2.4l Overheating

[bdodge]

I have a 1999 2.4l cavi Ls the temp runs a bit over 195. The whole mess started when I heard a loud sqeal/clanking sound that turned out to be my waterpump. I replaced the waterpump and Thermostat and flushed the system, prior to the water pump going bad the car ran consistantly at 195, never overheating. Immediatly after changing the water pump and thermostat I noticed it ran at about 225 in traffic (the hottest it ever ran) then the fan would kick on and maintain 225 until I picked up speed, created air flow, and dropped the temp back to 200 or so. I drove it for about a month before the temp started reaching about 245-250 in traffic (california OC traffic). At this point I knew I had problems and decided to replace the temp sensor/ resovior cap/ new radiator/ and lower radiator hose (on a hunch). Of coarse nothing helped, same simptoms occured. I reluctantly took it to a radiator shop, they told me that I purchased a bad thermostat, after 30 min of arguments I decided to change the thermostat... again. This resulted in the same symptoms, pissed off because I waisted my day and money I took it back to the radiator shop, they told me it was probibly (not certainly) air bubbles in the cooling system which requires a 75.00 vaccume proceedure to fix. This was something the radiator guy said he had to do with the new Vett's. Sounds like bullshit to me, but feedback is appriciated. Has anyone else heard of this, does anyone have any other ideas?

[godenm]

yes,some of these cars are known to get air bubbles in coolant, the 2nd gen were really bad about doing that. some say you can just let it run at idle for a while 20-30min. w/resivoir cap off,to get air pushed out.try maybe drilling a small hole in therm. to allow water to go through before it opens,(just a cheap fix to see if your therm. is opening at all,good luck

[big dude1]

you saud your fan kicked on at 225? that doesnt sound right at all... if its kicking on that late, maybe the connection from the computer to the thermostat is bad... just my 2 cents worth

[bdodge]

The repair manual says 225 is normal for fan, 185 for thermostat. I drilled a hole in the thermostat, the water circulates and cools down faster but then overheats again. The problem is still inconsistant, sometimes it works sometimes not

[jayson716]

i have the same issue with mine but i dont bother with it as long as it dont go to high, i think mine goes like 2 notches above 195. and that is only when i am sitting in traffic. but then it cools right done after driving a little bit. i hear every1 say try running for 20 min with cap off i tried it didnt seem to help any.

[bdodge]

I tried running with the cap off also, it didnt help. I also tried drilling a hole in the thermostat, it helps cool faster but then heats up again. Im taking it to the radiator shop to remove the air bubbles from the system. As stupid as that sounds to me, Im out of options...

[jayson716]

Well let me know if it takes car of it, i may need to do that myself.

[barretire]

Originally Posted by bdodge

I have a 1999 2.4l cavi Ls the temp runs a bit over 195. The whole mess started when I heard a loud sqeal/clanking sound that turned out to be my waterpump. I replaced the waterpump and Thermostat and flushed the system, prior to the water pump going bad the car ran consistantly at 195, never overheating. Immediatly after changing the water pump and thermostat I noticed it ran at about 225 in traffic (the hottest it ever ran) then the fan would kick on and maintain 225 until I picked up speed, created air flow, and dropped the temp back to 200 or so. I drove it for about a month before the temp started reaching about 245-250 in traffic (california OC traffic). At this point I knew I had problems and decided to replace the temp sensor/ resovior cap/ new radiator/ and lower radiator hose (on a hunch). Of coarse nothing helped, same simptoms occured. I reluctantly took it to a radiator shop, they told me that I purchased a bad thermostat, after 30 min of arguments I decided to change the thermostat... again. This resulted in the same symptoms, pissed off because I waisted my day and money I took it back to the radiator shop, they told me it was probibly (not certainly) air bubbles in the cooling system which requires a 75.00 vaccume proceedure to fix. This was something the radiator guy said he had to do with the new Vett's. Sounds like bullshit to me, but feedback is appriciated. Has anyone else heard of this, does anyone have any other ideas?

Hopefully not the head gasket

[Leader100]

My 99 2.2 has similiar problems...changed themostat---by passed the heater coil--cleaned the radiator...still ran hot...very hot!

I took out the themostat....the fan started to operate sooner...stayed
cooler----but---when the fan stoped operating--got hot again--conclusion---when the fan is turning, it is cool.....maybe will try to have the system operate at all times--(being in Florida, I can run the AC most times--that will ensure the fan operates...)

My 3 cents....Have good day..Ed

[chrkeever]

this may be really dumb to post but it may help. make sure you are using the pink antifreez cause I have heard that the 2.4 is a very picky motor @ least mine is so i do every thing by the chilton book and mine runs @ 195 even in traffic but i am in denver not CA of FL

[Leader100]

Originally Posted by bdodge

I have a 1999 2.4l cavi Ls the temp runs a bit over 195. The whole mess started when I heard a loud sqeal/clanking sound that turned out to be my waterpump. I replaced the waterpump and Thermostat and flushed the system, prior to the water pump going bad the car ran consistantly at 195, never overheating. Immediatly after changing the water pump and thermostat I noticed it ran at about 225 in traffic (the hottest it ever ran) then the fan would kick on and maintain 225 until I picked up speed, created air flow, and dropped the temp back to 200 or so. I drove it for about a month before the temp started reaching about 245-250 in traffic (california OC traffic). At this point I knew I had problems and decided to replace the temp sensor/ resovior cap/ new radiator/ and lower radiator hose (on a hunch). Of coarse nothing helped, same simptoms occured. I reluctantly took it to a radiator shop, they told me that I purchased a bad thermostat, after 30 min of arguments I decided to change the thermostat... again. This resulted in the same symptoms, pissed off because I waisted my day and money I took it back to the radiator shop, they told me it was probibly (not certainly) air bubbles in the cooling system which requires a 75.00 vaccume proceedure to fix. This was something the radiator guy said he had to do with the new Vett's. Sounds like bullshit to me, but feedback is appriciated. Has anyone else heard of this, does anyone have any other ideas?

ANY LUCK ON THE OVERHEATING ??????????

[bdodge]

Yeah actually... I Traded it in for a new S10. Sorry I dont have an answer for your overheating problem, many thanks to all for trying to help.