Question
My 1995 Chrysler LeBaron runs super all WINTER long, and if I remain at the 5000' elevation where I live in the mountains in Payson, AZ - my problem is when the temp outside begins to rise, so does my car's temp. I have a great shop that I've used for years, and we've tried most everything, radiator, thermostat (x 2),fan works fine, belts and hoses are new. They state the only thing they could check next is that someone may have installed the head gasket backwards and there may be a very small gap at the back of the head?? I travel back and forth to Phoenix once a week for school, and need to get this fixed ASAP. The car has approx 140,000 miles. I have owned the car for almost 2 years, the car has a new transmission, installed just before I bought the car. she does perfect all winter - Is she a cold hearted gal that must be parked for the summer?
Thanks for your help.
Patty
AnswerHi Patty,
You didn't describe exactly what happens when it "overheats" so I can't be exact in my suggestions. Are you seeing steam blow out from the radiator or overflow container, are you simply loosing coolant without an indication of how, are you seeing unusual amounts of white smoke when you start the car from cold, or is it simply that the temp gauge reads hot? Each would imdicate a different possibility.
I would begin by checking that the air passageway through the radiator/trans cooler is open. Put a light behing them and look in through the grille to observe whether leaves or dry debris may be blocking the air flow. Also check to see if the car's wheels feel warm after driving it on the highway and then pull off to the side of the road to a rolling stop without using the brakes. If they are hot then you have a dragging brake which would cause excess heat dissipation from the engine. You can check for a head gasket leak by the excess white smoke or an exhaust gas detector inserted into the radiator filler opening so don't opt for that without proof. If you aren't loosing coolant then I would suspect that your temp gauge is pessimistic.
You might also check the engine spark timing which should be 12 BTDC with the engine warm and the temp sensor unplugged, at idle. If that were off spec it could cause unnecessary heat load from the engine.
Finally, it is possible that the water pump is either failing to pump as well as it should due to a problem with the impeller or perhaps the timing belt is slipping. But that is a more expensive job that you wouldn't want to undertake unless proven and necessary. But it is easy to inspect the timing belt by removing a cover on the front top of the engine. That belt does have to be replaced periodically, but only when shown to be worn out so don't panic about it having to be done at a specific milepost.
Let me know more and tell me what you find from checking these out.
