My 1999 CHEVY Suburban 1500 temp gauge has been jumping into the red for the past couple of days. It usually goes back down, but I decided to check the coolant reservoir. It was bone dry. I added Prestone Dexcool approved to the reservoir, but it's still jumping up to red. Anything else I can try? I'm a little auto-challenged. Should I be adding coolant to the radiator itself? Help.

JJ

Johnson,

I also have a 1999 K1500. I had a similar experience over a month or so. Temp gauge would go way up, not to boiling and then drop down to normal quickly. The AC was also acting up. I was towing my Airstream on a country road and it overheated. A nice mechanic replaced the thermostat, temp sending unit, and all hoses for 900 dollars. He stated that the problem was most likely a top off of the incorrect coolant by a Jiffy Lube or Walmart oil change.

I now have a new radiator and green coolant. The plastic radiator housing cracked. My AC now works and it runs cool.

Tony

After I posted, I checked the radiator...completely empty and the reservoir level had not changed after running the vehicle. I wonder where my coolant is going. Hmmmm... Anybody had particular problems with coolant leaks?

JJ

most likely one of your hoses is either punctured or otherwise loose. it could also be a valve. have a technician look at it right away.

Check for leakage on the side tanks. I had a small crack on the driver side that took me a long time to track down. It didn't seem like I was losing much coolant but I'd always have a small stain and there was coolant along the crimps on the radiator. I pulled the radiator and a local radiator service replaced the tanks for under $100. New radiator would have been around $250.

I dont know if you have the 5.3 or 5.7 in that model(can't remember) but if it's a 5.7 check your intake in front and back if it's a 5.3 check your waterpump at the gaskets (very prone to leak)