Overheated, now has issuses with running
Overheated, now has issuses with running
Today I am driving and she overheats, I pull over and let it cool down (add water) then drove her home less than a mile away. When it overheated I saw steam and the engine vibrated/knocked.
When I started it up after it was cool it ran fine. I inspected it and couldnt find where it leaked, the hoses are fine and cant see any leaks. Left it in the garage a few hours and started it up and there was no noises, it ran fine for about 20 minutes then it knocked and died. It wouldnt start again, knocked and died. Let it sit again n to cool, started fine with no issues.
When it over heated the gauges did not show that it was hot, but like I said it died. It acted like an engine that was too hot.
First thing I can think of is the coolant temerature sensor. Maybe its not showing the true temp ? My ODB scanner showed 219F the last I saw it.
Any ideas ?
Possibly thermostat from what I am reading online ?
When I started it up after it was cool it ran fine. I inspected it and couldnt find where it leaked, the hoses are fine and cant see any leaks. Left it in the garage a few hours and started it up and there was no noises, it ran fine for about 20 minutes then it knocked and died. It wouldnt start again, knocked and died. Let it sit again n to cool, started fine with no issues.
When it over heated the gauges did not show that it was hot, but like I said it died. It acted like an engine that was too hot.
First thing I can think of is the coolant temerature sensor. Maybe its not showing the true temp ? My ODB scanner showed 219F the last I saw it.
Any ideas ?
Possibly thermostat from what I am reading online ?
Last edited by originalhandy; Jul 3, 2017 at 08:36 PM.
219º is running hot, but that is not overheating yet. You can measure the resistance of the ECTS and see if it is ok.
Are both radiator fans running?
If you had to add water, there is a leak somewhere. If you can't find an external leak, then you could have a bad head gasket. But you saw steam, so there must be an external leak. check the radiator closely, the tanks on the top and bottom tend to leak where they attach to the fins. Go rent a cooling system pressure tester. Pressurize the system to 25 - 30 psi and see what it says 12 hours later.
Are both radiator fans running?
If you had to add water, there is a leak somewhere. If you can't find an external leak, then you could have a bad head gasket. But you saw steam, so there must be an external leak. check the radiator closely, the tanks on the top and bottom tend to leak where they attach to the fins. Go rent a cooling system pressure tester. Pressurize the system to 25 - 30 psi and see what it says 12 hours later.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,300
From: Columbia SC
yes check the radiator where the plastic meets the fin area. I had a leak there that got progressively worse before it started to show up and be visible. Id aslso check all the coolant lines near the back of the intake and also the rubber hose that attatches the 2 pipes near the front of the block, but get a pressure check first.
So I had a few beers and forgot I made this post!
I bought a thermostat this morning and I dropped a bolt when I went underneath looking for it I noticed something was dripping from the high line. It tasted bitter, can't remember if it was oily or watery though. I don't think they're connected are they? It's too seperate issues?
Fans are always on, it's Texas and it's hot lol but yes I saw them on.
My oil isn't milky or anything if that's what you're asking.
Checked the radiator for cracks and saw none.
I bought a thermostat this morning and I dropped a bolt when I went underneath looking for it I noticed something was dripping from the high line. It tasted bitter, can't remember if it was oily or watery though. I don't think they're connected are they? It's too seperate issues?
Fans are always on, it's Texas and it's hot lol but yes I saw them on.
My oil isn't milky or anything if that's what you're asking.
Checked the radiator for cracks and saw none.
Last edited by originalhandy; Jul 4, 2017 at 05:22 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 432
From: Wisconsin
Coolant tastes sweet, and then super bitter. Oil has a blandish taste, doesn't taste bad or good. You probably tasted coolant.
And what do you mean by "high line?" The line running on the passenger side that has high pressure connecters on it? That's an A/C line.
And what do you mean by "high line?" The line running on the passenger side that has high pressure connecters on it? That's an A/C line.
I replaced the thermostat and the radiator.
When I started the car it showed 219F and I remembered I didn't add enough coolant. I got nite and added it and the car is idle at 205F for about 20 minutes. Is that normal temp? Is there a way to know if the water pump is pumping?
I think the temp sensor is ok, it read 205F and have a laser sensor gun and it read within 5F of what the sensor told me. I got the laser temp from right where the sensor connects.
When I started the car it showed 219F and I remembered I didn't add enough coolant. I got nite and added it and the car is idle at 205F for about 20 minutes. Is that normal temp? Is there a way to know if the water pump is pumping?
I think the temp sensor is ok, it read 205F and have a laser sensor gun and it read within 5F of what the sensor told me. I got the laser temp from right where the sensor connects.
Fans are supposed to come on at 203º F and run until the temperature goes down to around 185º to 190º. If the car is idling, you should see the temperature go down to that 185/190 number and shut off, then the temp will rise and the fans turn on again. Depending on outside temperature, the coolant temperature may even go down and the fans shut off while you are driving.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 432
From: Wisconsin
Fans are supposed to come on at 203º F and run until the temperature goes down to around 185º to 190º. If the car is idling, you should see the temperature go down to that 185/190 number and shut off, then the temp will rise and the fans turn on again. Depending on outside temperature, the coolant temperature may even go down and the fans shut off while you are driving.
The fans do come on otherwise the car would be overheating, guaranteed. If the fans don't come on, they could be bad or the fuses by the battery have blown or both. In the spring when the outside temperature is only in the 80's, it would take a long time for the fans to come on when only sitting there idling in the garage. But they would eventually start running.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 432
From: Wisconsin
The fans do come on otherwise the car would be overheating, guaranteed. If the fans don't come on, they could be bad or the fuses by the battery have blown or both. In the spring when the outside temperature is only in the 80's, it would take a long time for the fans to come on when only sitting there idling in the garage. But they would eventually start running.