Bubbling in radiator reservoir
Asked by GuruX46FB Sep 28, 2018 at 08:21 AM about the 2002 Pontiac Aztek AWD
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
Bought car used
I have my car for about 4 months
It starts to run hot after driving for 15-16 miles. I
believe the issue to be the thermostat or worst
case scenario head gasket
3 Answers
I have two Azteks and both of them tend to run with the temp gauge well above the middle range. It doesn't mean they're going to overheat any time soon. They just run there or the gauge displays there. Head gasket is a semi-common Aztek issue. It is not a fatal matter if you feel your car will run well for two or three more years. Shop around for prices--I heard from $650-2500 when I did it. The guy who did the job took $900 and the car has run well for a year since.
I have a 2003 Aztec 1003K, regular maintenance kept and driving habits good. I took it in for an all fluid change trans., radiator, oil, etc, and full tune up (reason I brought it in was a single sparkplug replacement) been a good car so give it the works. Picked it up and it overheated within a quarter mile. They did not remove all air from engine block and system and it caused collateral damage including water pump. Special air bleeding needed.
Be careful what ever you do, shop damaged wires that they said were at breaking point anyway behind engine air filter and over trans that contributed to my previous posts I forgot to add fan trouble (going to fast running all the time to slow) , oil stream from fan belt side they said was the water pump pressure plug blew (oil???) The shop and I have gone through hell and being an honorable shop they are doing all they can to make it right including a new transmission, fan motor for interior heat/air. DEL > BE CAREFUL!!!