the very least investigate. Maybe a sensor, relay, or even a switch? A this point I'm baffled and will try anything...HELP! What do you suggest I try next?

Answer 1

Start the engine and after it gets to temperature, give it gas and watch the bottom radiator hose, is it sucking shut? Check the pressure cap. Did you bleed the system for air? There is a bleeder screw next to the thermostat housing.

Answer 2

My mom had this problem with her '89 nissian. You said you had the radiator changed, so this probably isnt the problem, but is the radiator cap new?? If it is old it could be the seal on it is bad. We sent my moms car to a rasiator specialist and everything and no one knew what was the matter with it. She was crying and all upset cause this was the first car she ever bought all on her own and it was her baby and on and on about it. So as a last resort we had a friend of my step dads come and look at it, took him 10 minutes to tell us what teh problem was, and a trip to autozone and a few bucks later her car was running fine. She proabaly spent 1000 trying to figure out what was wrong with it before this. It was really funny, but kinda sad. To this day, this being the only problem we have ever had with this car, it runs like the day it rolled outta the factory. I suggest buying an old nissian. Not a new one, they suck, but one older that '94 and it will run forever. Best damned car I['ve ever seen. Point, try the radiator cap, if it isnt already new.

Answer 3

Try taking the thermostat out. It will not hurt your car by running it with no thermostat. The car will run a lot cooler without it. The only thing that will happen is the heater wont be as hot. If this does not work you may need a new head gasket.

Answer 4

I'm sure you already know. Blown head gasket. Google Dexcool class action suit. Dexcool ate the internals up, blew heads, dealers fixed on your dime, and put dexcool back in...Dealers claimed they never knew.....I think it was 32-35 Million cars and trucks included in the suit. Sadly, anyone I knew with a gm product, Chevy,GMC,Buick,etc, never knew about dexcool, or the lawsuit. Yes 32- 35,000,000 cars and trucks were included. If your car didn't blow the head gasket, you were 1 of the few.

Answer 5

I wonder if a blocked heater matrix could cause this.
I'd be tempted to bypass it with some old hoses and see what happens
The only other thing I can think is if the engine timing is over advanced it can effect engine temp but this much..?

Answer 6

Well saying that I think you should take it to a shop and tell them to take a look! If they tell you that it needs something new that you allready done to it, get the hell out of there because they want to take your money! Is hard becuase with old cars the more you thinks them the more it brakes! But I think you should take it to the Buick Dealer and have them look at it!

Answer 7

well i would make sure it isnt a guage malfunctioning but it could be a headgasket blown if gague is ok... to check start car open radiator cap and have antifreez checked for carbon monoxide it will show up with a co2 tester and also water level will decrease with blown head gasket or cracked block and you can look for water in oil and in antifreez... but remove cap start car cold look for foam in radiator good indication of head gasket or cracked block or head...

Answer 8

If that model has a distributor the timing may be to far advanced causing over heating

Answer 9

Put some water in.

Answer 10

Power flush, or a new car.