95 Corsica cooling problems/Need help!!

[rustybolt]

I have a 95 corsica 3.1 engine that is having cooling problems after installing a hearter core, radiator and thermostat. The temperture gauge now runs between the half notch and the 3/4 notch, which is running way to warm. It used to run between the 1st and 2nd notch. The cooling fan comes on when it reaches the 3/4 mark which is almost hot. I'm afraid my engine is gonna get to hot an warp the heads. Can someone tell me what else could be causing my car to run so warm? Very fustrated!!

Thanks to all who respond,
Rustybolt.

[jsgold]

My guess would be air in the cooling system. A large air bubble will stay trapped and cause overheating. Possibly a bad stat, although not likely. A coolant temperature sensor can cause this too, but if this just happened my guess is the air.

[rustybolt]

Originally Posted by jsgold

My guess would be air in the cooling system. A large air bubble will stay trapped and cause overheating. Possibly a bad stat, although not likely. A coolant temperature sensor can cause this too, but if this just happened my guess is the air.

This has been going on for about 1 1/2 months. I had a new thermostat put in the first of the month. Where would the temperature sensor be located at? Maybe that is my problem. Thank you for your response.

Rustybolt.

[rustybolt]

Originally Posted by rustybolt

This has been going on for about 1 1/2 months. I had a new thermostat put in the first of the month. Where would the temperature sensor be located at? Maybe that is my problem. Thank you for your response.

Rustybolt.

Well, I've now been told that it could be the coolant I'm using that may have jelled the radiator up or the water pump. I've never heard of this, can this happen? I have the green coolant in the radiator now and was told it takes the red coolant, is this so?

Rustybolt.

[jsgold]

If you mixed the two, yes. But if you changed from one to the other should be no problem if you flushed the system first. Many people do no like the orange stuff and claim it causes problems and is not as good as the green. They will cause a mess if you mix them though. To answer your other question I am not sure where your sensor is as I do not own a 95 but should be easy to locate. You can go to Auozone web site and they will show locations for sensors etc. and even have online guides for replacing many parts. Or, you could pick up a Haynes manual. If this all started right after the major work though it could be the anti freeze. Do you remember if it was orange before etc.? Have you looked at it to see if it is unusual looking? If it was green before and you used the same I do not see a problem there. GM uses the orange as it is a long life anti freeze but not as good. Many people switch it out.

[rustybolt]

Originally Posted by jsgold

If you mixed the two, yes. But if you changed from one to the other should be no problem if you flushed the system first. Many people do no like the orange stuff and claim it causes problems and is not as good as the green. They will cause a mess if you mix them though. To answer your other question I am not sure where your sensor is as I do not own a 95 but should be easy to locate. You can go to Auozone web site and they will show locations for sensors etc. and even have online guides for replacing many parts. Or, you could pick up a Haynes manual. If this all started right after the major work though it could be the anti freeze. Do you remember if it was orange before etc.? Have you looked at it to see if it is unusual looking? If it was green before and you used the same I do not see a problem there. GM uses the orange as it is a long life anti freeze but not as good. Many people switch it out.

The antifreeze has always been the green kind, I've never used the orange kind. I have looked at the antifreeze and it looks normal. I will go to the Auto Zone website and see where the sensor is located. I'm hoping thats the problem. I really appreciate your help and thank you.

Rustybolt.

[richtazz]

You'll know if the car took the orange stuff from the factory, because the lettering on the radiator and overflow caps will be orange, and/or there will be a sticker underhood specifying use of dex-cool only. In 95, GM was about 50-50 dexcool/green, and from 96-on, all GM cars and trucks came with Dex-cool. The sensor for the gauge is in the rear cylinder head toward the drivers side, and has a green wire about 8" long on it. The sensor near the t-stat is for the computer. Your problem does sound like air trapped in the cooling system to me, a very common issue on the 3100. It has to be bled out using the bleeder(s) on the t-stat housing and there may be a second on the coolant transfer tube near the water pump.