2003 impala overheating problem

[rhandwor]

Originally Posted by JohnT396

All, I have been through this crazy experience myself this weekend. The car would over heat mostly in traffic or city driving. Then it went down hill from there. It got to the point where the radiator developed a serious leak on the drivers side. So replace the radiator (pretty easy), replaced the water pump (very easy). Test drove, still same problem. Next replaced thermostat (pretty difficult) and did a pressure test. Held 15 pounds for a good period of time, but the temp guage continued to fluctuate, but not as bad. I did have a difficult time bleeding the system though and getting good circulation. I had opened both the value on the thermostat housing and the one on the unit on top of the water pump. Finally replaced the radiator cap and drove about 50 miles, highway and city traffic. I still see some fluctuation and will replace the temp sensor next weekend. Since the pressure test showed steady for about 15 minutes, would that eliminate the head gasket issue? I have already had it replaced twice. Next time, it will be a do it myself project...

Raise the front of the car and try venting the system. Put your pressure tester on and leave the engine running. If the gauge pulsates the head gasket is blown.
Napa sells a tester that will test for dissolved gas in the anti freeze a definite test for a blown head gasket. It used to be around $50.00. Most radiator shops will do this for a fee.

[JohnT396]

Thanks for the advice. Interesting enough, the radiator does not seem to develop pressure. Even after replacing radiator, water pump, new hoses, thermostat and radiator cap, still no pressure. I would think with the radiator pressure test at 15 lbs and steady, the radiator hoses are firm, that would show the gaskets are good. I do the tool borrow at Advanced Auto and get those special tools basically at no charge. ...

[rhandwor]

Originally Posted by JohnT396

Thanks for the advice. Interesting enough, the radiator does not seem to develop pressure. Even after replacing radiator, water pump, new hoses, thermostat and radiator cap, still no pressure. I would think with the radiator pressure test at 15 lbs and steady, the radiator hoses are firm, that would show the gaskets are good. I do the tool borrow at Advanced Auto and get those special tools basically at no charge. ...

http://www.napaonline/ Search 700-1006 Advance doesn't loan these.

[chev2003]

hey guys im having a problem like that with my 2000 and 2003 impalas. neither one of them is really overheating to the point where the lights come on but on the 2000 impala it is tries to over heat when i sit somewhere (idle) but soon as it starts running again it cools back down to normal. on the 2003 impala its the opposite. temp is normal when its sitting (idle) and when i'm driving in the city but soon as i get on a highway and get to high speed it starts gettin hot but never gettin to the red and soon as i get off the highway temp comes right back down. any ideas anybody please

[Tech II]

Should start your own thread.......check cooling fan operation.....

[gordon_gjs]

Originally Posted by chev2003

hey guys im having a problem like that with my 2000 and 2003 impalas. neither one of them is really overheating to the point where the lights come on but on the 2000 impala it is tries to over heat when i sit somewhere (idle) but soon as it starts running again it cools back down to normal. on the 2003 impala its the opposite. temp is normal when its sitting (idle) and when i'm driving in the city but soon as i get on a highway and get to high speed it starts gettin hot but never gettin to the red and soon as i get off the highway temp comes right back down. any ideas anybody please

Yea, what TechII said...

- Check you fan operations and thermostat first

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by chev2003

hey guys im having a problem like that with my 2000 and 2003 impalas. neither one of them is really overheating to the point where the lights come on but on the 2000 impala it is tries to over heat when i sit somewhere (idle) but soon as it starts running again it cools back down to normal. on the 2003 impala its the opposite. temp is normal when its sitting (idle) and when i'm driving in the city but soon as i get on a highway and get to high speed it starts gettin hot but never gettin to the red and soon as i get off the highway temp comes right back down. any ideas anybody please

the vehicle overheating/running too hot at hyway speed is most likely the head gaskets.

the vehicle at idle running hot would be fans or the relay/power to them.
sometimes the temp sensor. at idle ac on the fan should run.

the other cause would be using non dexcool GM approved coolant with a universal or silicate type coolant. if non dexcool was used with DEXCOOL then check for a black goop restricting the coolant system.

always use distilled water......... NOT WELL/OR CITY DRINKING WATER. these have chemicals and metals that create corrosion . use 60% dexcool for max. corrosion protection.

[dpuette]

Having the same problem with a twist. Flushed, replaced the coolant, replaced the thermostat, replaced the radiator cap. Red light comes on when I am going down hill and cuts off when I am going up hill. I turned heat on high in the car. When going down hill air is coming out cold. When going up hill air is coming out hot.

[rhandwor]

Originally Posted by dpuette

Having the same problem with a twist. Flushed, replaced the coolant, replaced the thermostat, replaced the radiator cap. Red light comes on when I am going down hill and cuts off when I am going up hill. I turned heat on high in the car. When going down hill air is coming out cold. When going up hill air is coming out hot.

I would check the fan operation.

[dpuette]

Originally Posted by rhandwor

I would check the fan operation.

It ended up being the head gasket.

[bambathedest]

I've replaced the water pump the thermostat the radiator coolant temperature switch and it still over heats and also got water on the back floor and and it's not the intake gask or the other gasket

And then the overflow bottle would be full sometimes and the radiator would be empty and it overheats everywhere I go

And we flushed and bled the system

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by bambathedest

I've replaced the water pump the thermostat the radiator coolant temperature switch and it still over heats and also got water on the back floor and and it's not the intake gask or the other gasket

And then the overflow bottle would be full sometimes and the radiator would be empty and it overheats everywhere I go

And we flushed and bled the system

symptoms appear to be head gasket leak .