My sw2 is overheating BAD

princessjenn815 · 12-01-2004, 02:22 PM

So...typical of saturns my car car has some cooling issues. I can't even drive around town in normal traffic without it overheating. If I'm idling (like at a stoplight) for more than a few min, the guage jumps all the way up in to the red. I replaced the thermostat, so I know it's not that. We checked my coolant lines, and there doesn't seem to be any leaks...just overflow when the car overheats. Apparently my fans weren't kicking on, so about a month ago when I was in NC, my friends cut the factory wire and hooked it up to my sunroof plug thing (I don't have a sunroof) so my fan would run while my car was running. So basically, I've tried almost everything I can think of. The only thing I can think that's left would be my water pump. So...any other ideas? Or if it sounds like it is my water pump, where can I get one fairly cheap? I don't really want to have to go to the dealer.

budiceman0 · 12-01-2004, 02:38 PM

I have a couple ideas. The temp sensor on the side on the side of the block Mine went and the fan would never come on.

the thermostat is a valve that opens and closes at a certain temp as the car gets hot that can be stuck closed.

I only had that 1 cooling issue with my car its 11yo and 170k miles but
from other cars I worked on when the water pump goes they usually make noise or leak..

When you get the car warmed up try to feel the top and the bottom hosses going to the radiator if they get hot that will help out with finding problem

good luck let me know
Ice

impulse93 · 12-01-2004, 07:25 PM

keeping the radiator fan will CAUSE overheating on the freeway...the air that comes at 40 MPH is more cubic feet than what the fan can force in.

Search for a "Radiator fan switch" for a proper how to.

Check the head gasket, as well as the water pump. Have a mechanic check it out, as you probably wouldn't know. Then have a second opinion.

**Ssicarman** · 12-02-2004, 03:36 AM

The very first thing to check/repalce is the PCM coolant temp sensor. A search of the Board will yield a wealth of info on it. Check coolant temp sensor, ECT sensor, PCM coolant temp sensor. Check the connector for the sensor to see if it has any corrosion in the terminals as well. If so replace the sensor and connector.

Anony00GT · 12-02-2004, 07:29 AM

Your radiator may be clogged with corrosion and other crap, especially if the coolant wasn't changed regularly.

princessjenn815 · 12-10-2004, 01:49 AM

And now there are more problems. My car has been jumping up to the red within probably 15 min of turning it on. And even when it is at the half way point, if I turn my heat on (since it's freezing in the mornings) it blows out cool air instead of hot. I've been checking as much as I can, but I've taken it a couple different places and I've been told different things, all at high prices to be fixed. I just don't want to spend that much money unless I know for sure it's gonna fix my car

**Ssicarman** · 12-10-2004, 03:41 AM

Very good signs of the temp sensor. I suspect that it is also some thing that many non Saturn shops would not be checking first.

What year is the car?

Anony00GT · 12-10-2004, 04:04 AM

If a shop tells you they're going to fix it, and they do the work and it's still not fixed, take it back. They should go deeper and fix the issue for minimal cost, if anything. It's their fault if they misdiagnose the problem, not something you should have to pay for.

princessjenn815 · 12-12-2004, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ssicarman

What year is the car?

It's a 95

Coyote · 12-14-2004, 09:53 PM

Sounds like the thermostat to me. Should be cheap. Not sure how hard they are to replace on these cars, but I should think you should be able to do it yourself.