For example, When I am sitting idle in a drive thru for more than two minutes the gage will climb ALL the way up to H and a minute or two later I can hear a fan go on, and the gage will slowly come down, but not all the way back to normal. When I start driving again it will go back to normal. I drive a 1999 mitsubishi eclipse. I warm up my car in the morning for a good 15 minutes and I do not have a problem. I'm looking for a second opinion. I brought it to a mechanic and they found no indicators of why it happens after they hooked it up to their machine. I get oil changes at penzoil where they change additional fluids on a regular basis. This has been going on for the past year plus.
My questions are:
1. Is this REALLY a problem?
2. Will anything eventually happen to my car if it is just left as is?
3. When I am idle, does changing gears to neutral or park when the gage reaches H help, worsen, or have no effect?
2007-12-14 05:48:24 · 7 answers · asked by MzS 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
If the gauge goes into the red zone, it's most definitely NOT functioning the way it's designed to.
I'm assuming the car has plenty of coolant. It may have a blockage of sorts in the cooling system, very possibly the thermostat. Take it to a mechanic who has half a brain, because a computer will not tell mechanical problems. Try a Mitsubishi dealer.
In the mean time, when the vehicle overheats, turn the heater on full blast. It allows heat to dissipate from the cooling system.
2007-12-14 05:59:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's NO way that your car can get that hot that fast (especially if the fan come on) just sitting and idling. My car (CIVIC) have to sit for at least 5 minutes before the fan comes on. Even then the temp indicator isn't all that high.
I think you have a bad water temperature SENSOR. In another words, you probably are NOT really over heating but yet the temperature sensor is report that it is.
Replacing the water temperature sensor can be really easy. On my Audi it didn't even need any tools. On my Civic I just need simple hand tools. And on my Audi the water temp sensor was only $16.
Good Luck.
2007-12-14 06:04:45 · answer #2 · answered by Lover not a Fighter 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If over heating only after prolonged idle I would suspect either the belt tension is too weak or the thermostatic fan clutch is not working the fan hard enough when under idle conditions. Also check your thermostatic fan switch as it sounds like it is triggering the fan to come on too late.
2007-12-14 05:59:37 · answer #3 · answered by gary o 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some cars the electric fan kicks in for hotter temps. I know I added a electric fan on a old Mustang and bought a temp adjuster for the fan so I could control when the electric fan would kick in. But if a mechanic checked it out and said you were fine I wouldn't worry too much about it unless your car always stays in "H".
2007-12-14 05:56:11 · answer #4 · answered by JT T 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it may be the thermostat regulator. It is a metal cap that will open up after certain temperatures to release coolant. Have it replaced. They are very cheap, and easy to replace. Just take it to advance or Oreilly. Until then, put the car in park whenever it overheats.
2007-12-14 05:59:12 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since the fan is coming on, and cooling the engine, sounds like everything is working the way it was designed.
2007-12-14 05:53:52 · answer #6 · answered by Dave 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like your thermostat is shot. That is easy to replace, and cheap, so it wouldn't hurt to replace it and see if that fixes the problem.
I've seen one bad thermostats that "looked" good under certain test conditions, then it reverted to closing all the time.
.
2007-12-14 05:55:40 · answer #7 · answered by tlbs101 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋