99 cavalier 2.2 ohv overheating

I have a 2.2 that overheats the water pump, thermostat, has been replaced i also tried to bleed out. the radiator never gets hot. Just wont circulate water. i did a compression check pressure was good. i just cant figure why the thermostat wont open.

Try loosening the thermostat housing bolts until you get some coolant coming out, then snug them back up. Another member found that this was the solution on his, you can probably find the post by searching.

Did you put the thremostat in right?

They only go in one way and rotation doesn't matter.

Sometimes you need to use a little water pressure through the coolant system to force the air pockets out.

Well i drilled a small hole in the thermostat maybe 3/16" and finially got the air bled out must be a poor design. works good now.

on cavaliers coolant flow is from the head to the heater core back to the thermostat. if your heater core is blocked the engine will overheat. if all other diagnosis turn up nothing bypass your heater core.

I didn't realize that. What a stupid *$

there is a bypass designed into the system but the overheat still occurs when the core flow is stopped....clamp off the outlet and see what happens.

I recently bought a 99 Cav which has the standard instrument cluster. The temp guage has a low mark, high mark, and a red zone. I notice that while driving the temp guage stays right in the middle of the low and high marks but will quickly creep up to around 3/4 or 4/5 between the two marks in stop and go traffic or long idles. One particularly warm day, stuck in heavy traffic for construction, I watched it creep up to very close to the red zone. Note: It has never gone into the red zone. (The car does not have AC and I had turned off the fan for the air into the cabin.) Since I don't have much prior experience with this vehicle, I'm wondering: is this normal? Or am I heading for a problem that I could perhaps nip in the bud right now? With thanks to all who reply.

Bump...No replies yet...Anyone?

My 96 2.2 runs on the high side also...just make sure at some point the electric fan comes on.... What I did was install a remote switch that lets me turn on the fan before it gets too hot...if there is a problem with the cooling system, this will not help. Make sure the system is flushed and cleaned regularly. Also back flush the radiator to remove bugs, that will decrease air flow....If something is major wrong..it will go red or HOT...

Cheers Mate.... Have a tinney on me !!!

Thanks Helmuth! I will do as suggested and post an update soon.