engine overheating

Russian8 · 07-12-2005, 10:31 PM

My engine keeps overheating. All I have to do is drive like a block for the gauge to go all the way up.
and the engine coolant container is hot and steaming.
Oh and by the way
this is off topic, but maybe someone knows.
None of the illumination in the car works, the speedometer doesn't light up when i turn my lights on.

Its a 96 plymouth neon sohc

palindromelol · 07-13-2005, 01:29 AM

Russian8

The engine overheats because sufficient coolant is not moving through the engine.

1 Check the coolant level if low fill, if full,
2 Check the thermostat, make sure is is not jammed or broken. You can even confirm it opens by boiliing it in a pot. If it is broken replace it (put it in in the correct orientation) If it is ok then confirm no airlock in the rad hoses and chambers, turn on the passenger cabin heater. Confirm flow by examining the fluid moving with the rad cap removed. Do this when the engine is cold.

If you have 1) enough coolant, 2) a functional thermostat, 3) evidence of flow, proof that the heat is being ejected from the rad(the rad will be warm) then you'll need to check the electrical side.

1) confim radiator fan comes on with temp guage just below half way up
If it is and the coolant is hot then, the gage may be slightly out. If the fan doesn't come on, then there is a problem with the Rad Fan control.

Check this link:

http://www.neon-owners.org/neon/tec...997/EPL_TAB.PDF

in particular, download the cooling system manual,

EPL_7.PDF

It is very descriptive.

Russian8 · 07-13-2005, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palindromelol

Russian8

The engine overheats because sufficient coolant is not moving through the engine.

1 Check the coolant level if low fill, if full,
2 Check the thermostat, make sure is is not jammed or broken. You can even confirm it opens by boiliing it in a pot. If it is broken replace it (put it in in the correct orientation) If it is ok then confirm no airlock in the rad hoses and chambers, turn on the passenger cabin heater. Confirm flow by examining the fluid moving with the rad cap removed. Do this when the engine is cold.

If you have 1) enough coolant, 2) a functional thermostat, 3) evidence of flow, proof that the heat is being ejected from the rad(the rad will be warm) then you'll need to check the electrical side.

1) confim radiator fan comes on with temp guage just below half way up
If it is and the coolant is hot then, the gage may be slightly out. If the fan doesn't come on, then there is a problem with the Rad Fan control.

Check this link:

http://www.neon-owners.org/neon/tec...997/EPL_TAB.PDF

in particular, download the cooling system manual,

EPL_7.PDF

It is very descriptive.

the gauge goes all the way up, but the fan doesnt go on
do u think thats it?
and where is the thermostat
oh and the link u gave doesn't work

Dominion.Ms · 07-13-2005, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russian8

the gauge goes all the way up, but the fan doesnt go on
do u think thats it?
and where is the thermostat
oh and the link u gave doesn't work

You need to check the Temp at the Thermostat housing with an Infrared Pyrometer. Let the engine get hot and then check the temp at the Thermostat housing. If the temp shows normal with the Pyrometer then your Coolant Temp Sensor or Gauge is bad. Highly doubt a gauge failure. If it is as hot as the gauge says, then check the oposite end of the upper radiator hose(near the Raditors), Radiator and lower Radiator hose, if the temps get much cooler the further down stream you go then your Thermostat is Stuck and needs to be replaced or Clogged Radiator.

das2123 · 07-13-2005, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russian8

the gauge goes all the way up, but the fan doesnt go on
do u think thats it?
and where is the thermostat
oh and the link u gave doesn't work

Check you radiator fan relay and in related fuses in the PDC, located right behind the battery. If your fan is not kicking on it is either a bad fan motor or a bad relay.

palindromelol · 07-13-2005, 12:01 PM

I'm so sorry about the bad link. My mistake.

here it is.. I just checkd it out:

http://www.neon-owners.org/neon/tech...97/EPL_TAB.PDF

I would suggest you check the fan relay if the fan is not coming on. I believe it is the same relay as the A/C Clutch so you might consider swapping them temporarilly. The connector to the Fan Motor, accessible from under the front end often jiggles loose. Confirm that is connected.

The thermostat is beneath the coolant pressure release valve on the left side of the engine. 2 bolts to remove the thermostat. But if your fan is not coming on.....Occam's Razor prevails and you are likely not dealing with a coolant problem. Sound like electrical to me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam's_Razor

Check the relay and the fan motor.

By the way, any engine service lights illuminated?

Russian8 · 07-13-2005, 06:12 PM

k the radiator fan works now
I think i might of made a mistake and it was working all along, but the thing is when the engine overheats and i turn it off I can hear the coolant boiling through the coolant container and then something clicks and it stops boiling and steams.

and I added coolant today, it was empty because yesturday i found a leak in the upper radiator house ( the one that goes to the thermostat ) and replaced it. also this hose gets really hot, and i mean really, yesturday i got a burn on my finger from touching it.
I'll wait for the engine to cool off and I'll take out the thermostat.

das2123 · 07-13-2005, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russian8

k the radiator fan works now
I think i might of made a mistake and it was working all along

What mistake is that?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russian8

I added coolant today, it was empty because yesturday i found a leak in the upper radiator house ( the one that goes to the thermostat ) and replaced it. also this hose gets really hot

That would explain why your temp goes up, but not why the fan would not kick on.

Russian8 · 07-13-2005, 10:15 PM

no I was right about the fan not working right
its not working again
and I replaced the thermostat and the rad cap today, but its still overheating, however there is no more steam coming out of the coolant container.
and a few days ago I checked the (check engine codes) and I got 42

palindromelol · 07-13-2005, 11:21 PM

Hey....There is a pattern!

Make certain there are no air bubbles in the coolant and there is good flow.

A code 42 is the auto shutdown relay or fuel pump control circuit. The Auto shutdown relay is in the Power Distribution Center. but So is a Fan relay (Based on a TSB) and they are diagonal to each other. So you have a malfunction in the Fan and a code 42. Well I don't believe in coincidences. I bet the probrem is in the Power distribution center.

Are you comfortable with jumpering the fan relay circuit and force the fan on?

Russian8 · 07-14-2005, 01:28 PM

What do you mean?

palindromelol · 07-14-2005, 06:56 PM

What I mean is both indications of trouble are in the POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX.

One of the fan relays is the blue one. (I think that one is retrofit after the fact) The Solid State relay is on the left front inner frame just behind the radiator for a 97 neon. According to the service manual.

My system is a bit of a cludge.

Russian8 · 07-14-2005, 11:27 PM

I don't know what u mean by jumpering, but I found the relay for the fan and switched with another one and now the code 42 doesn't come on, It's just 12 and 55 wich is fine right.
I took out the radiator today and it wasn't clogged so I'm going to put it back on and I bought a new water pump today. I'll try to figure out how to take out the old one tomorrow. Any tips? Anything I should know?

palindromelol · 07-14-2005, 11:31 PM

Make sure you need the pump before you change that. My friend.... I would NOT do that unless you absolutely had to. as a last ditch effort.

The water pump replacement is a total bitch of a job because it is driven by the timing belt. You have to take half the engine out to get at it.

DO NOT CHANGE THE PUMP UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY!!!!!

see what you are getting into? It is behind the timing belt, the tensioner, housing.... engine mount gross!!

palindromelol · 07-14-2005, 11:34 PM

If you switched the relays, you likely put a bad relay somwhere else. I'd put it back and be sure you still get a code 42. Then BUY a new relay.

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