starting /. over heat probs

[Hughaki]

Well my 95 P 2.3 has some issues (75k)
A) The car temp gets hot and spikes intermittently
Fan does kick on, changed temp sensor, water pump, thermsat 3 times, had the rad rodded and flushed......This one is irking me to no end.

B) It is very hard starting....batt is good w new alt 13.99 under load, new spark plugs.

Runs great after it starts but something is amiss

I am at wits end \Help! TIA

[ponchomuscle]

If the car is hard starting, try to do a parasitic draw test.
This is done by connecting a voltmeter to the positive terminal of the battery and connecting the other end to the starter solenoid at the 12 o'clock post and check the DC voltage as the car is cranking. If the meter reads above half a volt there may be a problem with your connections.
Good luck

[mike_drz]

i've got a 96 grand am, it kept overheating but i managed to get through the summer, until recently one day i found a puddle of collant under my car in the garge, it turns out it was the heater core that was dying the whole time. It was pretty pricey to get it fixed, it turns out the part itself isn't so expensive but the labour to get to it and replace it is HELL. luckly i have a great mechanic he only charged me $300 cnd.