OK guys, I'm a newbie here and I'm still trying to figure out how to navigate and post on this forum. I recently got my Cav and it seems to heat up like crazy. I don't know if this is a common problem amongst Cavs but is there ANY solution to this? It seems like it's a timing bomb ready to blow a head gasket. Please help. Any replies would help.
1993 Toyota Supra Turbo.
1998 Chevrolet Cavalier.
Sounds like its already blown a headgasket, if not that have you check your antifreeze? They dont commonly blow headgaskets, but as in any other engine, they will in due time. That or your thermostat is stuck.
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TwISteR: Thanks for the reply. I don't believe I have a blown head gasket but I guess the best way of checking that is to actually take the head off the engine... which it's not going to happen. The antifreeze is perfect. I check it every 2 wks or so. I'm running a new thermostat so that can't be it.
Well thanks anyways man. I wanted to know if anyone else had this problem but I guess it seems like I'm the only one. Thanks for your reply. If anyone else has any solutions, you're welcome to post.
check your oil for antifreeze
How hot does it get? Our cars will get so hot the gauge wll show it ready to overheat before the fan will come on and cool it down, GM did that for fuel saving purposes.
1995 Pontiac Sunfire 2Dr.
2.2L 5Spd.
themarin8r: I change the oil every 2.5K miles. I haven't seen anything peculiar yet but I'll check it again next time. Thanks a bunch!
Mike1983: You hit the nail on the head. It almost gets to the hot line before I feel the fan turn on. The problem is that the fan doesn't even bring it back to the middle, it just lowers it a bit. My gauge practically lives up there! Anywhere I go with the car, I can't get the temp gauge to stay in the middle. What's your solution?
IS THERE ANY SOLUTIONS TO THIS? Can the sensor be overidden so the fan turns on sooner? Or is it a better idea to swap the OEM fans for some upgraded (puller) ones from Summit and have them on at all times?
mr2jzgte wrote:themarin8r: I change the oil every 2.5K miles. I haven't seen anything peculiar yet but I'll check it again next time. Thanks a bunch!
Mike1983: You hit the nail on the head. It almost gets to the hot line before I feel the fan turn on. The problem is that the fan doesn't even bring it back to the middle, it just lowers it a bit. My gauge practically lives up there! Anywhere I go with the car, I can't get the temp gauge to stay in the middle. What's your solution?
IS THERE ANY SOLUTIONS TO THIS? Can the sensor be overidden so the fan turns on sooner? Or is it a better idea to swap the OEM fans for some upgraded (puller) ones from Summit and have them on at all times?
First off a faulty ECT can cause the fans not to come on. If it says the car is like cold all the time the fans wont come on.
So I would check your ECT sensor.
Secondly you can install a toggle switch so you can turn the fans on when you want to, not that hard to do either.
Finally you dont want fans that run all the time, the car will take forever to heat up and stay in open loop mode longer, thus wasting more gas.
- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new
Excuse my ignorance but what is an ECT? And where can I find it in my car (98 2.2 auto)? I think I'm going to install the switch if the ECT is up and running.
The car only runs at mid temp when I have the AC on. That obviously doesn't help my MPG ratio either. Thanks Rob S. Get back to me about that ECT.
Did you install the thermostat yourself? Onetime a Mechanic installed it backwards and it had the same symptoms, that and he didnt put a dang gasket on their either. I swapped it around and it was working just perfect after that! But other then that Im not sure why its overheating. Its just hard to say.
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mr2jzgte wrote:Excuse my ignorance but what is an ECT? And where can I find it in my car (98 2.2 auto)? I think I'm going to install the switch if the ECT is up and running.
The car only runs at mid temp when I have the AC on. That obviously doesn't help my MPG ratio either. Thanks Rob S. Get back to me about that ECT.
Engine Coolant Temp sensor.
Only cost about $20 to get one.
- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new
Ah... alright then. Going to check those two things. A mechanic installed the thermostat so I'm checking that firts.
Is the ECT sensor connected to the coolant overflow tank? I got a wire going there but not sure if that's it.
TwISteR (The Transporter One): Don't know man, but it only behaves with the AC on. Thanks man.
Rob S: Thanks to you too for assisting me on this, I really appreciate it.
