I changed the thermostat in my car about 3 months ago because it was causing my car to seriously overheat. I switched it out, flushed the radiator and put in new antifreeze. Now the car, I noticed yesterday, will start overheating if I'm idling for too long. Turning on the heat doesn't affect it but if I accelerate it brings the temp back down. The heater also won't blow hot air when the temp starts creeping up like maybe the thermostat I bought is defective. Any suggestions? Please don't tell me I have to buy another thermostat cause it was a b*tch to take the old one out. lol.
2007-11-14 05:42:00 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I just think I just answered my own question. I can't remember if I hear the fan coming on when the temp starts going up. No fan would mean the car would overheat when I'm stopped. Does anyone know if the fans in the 04 Impala are electric or temp-controlled?
2007-11-14 05:47:30 · update #1
I refuse to take it to a dealership when I am perfectly capable of working on my own car. Besides, when I fixed the thermostat it only cost me $20 bucks. The dealership would have charged me $200. I'm a girl, not stupid.
2007-11-14 05:49:44 · update #2
It is the 3.4L. And i've had problems with it almost from the start. I'll check it after work and see what happens. Hopefully, it's just the relay. Thanks everyone.
2007-11-14 06:43:32 · update #3
It does sound like a fan issue. The answer here depends on which engine you're running....the base 3.4L or the 3.8L found in the Impala LS.
Check for fan operation first of course, run the car a few miles and let it heat up...pop the hood and check the fans. If they're not running kick on the A/C...if they come on at this point you've narrowed it down to a fan relay. A simple $5 part that can be swapped out in about 3 minutes.
The thermostat is working fine or the vehicle would not cool down when you were driving it....it's only function is to release the coolant into the radiator at a preset temp. The radiator in combination with the fans then cools the mix as it flows through.
This is the most likely candidate in your situation. Now...if you're running the 3.4L (not a great platform) you may be experiencing the same issue many many 3.4L owners have had...the intake leaks, air gets into the system and the vehicle overheats, particularly at idle. It will be hard to check for leakage, you can however open the "bleed" valve for the coolant system while watching the coolant level....if it drops way down when you open the bleed valve (or a bunch of air comes out of the bleed valve) you may have the infamous leaking intake gasket.
If you've got the 3800 Series II (great platform) it's almost a guarantee it's just a relay!
Hope this helps!
2007-11-14 05:58:57 · answer #1 · answered by mrharris32 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you're only experiencing overheating when you are at idle, it's more likely that your fan relays (or the cooling fans themselves) are not working properly.
Your fan relays are suppose to kick on the cooling fans and draw air through the radiator when it starts registering that it's beginning to overheat.
Pop the hood and turn on the A/C. At least one of the cooling fans should automatically kick on. If the fans kick on, then get the fan's relay checked first. if the cooling fans don't kick on, get the fan's motor checked first.
2007-11-14 13:47:07 · answer #2 · answered by hsueh010 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some cars have 2 thermostats... Did you check to see if your does? Also, check the electric fan motor. They are known to go bad in those.
2007-11-14 13:46:25 · answer #3 · answered by jimponder 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Im sorry but why dont u take it to a chevy dealer? They will know what to do and run a dyognostics.
2007-11-14 13:46:48 · answer #4 · answered by crunch_9595 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋