Auto Air Conditioning & Heater Repair: Heater and Cooling problem, coolant system, radiator fan

Question
Dear Autohelp,
Thank you in advance for helping on this site.
I have a 1995 Firebird 6 cyl, 3.4L.  It was overheating so I started replacing the cheapest stuff first.  So I have a new thermostat, new sensor for the radiator fan, new radiator fan and then finally replaced the water pump.  I cranked it up and it is still overheating.  And when the car is hot, now there is no heat coming into the car when the heater is on!  Any insight would be appreciated.  Thank you again.  Steven

Answer
In most cases such as this you have one of 2 problems or possibly BOTH.


1. A restriction in the middle and lower coolant chambers of the radiator. YES, You can physically SEE the coolant flow thru the UPPER chambers, but NOT thru the others.


2. A leaking head gasket(s) between the combustion chamber and the coolant chambers of which builds up pressure within the coolant system and STOPS coolant flow, Thus no coolant flow thru the heater core and the coolant passages.


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