ok guy sorry if this has been said, i have a 2000 v8 LS and i have an over heating problem. the car has been overheating for months which led a coolant leak. I fix the leaks with a new thermostat put in. the mechanic bleed the system and i was able to get a day out of the car with no overheat. Now the next day it started again and i dont see a sign of a leak so now im lost for words. any ideas?
overheating is driving me crazy
- Thread starter pressley
- Start date
jk52781
Dedicated LVC Member
Well my car is in shop right now because of overheat issue. They said it was because my thermostat closed so they threw in new thermostat. Today I drive car and same overheat issue. Now they diagnose it more and tell me it is the temperature coolant sensor. So now they are going to replace that and it was never the thermostat. The car actually never has been overheating but because as they say the wires we eaten up by a mouse my coolant sensor is triggering the car to think it is overheating. 
jk52781
Dedicated LVC Member
The actual temperature coolant sensor is like $20. The labor is long and extensive, however. Fortunately because they screwed up on the thermostat thing they are covering the labor costs which actually overall is saving me money. Have them check the temp sensor if it is that just be prepared to know you will be paying a lot for labor costs. For real, when I was on the highway the other day in rush hour traffic and then car said it was overheating and engine powering down as I was trying to cut lanes of traffic and get to the shoulder was real scary.
dtangerini
Active LVC Member
You say they covered the labor costs? I have a 2000 V8 with 125,000 miles. I just replaced the thermostat for $258.00, how do I get the labor costs back? Also my heater still won't work unless I set it at 90 degrees!
tireman
Dedicated LVC Member
$258 for a thermostat????????????????????
Thermostats are only $20 and a few minutes to change out and bleed the system!!!!!!!!!!! Find a new mechanic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You may be having a problem with your hydraulic cooling fan which is a separate system to the coolant system (common).
You may have cracks in your plastic coolant tank (common).
Search on overheating, you will get plenty of ideas.
Give us some info on when the overheating occurs.
Thermostats are only $20 and a few minutes to change out and bleed the system!!!!!!!!!!! Find a new mechanic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You may be having a problem with your hydraulic cooling fan which is a separate system to the coolant system (common).
You may have cracks in your plastic coolant tank (common).
Search on overheating, you will get plenty of ideas.
Give us some info on when the overheating occurs.
that must have been real scary cutting lanes, i know how it feels, thank you for your insights. i hope its the temp sensor like you saidcuz i changed the coolant reservoir and the fan seems to kick in so im lost. anymore ideas please keep them coming. maybe i should bleed it again, what do you think?
dtangerini
Active LVC Member
Overheated just once after about one week with no heat, mechanic replaced thermostat for $21.00. Labor was huge, he said the part was a bitch to get out, thus the big bill. He said system takes a while to purge the air, then heater should work fine. Hope so.
TDUB
Dedicated LVC Member
Yeah he's pulling your leg, I replaced my thermostat in like half an hour
just an update, i was driving today and it started to go up, and i was seeing and smelling smoke. when the needle started to go up i had the heat on and drove with it for awhile then pull to a gas station and pump some gas in a matter of 10 mins, when i started the car again i turn off the heat and it hasnt happened since, any guess? something with the heat?
cableguynoe
Well-Known LVC Member
My car was overheating and several different shops couldn't figure out the problem. They wanted to 'start' with the thermostat...but they weren't even sure that was the problem.
Finally, i went to Midas, and they did somekind of pressure test and it turned out to be a crack in the plastic coolant reseirvoir. It was letting air in whe it would get hot and expand.
Anyway, try to get that checked out. It will save you a lot of money.
Finally, i went to Midas, and they did somekind of pressure test and it turned out to be a crack in the plastic coolant reseirvoir. It was letting air in whe it would get hot and expand.
Anyway, try to get that checked out. It will save you a lot of money.
The tank you all speak of is the puke tank right? up close to the windshield? Just making sure, since there could be confusion with the "tree" where you fill coolant the first time (just above the t stat itself)
cableguynoe
Well-Known LVC Member
yes, right behind the steering wheel.
cableguynoe
Well-Known LVC Member
Hmmm... dont confuse that with the reservoir for the hydralic fan... that takes oil, not coolant.
No, no. I'm talking about the location where you add coolant BEFORE adding it to the resevoir. That plastic piece ("tree") that like 3 different coolant hoses connects to.
tireman
Dedicated LVC Member
2 different cooling systems
1. Coolant circulation thru radiator
2. Hydraulic fan to cool radiator.
When your fan starts to fail, it will work sitting in the garage at idle, but out on the road in traffic it stops and you heat up quick. Turn on the heat full blast to lower the coolant temp.
Then fan will start to work again until the next time, then boom it heats up again.
It maybe the fan or hydraulic pump. The pump just pushes the fluid that turns the fan. The dealer charged me $700 for fan replacement. Heavy labor costs! If you're handy you might want to swap to an electric fan.
1. Coolant circulation thru radiator
2. Hydraulic fan to cool radiator.
When your fan starts to fail, it will work sitting in the garage at idle, but out on the road in traffic it stops and you heat up quick. Turn on the heat full blast to lower the coolant temp.
Then fan will start to work again until the next time, then boom it heats up again.
It maybe the fan or hydraulic pump. The pump just pushes the fluid that turns the fan. The dealer charged me $700 for fan replacement. Heavy labor costs! If you're handy you might want to swap to an electric fan.