Overheating

Well, I replaced the tension pulley, so now my focus is on fixing the other problem. Once again: 2000 Grand AM GT, the car starts to boil over at the halfway mark on the temperature guage. It spits out half of the coolant from that overflow hose on the reserve tank. So it's actually getting hot, but way too soon it would seem. My thinking is that the radiator probably needs to be flushed. Why else would the pressure be so great when the car is resting at the halfway mark? Well, any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks...

--Amy

if its overheating really fast(5-10 min) your thermostat might need replaced, or you hav the oh so annouying air pocket in the system. The worst case senerio the you hav a gasket blown. But I would start on cheap fixes first.
Heres another post that explains a little on removing the air pocket. http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=468806&highlight=air+trapped+cooling+system

There are several items that you may want to check. First, if the thermostat is old, replace it. Second, check to make sure the hoses are not collapsing or sucking shut. Finally, I believe that you analogy of the radiator needing flushed is probably a good one although it may be, beyond that as it may be plugged and will need replaced.

I am having the same problem. I replaced the intake gaskets and t stat and have had the "low coolant" light on and it is now overheating on a regular basis. If i bleed the coolant and doo all the reccomended things it is fine for 10 miles or so and them redlines and pukes all the coolant outof the overflow. I have a new radiator cap and it made no difference.


Im ready to burn the car down. Any solutions?

I am having the same problem. I replaced the intake gaskets and t stat and have had the "low coolant" light on and it is now overheating on a regular basis. If i bleed the coolant and doo all the reccomended things it is fine for 10 miles or so and them redlines and pukes all the coolant outof the overflow. I have a new radiator cap and it made no difference.


"Im ready to burn the car down. Any solutions?"

First you need gas and an old rag.. Lmao! Ok when you were bleeding the air did you hav the heater on? If you hav this off air will be trapped in there. Turn the fan on too, so the coolant can flow through the heater core. If you elevate the front on the car that helps get it out moving up to the rad/bleeder valve. It may take more than 10min to get all the air out.

If the thermostats are working and their is no air in the system, and your still overheating(puking out everything) I would think the intake gasket is blown or a head gasket. A compression test can be done to check for possible blown HG.
A good flushing of the coolant system, esspecially is you see a lot of rusty floaters in the resivoir, may clear up the overheating.

just to chime in, when my grand am was overheating and spilling coolant out it was because the head gasket was blown, so i got that fixed (not cheap at all) and then about 4 months later it started to overheat a little and i needed a new water pump.

Well it was a $4 thermostat. It still drinks a bit of coolant though.



Last piece of shit Pontiac i ever buy.

Grand Am's are thirsty MF's. Even without blown gaskets, mine uses/looses some coolant from time to time.