Need information, 91 Saturn SC runs hot

the air dam is usually 1 or 2 pieces of black plastic which are attached underneath the radiator. This usually consists of the radiadiator guard which fits underneath the radiator and is slotted and a second piece which is the air dam, attached in the front of the guard. My 94 SL4 was also missing this piece, replacing it fixed my running hot issues.

marx404

The plastic air dams and inner fenders and other parts under the bumper are prone to damage from gravel roads or deep snow or other debris and particularly from parking curbs and the steel pegs that are used to anchor them, (but never seem to be driven flush to the top of the curb). Always avoid pulling your car all the way into these parking stalls, just put the bumper up to but NOT over any parking curbs or sidewalks. Striking concrete curbs and sidewalks with the subframe or sway bar can also cause expensive steering alignment problems.

Any good Saturn dealer should be willing and able to print you an exploded drawing of all the components in the area under the rad (or anyplace else on the car). They can also give you the part numbers and retail prices for these parts and for the (usually only marginally effective) OEM fasteners. The under rad air dams are not very expensive but you do not want to make replacing them a habit.

I do not have an air dam installed and have not had any problems with overheating, but those in hotter climates do report that they make a difference.

Thank you all for taking the time to help.

Dennis.

In addition to (or before), you should also check the more common causes of overheating.

Check the drive belt and tension. Reverse wash the outside of the rad cooling fins with warm soapy water (use caution with high pressure washers) and ensure that there is nothing obstructing air flow such as oily dust or dry grass or mud. Check the strength and age of the coolant. Standard EG coolant should be changed every 2-3 years and should be mixed correctly for strength both to protect against freezing and to raise the boiling point. If a change is required clean the system with a solution of Calgon dishwasher detergent and flush thoroughly. Check the condition of all hoses before refilling.

In the recent past, engines often failed because of wear or oil system or materials failure but modern engineering has solved most of these problems and current engines are more likely to fail because of cooling system problems. Unfortunately cooling system maintenance is often neglected until it fails..