geenowalker

Last weekend during the blasting heat, my ACs cold air died. I turned it off for a few minutes and turned it back on. It lasted about 10 min and died again. Did the same thing a few times. What I noticed is that my engine temp shot up to the line while the AC was on, and came back to normal when the AC shut down. I looked at the Haynes manual over the weekend (no dice), and searched here, but the similar threads went unanswered (2000, 2003). Any suggestions?

Thanks,

g

VQP0WER

Check to see if your radiator fans are turning on when AC is selected. They both need to be running.

Might as well change out the thermostat and engine temp sensor while your in there.

SoonerFan

iTrader: (5)

your cooling system isnt working properly....coolant isnt moving....clogged radiator

Lontar1

iTrader: (5)

as soonerfan said... clogged readiatgor.. flush it or replace it. Also look at the fans...

CMax03

iTrader: (3)

Just check that your fans are both on when the A/c is on! If not check your fuses and relays!

geenowalker

Thanks for the responses. I will check the fans first as that is free. If the radiator was clogged, wouldn't the engine run hotter than normal while the AC was off? I just had the radiator flushed last summer, would they have found the clog then? How hard is it to change the thermostat nad engine temp sensor. I am sure I can probably find a "How to" here somewhere?

CMax03

iTrader: (3)

remove the thermostat and run your vehicle, see where the temp is now... be sure to boil a pot of water and visually see if the thermostat is fully opening...

Scottwax

iTrader: (8)

I can almost guarantee you have a fan or a fan relay issue. If the temperature only goes up when the a/c is on, then odds are the a/c fan isn't coming on. Every single time I've had the same exact issue in my old Accord or 626, it was either a dead fan or a bad fan relay.

Pearltt

My car was doing the same thing last year....the middle part of the radiator was clogged...the temp only went up when I had the A/C on...

geenowalker

how do I check a clogged radiator?

Scottwax

iTrader: (8)

Have you checked to make sure both fans are running when the a/c is on yet? I'd eliminate the fans as the cause first because that is by far the easiest to check. Either they are both on or not.

NisTech

check that you have no debris in between radiator and condenser. Also if you want get a powerwasher and clean the fins up.

P. Samson

The originator still has neither confirmed fan operation with the AC selected ON, or when the temp gauge went into the "hot" area. Normally the fans should kick on long before the temp gauge gets into the "hot" area. Especially in the heat of the summer if the car is sitting and idling (AC Off) the fans should eventually come on (cycling on and off) and the temp gauge will still not have moved. With the AC selected ON and actually operating, the fans should come on below about 5 MPH, I think it is. With the Maxi's "smoothed" temp gauge it only moves into the "hot" zone when the actual engine coolant temp is "really up there". It does not normally respond to engine loads like in the "old" days. Until fan operation is confirmed it's premature to blame anything else.

d4ster3

guys Im having the same problem.. whenever Im sitting still with the air on the engine gets hot pretty quick but cools down as soon as I turn the air off.. Im sure the 100 degree weather doesnt help and it only seems to do it when Im sitting in traffic, not getting clean air.. Ive checked the fans and both are running, coolant was at MIN last week after it happened the first time, I topped it off but it happened again yesterday.. Im thinking it may be a clogged radiator, is it worth doing myself??

Scottwax

iTrader: (8)

You should be able to pick up a radiator for $135-150 (and I think there is one in the 5th gen classifieds for $90) and install it in under 2 hours.

d4ster3

should I not try flushing the radiator?

hybridioN

iTrader: (11)

this happened to me last week. my AC compressor ended up seizing up, and cracking the alternator.

Scottwax

iTrader: (8)

You can try that first but often when you already have overheating issues, flushing the radiator only makes a marginal improvement. My son's old Cavalier would run hot, especially with the a/c on. The fan was working properly, there was just poor flow through the radiator. He had it flushed out professionally (full power flush and all new coolant) and there was very little improvement and the car continued to run hot. Before he could replace the radiator, the car was rear-ended and totaled so problem solved.