QuestionQUESTION: My fan would not switch on, so installed a toggle switch until I could afford to get in repaired. It has worked fine, but now in this heat it get's hot quick and the car gets ready to die. I run the fan as soon as I start the car, but it still acts like it is going to die. The gauge reads that it is staying at the 1/2 mark. I have replaced the sensors, thermostat, and relay. I know that the engine is still getting too hot and the fan still doesn't kick on by itself, could it be the cap to the antifreeze reservoir
ANSWER: If the car is running at the midway point on a hot day, that is perfectly normal for a saturn and will cause no damage. I would recommend having the cooling system flushed, pressure tested and possibly have the thermostat replaced if the coolant is in very bad shape. I had the same year and that is where it stayed temperature wise. Also verify that the front of the radiator is clear and that the air dams are undamaged. There is no grille so the cars depend on the air dams being firmly in place.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks, I still don't understand why the car is acting like it is going to stall. I actually have to pull over and run the fan after each 10 min to get home from work. What could cause this. Also when it acts like this I can't get any speed. Should I replace the cap on the antifreeze reservoir.
AnswerIt could be possible that you are experiencing the beginning of a head gasket failure. I would take it to a shop and have them run a cooling system pressure test, compression test and maybe a cylinder leakage test. You can replace the cap if you wish but I'm not sure if that will help remedy the problem. If it is a head gasket, a new cap may make the problem worse.
