SL1 1998 Overheating after visit to dealer. (97000 miles)

what color is the antifreeze? is it overflowing?

take it to another mechanic for an estimate on what is wrong with it.

--=20 =EF=BB=BFKevin M. Keller Director, News & Promotions Saturn Performance Club

DEFINITELY find another dealer and get a second opinion.

Lane [ lane (at) evilplastic.com ]

Well this morning, I unbuttoned the top and filled the empty Radiator reserve up to the marked level and left the cap off. Started her up and let it run. It was good for about 10 minutes, the temperature guage staying at the 1/4th mark.

The color was fine, no odd tints, just a slight-very light film on the water when I looked into the radiator reserve tank. Only issue is. LOTS of bubbles.. LOTS.. Big ones and small ones.

Within 2 minutes after the bubbles started while sitting it reached

Thanks for listening.

OK, first thing, is it green coolant or dex-cool (orange or red)? Second, was the level low when you opened the (cold) resivour in the morning? If so, where did the coolant go? Did it leak?.

What was the cooling fan doing when it reached 3/4 of the gauge? if the cooling fan isn't running, it won't cool down. On Saturns, unless you are running the a/c, the fan won't come on until 3/4 of the way up.

With the cap off, most cars will boil over before the fans come up. The thermostat dosen't open until 195 degrees, and many cars, saturns included, won't kick on the fans until 220 degrees. Without some pressure to lower the boiling point, you WILL overflow.

Call around, find someone that will chemically block test your car. The garage I used to work at didn't even charge for it. They will open the resivour cap and use a small tool and some blue fluid to check for the presence of CO2 in the coolant, which will make the fluid turn yellow. If it turns yellow, you have a blown head gasket, cracked head, or cracked block.

finally, just a thought. I can get a complete used engine from Greenleaf for under a grand with a 1 year warranty. The job pays between 11 and 13 hours labour.

Let it sit overnight, fill the coolant resivour up, drive it somewhere and get it checked.

-Joe

My fan goes on at 3/4 or slightly above. I do not think this should be considered 'overheating'. If it gets to the red and the fan doesn't go on, then something is wrong.

FYI - I ran my track car all day one day, on and off of redline in 90 degree temps, missing the front air dam. The temp gauge was at the top of the red and stayed there with no problems (I had a spare motor in the garage that was going in soon so there was nothing to lose if something bad happened). All was fine. No spraying, no burst hoses, no overflowing. So I don't think people need to be so afraid they shut off the car at 3/4 on the gauge.

Lane [ lane (at) evilplastic.com ]

Ok, the coolant I use is a green one I purchase from the Saturn dealer. I'll have to put a new Gallon of coolant in the tank and check its color before I do anything else.

On opening the radiator reserve yesterday, the coolant level was bellow the lower hose, just large splash at the bottom of the reserve tank. I checked around the car, and had spread newspaper under the car to check for leaks. I couldn't find one.

The fan seems to come on as soon as it starts the temperature starts to rise quickly and is on by the time the gauge has reached 3/4ths.

. Thanks aga> OK, first thing, is it green coolant or dex-cool (orange or red)? Second,

My Saturn fan turns on at 213=B0, most cars I have dealt with do the same.

You should be able to run your car with the cap off if everything was proper. I would say you have a head or head gasket issue with all the bubbles you describe.

James

You forgot your link james

The bubbles could of been from aeration from the pump because the system=20 wasnt filled fully and purged of air pockets.

Buy or borrow one of these

Now not there, so this is purely a guess. Your system is dry. You say no leaks, you have lots of escaping air, and levels are very low. When a coolant system is drained many passages get air bound. So the only way to refill is a fully flowing coolant system, and a mech watching radiator level directly (adding as needed till level stops dropping).

Now my humble suggestion, get the car back to the mechanic, they did the work, they need to clean up their mess.

BTW, is this in NJ?

later,

tom @

No, this was in San Jose, CA. I have plans to take the car in next week to a new mechanic. The local Saturn shop I took this too demands its a new head gasket.

Thanks for the reply.