HELP!!!!!!!!, one of those overheating problems Options

[Theshanon]

Sorry guys i tried to search but nothing came up!!

ANYWAYS, so my car is infact over heating.

First week i noticed this- K!!! so about a week ago my temp gauge started acting up....it would rise..then when i turn my heater on it would drop. Couple days later my heater would no longer work, so i checked my coolant and barley had anything left so i topped it up. Everything seemed fine for a bit, then a day or two after my temp gauge reach above 'H' and i pulled over and it sounded like my head was boiling a nice pot of soup. I waited a bit and quickly released the rad cap. It steemed for a bit (obviously) and i toped it off with coolant and it ran fine for a day or two. So today on my way to work i ended on heading back home on a flat bed. My temp gauge stayed at above 'H', no warm air....i topped it of with coolant, and i donno where it goes :| its hard for me to tell if theres a leak...and i hope its not my head gasket?

[alltracman78]

Shanon?
You need to take a step back here, there's a lot of confusion in this thread.

If you want to sort out what is wrong, do this, it's the most practical way to find out what is wrong. You start with the easy, common stuff and work your way up. It might save you a whole bunch of trouble and some money.

First off, try what Scot said. If the fan doesn't turn on, the fan motor is bad or you have a problem in the circuit that supplies power to the fan. Make sure the key is in the on position.

If the fan runs, plug the switch [sensor] back in. The next thing you need to do is top off your coolant and put the cap back on.
Remove the overflow cap and point it in a safe direction, you don't want to get hot coolant shot at you.
Then, run the car. Keep an eye on the temp gauge; the fans should kick on once it reaches [or just before, factory gauges aren't super accurate] a bit past half way.

See if the fans come on, if not, you have a problem in the fan control circuit [controls when the fan turns on and off; switch, relay, wiring, ect].

If the fans do come on, let it run. See where the coolant is leaking from.
Most likely it will spit out of the coolant overflow. This is the pressure release for the system, instead of blowing a huge hole in something it vents into the overflow tank, and if enough coolant is in there, overflows the tank and you lose the coolant.
If this is the case, you either have a bad [clogged] radiator or thermostat [or possibly another problem].
If it leaks out of somewhere else, get that leak fixed [the leak itself could be what is causing the overheating, if you lose too much coolant to a leak it will overheat regardless how well the rest of the system is working].




I'm sorry man, there's no easy way to say this.
I'm really not trying to be an ass, but if you want to post and help people you need to learn quite a bit first, this isn't even CLOSE to accurate....

You've definately got a leak somewhere.. You should not have to continue refilling it. Also check and make sure your water pump it flipping open that is a huge reason you would have boiling coolant. changing a water pump valve is fun and easy try and check that. When at idle you should hear something click and open your fans will get faster and your idle will drop a wee bit. Check that.

- Matt

Check the thermostat if you dont hear a click at idle and rpms dont drop your therm housing didnt open.

- Matt

Your thermostat doesn't make ANY noise when it opens, and doesn't effect engine speed at all.
The water pump is always moving coolant [it doesn't "flip" open], that's what the coolant bypass lines are for, they bypass the radiator.
There is no water pump valve, though I'm guessing you're referring to the thermostat.

Lets hope you didnt blow your head gasket but yeah definately thermostat is gone... and no your coolant wont burn off unless it escapes its closed system. if you see steam that means your coolant escaped to a hot componant and is venting its steam..

- Matt

And overheating does nothing to a thermostat [a bad one can cause overheating, but overheating isn't going to make it go bad]
If you see steam it means your coolant is leaking, it will "steam" whether it vents onto the exhaust manifold or if it vents out the radiator overflow.