'96 SC1 coolant overflowing

[shlunasea]

Here's what's happening with my '96 SC1.

I recently had a complete tuneup which of course led to other problems that were not there before. The coolant is overflowing and bubbling out from the reserve shortly after I put the car into drive (within a few minutes). The temperature gauge is moving up in spurts and the fan does kick on between 1/2 and 3/4 (at least while the car is idling in Park - not sure if it is kicking on while in Drive). The radiator indicator light is coming on The AC runs hot while in Park or when the brake is engaged in Drive, but it runs cold while the car is moving forward. My mechanic is at a loss to explain it as we recently replaced the sensor/relay and the accompanying wiring as well as the alternator. We have the option of replacing the thermostat, but the correct hoses are cool and hot so it is allowing coolant in.

I'm not in the best financial situation right now as I'm getting married in 6 weeks and can't afford to waste much more money on fixes that don't work. Any suggestion as to what I should look into (electrical system possibly?) would be most apprciated.

Thanks!

[shlunasea]

Just an update. We just changed the reservoir cap after a suggestion from another site and although the coolant is no longer bubbling out from underneath, the fan seems to not not be kicking on though it was kicking on yesterday. Do fan motors die a slow death resulting in spurts where they work and spurts where they don't until they finally stop altogether?

Please advise with any other suggestions. Thanks!

[sierrap615]

i've seen them fail both completely and intermittenly. remember the fan will come on if the coolant temp sensor reads over 220F or anytime the AC is working. check if the fan works with the A/C on. and remember that the cooling system transfers heat differently with a bad cap, so maybe the coolant in the head was overheating with the bad cap when normally the heat would transfer away from the head faster. for the heck of it, you may want to place a light behind the radiator and try to see thru it, check if dirt and debris is restricting air flow arcoss the radiator.

[daveshapellSVT]

are you getting the car repaired at a shop. if so they are making sure you keep comming back. ditch them and find a better repair shop.

As for overheating issues it could be your thermostat, blown head gasket, or just a simple radiator cap failure. many things it could be most of witch are bad and could really hurt your engine during repeat overheating.

Isay trade the saturn in for something more reliable. i have had nothing but problems with my saturn, and by some of the thread titles i see around here mnay other do too.