Do I have anything to worry about (Overheating)

[2Legit84]

I let my wife use my 98' Intrigue a few days ago on a hot day...Well she drove it about 30 miles with the air on full blast and then parked it, but left it running with the air on full blast...the temp gauge went all the way into the red. Well when she got back into the car, instead of turning the car off...She decided to turn off the air and drive it so it would cool down. I guess this worked as it dropped down to about 3/4ths. Anyways the next day when I have it out...I'm driving around and the Temp guage with the air on a couple notches is going up to between half and 3/4ths. I'm not comfortable with anything over half. I like when the needle sits just below half. Well when I don't turn the air on, the needle will stay at about half. But eversince she over heated it the other day, with the air on the needle likes to stay over half. Should I check anything to see if any damage has occured. Should I look out for anything in the future?

[panzer dragoon]

Your car should never be getting that hot (over the 1/2 mark to 3/4 mark). Something is wrong. When you start up the car in the morning take off the radiator cap (car is cold not hot) and see if the radiator fluid heats up. If the fluid doesn't heat up your thermostat is not opening once the engine warms up. If the fluid doesn't cycle in the radiator the coolant pump may be bad. Does the electric radiator fan turn on when it gets hot?

Read some more overheating topics on this forum or do a search. Sometimes the engine will have air bubbles trapped in the engine and this forms hot spots. There is a bleed screw to get this air out.

[kmohr3]

You should have at least one of the cooling fans come on as soon as the AC is turned on - check and make sure.

[kipperkc]

I'm having the same problem. I have checked the fans and they are working. We just changed out the tensioner due to the bearing and wheel melting. So yes it is a problem that needs to be figured out. I felt the hose at the top of the radiator to see if it had water running through it and it didn't when the car was 1st started. That would mean the thermostat was stuck open. I guess my next step is to flush it and see if there is a blockage. I'll let you know how I make out.

[panzer dragoon]

Originally Posted by kipperkc

I'm having the same problem. I have checked the fans and they are working. We just changed out the tensioner due to the bearing and wheel melting. So yes it is a problem that needs to be figured out. I felt the hose at the top of the radiator to see if it had water running through it and it didn't when the car was 1st started. That would mean the thermostat was stuck open. I guess my next step is to flush it and see if there is a blockage. I'll let you know how I make out.

The thermostat keeps the coolant only circulating in the engine (and not the radiator) until the coolant heat gets up to the designated thermostat temp where the thermostat should open and the radiator is utilized to cool the coolant.

If the radiator does get hot, then the thermostat is opening up (maybe not all the way?) but it is opening.

Next time when the car is cold, take the radiator cap off and start the engine. You will see and feel when the hot coolant will rush out of the engine and into the radiator when the thermostat opens (may take a few minutes). When this happens turn the car off and wait for the coolant to cool again before putting the radiator cap back on.

[kipperkc]

Thanx for the response and I will check that out. 1st I have to figure out a starting problem. I'm going to post this under a new suject. It might be connected with the over heating.