Thread: 2001 GP SE 3.1L Cooling problem?

Ok, I am really getting frustrated with this.

The car's Temp will jump around a lot, it will range from around 180 all the way up to the red 265. The hotter the temp the lower the heat I have. If I give it gas, it will quickly move down to normal and I have heat again.

I have replaced the following:

Radiator
water pump
thermostat (stock temp)
Radiator Cap
upper and lower intake gaskets
full coolant flush (with Prestone super clean)

It acts like there is quite a bit of air in the system, but when I get it up to temp and I open the bleeder valve a lot of air comes out and feels like it will not stop, I've tried bleeding for about an hour (opening and closing) and air still comes out.

The fans kick on at the right temp, low and high
when they do kick on the air coming off is fairly cool, but if I give it throttle then the coolant will start flowing and the temp will come down and good heat will come off the fans.

Not leaking coolant anywhere, none in the oil and no white smoke.

I don't know what to do next!!??
any help would be greatly appreciated

Originally Posted by Bottoni70

Ok, I am really getting frustrated with this.

The car's Temp will jump around a lot, it will range from around 180 all the way up to the red 265. The hotter the temp the lower the heat I have. If I give it gas, it will quickly move down to normal and I have heat again.

I have replaced the following:

Radiator
water pump
thermostat (stock temp)
Radiator Cap
upper and lower intake gaskets
full coolant flush (with Prestone super clean)

It acts like there is quite a bit of air in the system, but when I get it up to temp and I open the bleeder valve a lot of air comes out and feels like it will not stop, I've tried bleeding for about an hour (opening and closing) and air still comes out.

The fans kick on at the right temp, low and high
when they do kick on the air coming off is fairly cool, but if I give it throttle then the coolant will start flowing and the temp will come down and good heat will come off the fans.

Not leaking coolant anywhere, none in the oil and no white smoke.

I don't know what to do next!!??
any help would be greatly appreciated

it might be a coolant temperature sensor. try a new one. about $12.00 new...

Originally Posted by gpbastard

it might be a coolant temperature sensor. try a new one. about $12.00 new...

also, there is a certain procedure for fiilling the coolant. it can be found on the site here somewhere. if i were you i'd find the procedure and re-do it. sounds like ton's of air trapped in pockets all over the cooling system..

Thanks, I'll try to find the coolant fill procedure and buy a new coolant temp sensor, why not everything else is new

Originally Posted by Bottoni70

Thanks, I'll try to find the coolant fill procedure and buy a new coolant temp sensor, why not everything else is new

no problem. the coolant sensor, like the oxygen sensor is a 100k replacement item. it wouldn't be a bad idea to switch over to the green anti-freeze while you're at it. dex-cool doesn't do these engines any favors....

I already switched to the green stuff when I did the new radiator and water pump, I also resently did a pressure test on the cooling system and it was perfect, is there some other way that it can draw air into the system cause I will refill and bleed and it will be ok for a few days and same problems?? Thanks for the help again guys!!

Originally Posted by Bottoni70

I already switched to the green stuff when I did the new radiator and water pump, I also resently did a pressure test on the cooling system and it was perfect, is there some other way that it can draw air into the system cause I will refill and bleed and it will be ok for a few days and same problems?? Thanks for the help again guys!!

at this point i'd put my money on a bad coolant sensor. how many miles on the engine?...

180,000

Originally Posted by Bottoni70

180,000

also, make sure your heater is on high heat when you fill it....

Thanks again, but I think that the problem is a little bigger. I'm 99% sure that its the head gaskets. Its pushing exhaust into the cooling system hence the high amount of air and pressure in the cooling system. Damn it!!!!

Originally Posted by Bottoni70

Thanks again, but I think that the problem is a little bigger. I'm 99% sure that its the head gaskets. Its pushing exhaust into the cooling system hence the high amount of air and pressure in the cooling system. Damn it!!!!

that's not a good. will you be able to do the head gaskets yourself?

Yep, going to the parts store tomarrow, car should be 100% and go for another 200,000 when I'm done. Thanks

Originally Posted by Bottoni70

Yep, going to the parts store tomarrow, car should be 100% and go for another 200,000 when I'm done. Thanks

make sure to update us when the dust settles....

Done with the head gaskets, now its perfect and runs and starts much smoother, took a total of 5-6 hrs over two days with only a few hiccups along the way.

Originally Posted by Bottoni70

Done with the head gaskets, now its perfect and runs and starts much smoother, took a total of 5-6 hrs over two days with only a few hiccups along the way.

that's good news and all the better that you could do it yourself. i have the exact same car with the same motor. 116k for miles and other than the LIM gasket it's been a very good car...

Yep I can't complain with this high mileage its been a good solid car

Originally Posted by Bottoni70

Yep I can't complain with this high mileage its been a good solid car

i have a friend who has a meat delivery buisness and he drove a 2000 s-10 with a 4.3L to 330,000 miles and when he traded it in it still ran pretty good. if you take care of these motors they should run 250k or more...

I replaced my sensor three times and yeah they were from autozone. I have the same problem right now I will try that new temp sensor...