1997 Lumina Overheating Problem?

[Lumina97MD]

Ok heres the deal, first off thanks beforehand to everyone whos gonna reply...

My 97 lumina overheats every once in a while..I just had the radiator flushed and still it overheats. Not too often, if it gets passed 210 it'll usually distribute coolant to the engine within seconds.

but sometimes...

the car will get upto 240 and even 260 and I'll have to pull over..the resevuior* for the coolant will start bubbling and overflowing out of the reseviour*..I heard it could be my thermostat but why would it give coolant sometimes and not always? Thanks again

[jeffcoslacker]

Originally Posted by Lumina97MD

Ok heres the deal, first off thanks beforehand to everyone whos gonna reply...

My 97 lumina overheats every once in a while..I just had the radiator flushed and still it overheats. Not too often, if it gets passed 210 it'll usually distribute coolant to the engine within seconds.

but sometimes...

the car will get upto 240 and even 260 and I'll have to pull over..the resevuior* for the coolant will start bubbling and overflowing out of the reseviour*..I heard it could be my thermostat but why would it give coolant sometimes and not always? Thanks again

Sometimes thermostats just get cranky when they get old, and they'll stick randomly. I think the cage gets distorted from fatigue, and sometimes the plunger sticks. Or something. Better change it.

[Lumina97MD]

Originally Posted by jeffcoslacker

Sometimes thermostats just get cranky when they get old, and they'll stick randomly. I think the cage gets distorted from fatigue, and sometimes the plunger sticks. Or something. Better change it.

the thermostat?

[jeffcoslacker]

Originally Posted by Lumina97MD

the thermostat?

Yeah it controls coolant flow from the motor to the radiator.

If it sticks temp will shoot up, and the resulting pressure will push back through the system and vent from the resevoir.