Have a 94 cavialar with a 3.1 . When it gets warm it over heats and dies out when put in gear but runs well in idle. Replaced thermo but still does the same. Need help please.
14 Answers
Do the fans kick on when it gets over 200?
No but i put a rigging swith on it do I can turn the fan on and it still didn't make a difference. Could it be the water pump goin bad?
Yes I have heard of the pump pumping just not fully pumping and they slowly overheat. Take the cap off the radiator WHILE IT'S COOL, and see if you have good flow, you will have to let it warm up with the cap off so the thermostat opens. Keep an eye on the temp gauge, when it hits about 190 you should have good flow. Tap the throttle and whatch for the fluid to drop in the radiator.
GM 3.1 V6's are notorious for their head gasket failures. (something to do with the original -experimental- long term coolant they used during that era). But I would first check the water pump. Sometimes the water pump vanes wear, and when a load is placed on the cooling system (as when placed in drive) the worn vanes on the water pump cannot circulate enough water pressure for the heat load imposed. Also make sure that your auxiliary radiator cooling fans are operating properly, and that your lower, & upper hoses are at approximately the same operating temp (by touch, when still relatively warm). If one hose is cooler than the other one, you have a flow problem. (radiator, or thermostat)
Don't see water flow. When given slight gas it wants to blow water out of the radiator.
The bottom hose is cooler than the top one. Just put new thermostat in four days ago.
That leaves a couple of things..... (1) - Your radiator might be clogged (try flushing with radiator cleaner with the heater switched on high). - As you are flushing with the hose, after the radiator cleaner is used, the liquid being flushed from the radiator should have a clear appearance NO RUST COLORED CLOUDY APPEARANCE ! AND DON'T FORGET TO HOSE OUT THE PLASTIC RADIATOR OVERFILL TANK. ( PERSONALLY, I WOULD DO THIS WITH THE REMOVAL OF THE THERMOSTAT FIRST- THEN REPLACE WITH A FRESH ONE AFTERWARDS - they're cheap enough!) Your radiator fluid & cooling system should be rust free ! (2) - It might be your head gaskets (gone bad) restricting, or limiting, or redirecting your coolant flow. Check your oil dipstick, & under the oil refill cap. If it has a creamy look to it, it means that you have water in your oil..... which is a telltale sign of faulty head gaskets. (3) - Replace your water pump.....especially If you've had a rusty coolant flush.
There is no milky lookin stuff on oil stick or oil cap. Nore from tail pipe.
On the GM V6's, you have to bleed air out of the cooling system.
Then its gotta be either the radiator ( flush system), or your water pump. I also agree with the bleeding of air from the cooling system on the GM 3.1V6, after you finish flushing the system.
Because of the Head Gasket Problems mentioned earlier, sometimes people use "Barrs Leak, or Head Gasket Sealant on GM 3.1V6's, which occasionally also clogs the system.
I looked for the peacock air bleeder screw for the water pressure but could not find it. I will change water pump and flush radiator and see from there. Thank you all for the help.
V6 bleeding air from coolant procedure: http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/faq.php? faq=maint_repair#faq_cooling_serv
