Engine running hot 04

**jpchapman94** · 04-29-2013

i have a 04 Grand Prix gt2 and ever since i got the car it had been running hot (like one bar after 3/4) idk why? i recently did a radiator flush and that didnt help anything. If anyone has had this issue before and know what the problem is please help..

**Timing** · 04-29-2013

have you change the therm?

**jpchapman94** · 04-29-2013

i have not but i tested the one thats currently in there and it opens and closes just fine

**Timing** · 04-29-2013

ya but did you test at what temp? And what did you put for coolant in there and what did it have befor. Did you bleed the air out? Maby change the coolant temp sensor. cooling system is pretty cheap you could replace the entire thing for under 100 bucks. (coolant temp sensor, thermostat, water pump, rad cap)

**jpchapman94** · 04-29-2013

it opened up at 195 i think. and where is the coolant temp sensor located ?? i was thinking about replacing the water pump but didnt want to if that wasnt the problem

**Elite6** · 04-29-2013

Have a quick look under your oil fill cap & in the valve cover. See any white stuff? Coolant temp sensor is located in the Lower intake manifold just under where the T stat goes.

**jpchapman94** · 04-29-2013

There is no white stuff when i look when i looked under the oil fill cap.

**jpchapman94** · 04-29-2013

is there any way you can test the sensor or is it better to just replace it ?? its only a few dollars

**Elite6** · 04-29-2013

Should test it, replacing is a bigger job that involves draining coolant from the LIM

**Scottydoggs** · 04-29-2013

your fans working? should come on around 212.

and also turn on when the a/c is turned on. if the a/c dont work, the fans wont come on via a/c command, but should still work for cooling as normal.

when i bleed my engine for air, i like to let it idle till the fans come on, that way you know the t stat is opened up.

**jpchapman94** · 04-29-2013

A/c does work. i have bleed my car but i have never bleed it when the fans were on... Do you think that could be the problem i mean it wont hurt to try...

**Scottydoggs** · 04-29-2013

bleeding the air cold dont always work, the bleeder is on top if the t stat, so if its closed, nothing is pushing the air out.

**jpchapman94** · 04-29-2013

what else could it be? im going change the tstat and the coolant temp. sensor this weekend and make sure there is no air in the system but i dont have much faith that its going fix my problem

**Scottydoggs** · 04-29-2013

we've seen bad water pumps make a car run hot. most of the time its air trapped and needs to bled out.

or your engine is running perfectly and your temp gauge is off.

these cars will run over the 1/2 point, they like to be 200 degs or more. its where the temp lives on most 3800 engines.

lots of new owners think their car is running hot when its not at all. as long as it dont ever hit the red, then theres a over heating problem for sure.

**jpchapman94** · 04-30-2013

Alright so today i pulling out of my driveway and seen a puddle of coolant.. i let the car warm up and was looking under the hood for leakes and i found it, it was the heater hose elbow. but that was the first time i have even seen coolant on the ground and before that the car use to run hot.. im going relpace the elbow this weekend as long as with the tstat and new coolant. should i consider replacing the water pump while im at it ???

**Scottydoggs** · 04-30-2013

with the belts on still ( engine off) grab the w/p pulley with 2 hands, one on each side, push one side, pull the other, then the other way, if it moves, change it, if not, id let it go for now. they cost around 40 bucks, so if its in the budget it can be done. i just hate changing parts that dont need to be changed.

**jpchapman94** · 05-01-2013

Is there anything else I should replace while I have the coolant out ?? I also couldn't find the radiator drain plug..

**Scottydoggs** · 05-01-2013

dont waste your time with the drain plug, pull the lower rad hose, off the engine or the rad.

also your lower and upper intake gaskets should be replaced on general principals, being they are plastic and already leaking some as we speak.