QuestionQUESTION: Hi Roland, my 99 Sebring JXI convertible,2.5 v6 SOHC, ran hot last night. The temp gauge would fluctuate between the second click above cold to one click below the red. when I pulled over water was spewing from the radiator cap. when I finally was able to take the cap off, I could not see the water level, but the overfill tank was full. I took the thermostat off and drove the car home without it running hot. I dropped the thermostat into boiling water and it opened and closed. I had a problem with it running hot in the summer, the water pump, temp sensor and eventually the radiator fan and motor were replaced. Three weeks ago, the serpentine belt broke due to the air compressor locking up. I had the air compressor replaced, but due to lack of funds, I did not have the dryer and ? replaced, so they did not hook up the a/c. I will finish the repair this summer. Could the car overheating last night have anything to do with any of the things I have already fixed or replaced? any suggestions?
~Theresa~
ANSWER: Hi Theresa,
I don't believe the things you already fixed are now involved again. I would suggest that you check the condition of the radiator cap. It may have a worn/cracked rubber seal which is allowing coolant to escape which then causes overheating. Also watch for loss of coolant anywhere in the engine compartment, and deal with that as appropriate. Also check to see when you first start the car in the morning whether you are seeing unusual amounts of white smoke come from the tail pipe (which would be a sign of a head gasket leak). Also look to see that the oil is not cloudy which is an alternative sign of such a leak. Also notice if your fan is coming on when/if the temp gauge moves to the hot side. You want to try to determine the cause of coolant loss, if any, or heat dissipation inadequacy, if any.
Roland
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QUESTION: Hi Roland, I checked exhaust condensation on my hand and it did not smell of antifreeze. It did however seem to spray more water out this time than earlier. But again, only when the engine is being accelerated. The water in the radiator is green, but with the spewing and adding of water, I am not sure just how much antifreeze I have in the car. I really didn't smell antifreeze on my finger after sticking it into the radiator either. If it isn't a blown head gasket, what might it be? I thought about using Bar's Leak in the cooling system to solve the problem, but I have heard horror stories of it sealing off the heating core and other things. I had the air compressor replaced 10/20/08, would there have been any reason for them to have loosen the head bolts? Just grasping hopes....... I hope and pray I am not looking at having the gaskets replaced at the sum of 1430.00
ANSWER: Hi Theresa,
The fact that the water in the radiator is so thin of anti-freeze as to not be detectable by smell suggests that you need to drain off about 4 qts of coolant and replace with a gallon of antifreeze to get you closer to or at 50% mixture. The system will cool better and also be less likely to boil over. Then smell the exhaust condensate after a cold start up, as the inexpensive way to check for the possibility of the head gasket leak.
The ac compressor replacement would not have had any reason to touch the head bolts. By the way, in the past when I had the beginnings of a head gasket leak I was successful in stopping it by loosening the bolts one step below the final torque setting(in reverse pattern to that used for tightening) and then re-tightening them to the spec level(using the tightening pattern). It has worked for me when the gasket isn't frankly torn but the head is just loosened a bit to allow seepage under either face of the gasket. That would be something you could try yourself in the event that you indeed find there to be a leak.
Let me know if you find an odor in the exhaust after you bring it up to 50/50.
Roland
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QUESTION: okay on my way to autozone for anti-freeze. Now my ignorance shines through...where is the radiator plug to drain off 4qts of water? I was looking through the manual and just didn't see it. Do I add the anti-freeze through the overfill bottle or directly into the radiator. Also as I mentioned, I am driving it without a thermostat at this time. Am I doing it damage?
AnswerHi Theresa,
The drain for the radiator is at the bottom right, inside a tube that is slanted downward. To open it use a 19mm socket on the end of a 3" extension and use a flex hadle/ratchet to remove, counterclockwise of course. If you don't have those tools you could alternatively drain it from the thermostat housing, and at the same time put the thermostat back in (consider lower temp opening thermostat?). It would not be good to run the engine without a thermostat for extended periods because of running the engine too cool wastes gas and also impedes the evaporation of vapors from the lubrication system leading to the build-up of crud.
Add antifreeze through the radiator cap.
Roland
