2000 Elantra overheating...

[beancounter]

My 2000 Elantra has been overheating. There's no leaks, but it goes through fluid like crazy. Sometimes, even after adding antifreeze/coolant or water, air blows out the overflow tube into to overflow tank (not liquid), making whatever is in the tank bubble. I just had my cap replaced, and had a new thermostat and guage put in in April. I've also noticed that when idling (after adding more antifreeze/coolant) the fans attached to radiator aren't spinning. Are they supposed to? I even turned on the air and heat, and they still didn't spin. Any input you have would be greatly appreciated, as I'd like to go armed with a little bit of knowledge when I head to the mechanic. Thanks in advance.

[peachferrari]

Well, as for the fans on the back of the radiator, they don't come on until the engine is hot enough. If mine is cold and I idle it, it takes a good 15 minutes + to get it up hot enough for them to come on. If you've been driving around for awhile and they still don't come on, then you've got a fan problem. (btw: mine's a '99 2.0L)

[beancounter]

Any idea what could be causing my problem? The thermostat and guage are new, there are no leaks, sometimes it gets hot, then after a minute or two, it drops back down to where it should be. The radiator cap is new. It shouldn't be my water pump since there's hot liquid in my thermostat.

[peachferrari]

Ok, wierdness. . . mine was doing something similar on the way to work this morning. The temp needle would go up toward the high end, then drop back down to normal range. I hope there's not a problem somewhere. That's the first time that has ever happened to me. Maybe the gauge is messed up.

[beancounter]

I wish it were just my gauge. My engine really is that hot. But ever since I added the radiator stop-leak stuff, I haven't had a problem.. YET. (knock on wood while crossing my fingers). I'm sure that stuff isn't good for my car, but being as I can't afford to pay a mechanic to pretend he knows what's wrong, it beats cracking my engine block or something.

[peachferrari]

Well, I wish it were my gauge too. I got to looking at it last night and the coolant was dripping from underneath. Looks like I have a radiator leak or something. Great huh. . . I have an appointment to take it in on Monday. Hope it's not too serious.

Oh--and I already used some of that radiator stop leak stuff. Looks like it caused more problems than it solved. Hope you have better luck.

[beancounter]

Yeah, I know the stop-leak can't be good for it. But until I've got the money to spend on getting in there and finding out the problem, it's better than nothing. This car is paid off in April, then I'm getting a Dodge. I only hope she'll last til April. I'd hate to put alot of money into it just to get rid of it in 6 months.

[beancounter]

Think I've finally fixed the problem. We changed the thermostat and now things are running great. Just goes to show that just because you pay a "professional" to do something, it doesn't mean it was done right.

[peachferrari]

Cool, nice going. I wish mine had been that simple. I ended up having to get a whole new radiator put in.

[Bear]

If your car is like most, the fans will run anytime the AC mode is selected and at any time the temperature rises enogh to activate the fan thermal switch. Start car, and turn AC on and see if the fans run, if not I would get the fan realy checked out. I had a instance where she overheated and blew coolant everywhere, the fans did not come on and it was because the coolant had shorted the temp switch, once everything dried out the fans worked corectly.