Overheating Issues

[hpman247]

Hi. Recently My 2002 V8 LS has been having intermittent overheating issues. It always happens when the car is idling at a stop light or in a line of traffic or some sort after the car has reached it's normal temp.

Usually I turn the car off and then immediately back on and it's fine. Today however, it remained hot for a few minutes. And driving home from work it started again. This time I turned on the heat all the way up for about a minute and the overheating stopped, still while driving without shutting the car off.

I usually hear a lour whining sound when this happens. But like I said usually I turn the car off and it is fine, but this has been popping up more recently. Any ideas on what this could be.

I had a radiator flush at 80k and it's at 95 k now. and it's not lacking coolant.

Thanks

 

[02LincLS]

you have air in the system, probably introduced during the flush. there's a tech article that says the proper air bleeding method. try this first though- if the car is cold, fill the tank up to the cold fill level and re-cap it. park on a fairly steep hill, nose up. remove the cover again (very slowly if hot as hot coolant/steam will come out) and let the car idle with the heater on high 90 degrees (choose the floor and vent setting). let it idle for up to 30 minutes and keep feeding the reservoir if the level drops. recap the tank and let the motor cool completely (hours). go back and check the level and refill to the cold fill level. you should be all set but if not, give the tech article a try.

the noise you describe is normal- at least for a car with a "fail safe" hydraulic fan. what happens when the pump dies??? i believe its power steering fluid for the fan since its basically a power steering pump that runs it. you could have air in that system as well making it a little noisey. mine does it too but i'm replacing it with electric fan if it dies.

 

[hpman247]

Thanks for the info. I live 2 hrs away from my hometown and I was planning to go this weekend. Do you feel that car would be ok to drive or should I hold off and take it to the shop. I would try the above, but honestly I know how to do nothing to a car so I'd prefer to leave that stuff to the ppl who know what they are doing.

 

[LS4me]

Thanks for the info. I live 2 hrs away from my hometown and I was planning to go this weekend. Do you feel that car would be ok to drive or should I hold off and take it to the shop. I would try the above, but honestly I know how to do nothing to a car so I'd prefer to leave that stuff to the ppl who know what they are doing.

I would take it to a shop before driving. Why take a chance. Also, though bleeding isn't rocket science, it is a little complex. Certain things must be done in a certain order, etc.

 

[02LincLS]

Thanks for the info. I live 2 hrs away from my hometown and I was planning to go this weekend. Do you feel that car would be ok to drive or should I hold off and take it to the shop. I would try the above, but honestly I know how to do nothing to a car so I'd prefer to leave that stuff to the ppl who know what they are doing.

if you can pour a glass of juice, you can do this.

hood = fridge door
juice cap = coolant reservoir cover (the large translucent tank under the windsheild cowl
cup = coolant reservoir
juice = coolant


you should be fine to go but you must keep an eye one the gage. if its anything above the exact middle, you need to turn your heat on high to help cool the engine. also, bring a gallon of 50/50 mix of both coolant and water with you just in case it decides to overflow.

 

[hpman247]

My regular auto repair guys think it's the head gasket. They did some diagnostic work and checked the coolant and it had hydrocarbons (i think that's what they called them) in there which leads them to believe it's a blown head gasket.

But they want me to take the car to the dealer and have a second opinion. I have that scheduled for Monday.

Is this typical??? I have a 100k warranty and I am at 94,000 right now. It's a $100 deductible and I'll have to cover the 20/hour that the warranty doesn't (They pay up to $65/hour I pay the additional which in this case is $19 ($84/hour)).

 

[hpman247]

One more update. I just got my keys back, taking it to the dealer monday. But the notes said
Block Tested: Coolant Failed
Block Test has hydrocarbon in coolant

Also checked code in PCM
1285 Cylinder Head over Temp

In casual conversation they also told me that the head may have a crack in it. They just want me to take it to the dealer for a second opinion.

 

[02LincLS]

i smell BS. Please try bleeding the air before the dealer rips you off for a diagnostic charge, or worse, a head gasket repair. Unless you have oil in your coolant (or coolant in your oil- worse), you should be fine. Mine has had the same symptoms and noises and once it "burps" its fine.