Here's the deal..

My car is overheating, according to the temperature gauge inside the car. The radiator just had a pressure check and the radiator is in fantasic condition and all coolant is full and recently flushed. I have the coolant resevoir bracket mounted to the battery tray and the coolant sits in front of the fan on the right side.

Now, logic kicks in and says - "Jason, move the coolant resevoir somewhere else." Well, where??

My question is... is it just that temperature sensor is not getting enough air blown on it from the fan to keep it from tripping the gauge inside, or is the temp sensor failing?

The car only shows signs of heat when at idle sitting after it has been driven for 20 minutes or more.. and it will fluctuate.

I don't mind moving the coolant resevoir, I am sure I could figure something out, but is this the actual problem? If you are planning on asking me if it started after the coolant resevoir was there, I am not too sure to be completely honest, I don't think so.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Jason Sadler

 

I just got off the phone with a close friend and he came to the conclusion that the fan and temp sensor wouldn't have much to do with the symptons the car is showing and it seems like more of a thermostat issue.. ?

 

If the radiator is in good condition and the water pump is fine, then really the only two things that could be wrong is
1) Temp sensor is bad
2) Thermostat is bad

Did you do anything to the cooling system recently that may have led to the "overheating" condition? Maybe that will give a clue.

 

Kevin is right, and the location of your reserve tank has nothing to do with you overheating condition, if in fact your really over heating. The temp gauge in your car uses a different sensor then the ECU and fan switch. Does your cooling fan cycle on and off when you idle? If it does, then maybe the temp sensor for the gauge is incorrect. Check the connections on the sensors as well, you may have some corrosion on them causing bad readings as well.

Tom

P.S. If your thermoatat is installed correctly, when it fails you will run cold, not hot. Thermostats open in the direction of water flow. As the spring gets weak due to age, it opens quicker. If the thermostat is installed wrong, you will overheat from it. The spring will not have enough force to open it up against water flow.

 

or a blown headgasket/cracked head...
but i highly doubt that considering you're not running a 250 shot or boosting 20psi...
i would check the thermostat...

 

Your thermostat is probably stuck closed. The airflow while the car is moving keeps it cool. When it is sitting it starts to run warm. Are the radiator hoses hot to the touch? If not, there's your problem for sure.

 

Yeah i think the coolant hoses are hot to the touch, but that has always been the case... at least i am 99% sure.

thermostat or temp sensor would be my ideas, it doesnt seem that the engine flutters at all when it starts to get hot it just gets hot on the gauge..

is it possible anything is lose in the gauge itself that would cause it to fluctuate.. i wouldnt think so because it would do it all the time and not just when idling after the car has warmed up.

can anyone show me a close up picture of where the temp sensor is so I can check the connections on it?? I have heard it is next to the valve on the drivers side, but I am not sure where or which plug it is..

thanks again folks.