Over heating

[Amanda2000sc2]

My car starts to over heat when in traffic or when its idle for like 2 minutes. I put the air in which makes it cool down but yesterday my Brothers car which is also a Saturn did the same thing. Is this a problem anyone else has?

[PlayStation3]

by overheating do you mean the coolant light came on or do you mean the fan never kicked in?

anyway rig up a jumper wire from the battery to the fan motor and if it works then the probelly is a sensor but if it does nothing then it is the motor.

[Amanda2000sc2]

No i mean the temp gauuge will start to go up to the point that it gets in the red if i don't catch it in time and put the ac on which seems to make the gauge go down i can hear the belt kick in but why does it do that? And it happened to my brothers his is a 4 door. I don't know anything about cars but i was just wondering if it's a problem that other people have with there saturns? It's not like I,m in idle for a long time it will start acting up in I'd say two minutes it's always done this.

[Cat Fuzz]

Change your coolant temperature sensor aka ECTS. The reason why it cools down with a/c on is because the fan comes on when the a/c is switched on. The ECTS tells the computer the temp of the engine and when they go bad, the computer thinks the engine is cold and doesn't turn on the fan.

[Amanda2000sc2]

sounds like a plan thank-you

[BK7Soccer]

Yeah I think that happens to most Saturn SL's serioussly. I had to replace my radiator and fan because the fan stopped kicking in and the temp would go up to red. Watch out though cause now I have a blown headgasket.

[Amanda2000sc2]

i have a sc2

[BK7Soccer]

Oh sorry, I ment it happens MOSTLY to SL's but a friends VUE had that problem too so looks like its common in Saturns.

[Luke.]

> Fm Cat Fuzz <
> The ECTS tells the computer the temp of the engine, and when they go bad, the computer thinks the engine is cold and doesn't turn on the fan. <

Very good 'alert'.

[MechanicInOwnMind]

I'm having the same problem with my 1992 Saturn SL2...only I have to turn my heater on in order for it to start to cool down and get out of the red. When I try the air conditioner trick, it only gets hotter, can anyone tell me why this is???

[Luke.]

> Fm Mechanic In Own Mind <

> I'm having the same problem with my 1992 Saturn SL2. <

> Fm Cat Fuzz <

> Change your coolant temperature sensor aka ECTS. <

If you have the original unit it the engine, it is most likely cracked, thus mis-reading the coolant temperature.

[johnholl]

are the aftermarket sensors okay, or should i go with an OEM temp sensor?

John 1993 SL1

[Cat Fuzz]

Originally Posted by johnholl

are the aftermarket sensors okay, or should i go with an OEM temp sensor?

John 1993 SL1

As long as the replacement is all brass, it will work just fine. Don't over tighten it