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1998 Pontiac Sunfire GT overheating
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Oshawaguy20
Novice
May 25, 2011, 11:21 AM
Post #1 of 13
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1998 Pontiac Sunfire GT overheating
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Hey, I have a 1998 pontiac sunfire GT 2.4L.
Currently the car will let me drive it for about 20 mins and then the temp gauge begins to rise.. it gets about 6/8th of the way up on the gauge (still technically in a safe zone) and my coolent starts leaking out of the overflow.
The rad fan was not functioning, so I went and replaced the entire rad fan, and it works fine.. But the car is still overheating and the coolent gets so hot, that it starts to boil and leak out of the overflow.. What should I do? I think it could possibly be the water pump, but there is no grinding or whining noise that would indicate the pump dying out.. I'm at a loss and not sure what to do.. PLease help!
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 25, 2011, 3:05 PM
Post #2 of 13
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Re: 1998 Pontiac Sunfire GT overheating
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You could still have air in the system from previous overheating or you could have more serious problems with a head gasket for the same reason.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Oshawaguy20
Novice
May 25, 2011, 8:29 PM
Post #3 of 13
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Re: 1998 Pontiac Sunfire GT overheating
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I dont think it is the head gasket, due to the fact that I am not spewing out any white smoke ( or any smoke) out the tail pipe. The water pump seems to be okay as well, I cant hear any grinding or whining noises coming from the engine that would indicate this. I think my next step is to install a new thermostat. WOuld anyone have the process on how to change a thermostat in a 2.4L engine? and if so can you please post how to do it? Thanks alot, hope to see a response by morning so I can do it before I work.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 26, 2011, 4:00 AM
Post #4 of 13
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Re: 1998 Pontiac Sunfire GT overheating
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You seem to think you have it all figured out so good luck with that.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Oshawaguy20
Novice
May 26, 2011, 7:38 AM
Post #5 of 13
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Re: 1998 Pontiac Sunfire GT overheating
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Oh, I'm sorry.. I seem to have thought that this forum was supposed to provide assistance with technical car issues, not sarcastic responses to what I 'think' may be wrong. I was simply asking for an opinion, and possible solutions based on what was going on with my car. Thanks.
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Mr.scotty
Enthusiast
May 26, 2011, 7:44 AM
Post #6 of 13
(5309 views)
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Re: 1998 Pontiac Sunfire GT overheating
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There is many ways a headgasket can blow.
It could be combustion gases getting into the cooling system causing it to over heat (I had this same problem with a car i fixed for my sister).
If you don't like Hammer times suggestions then buy a repair manual and figure it out your self.., This man has been doing this a long time and knows what he's talking about.
And it's hard to give you a perfect solution without seeing the car in person.
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Your only as good as your tools!
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Oshawaguy20
Novice
May 26, 2011, 7:56 AM
Post #7 of 13
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Re: 1998 Pontiac Sunfire GT overheating
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I'm not looking for a perfect solution, just possible issues due to what symptoms the car is showing. Im no expert, I just know some of the tell signs the car may show for some issues and thanks for the advice, after I replace the thermostat if the issue keeps happening I'll probably have to take the car to my garage to check out the head gasket. Thanks!
Kyle
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Oshawaguy20
Novice
May 26, 2011, 8:05 AM
Post #9 of 13
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Re: 1998 Pontiac Sunfire GT overheating
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And you fail to remember this is the internet where people for 1 are not always trustworthy. For one, I am not trying to debate the issue, I was simply saying why I thought it was the thermostat.. Maybe if you explained a little why you thought it was the head gasket, or explained why it wouldnt be the thermostat instead of "losing your patience" maybe you should have a little more patience with people on here, because obviously if one is posting asking for help, obviously they wont know as much as you.. Its like calling a tech support centre for your internet.. they wont get angry at the customer because they ask questions based off their knowledge. Don't get offended because I asked a question / tried to make my own diagnoses. I am not calling anyones intelligence or knowledge into question, I just want to fix my damn car. So, if you do in fact think it would be the head gasket, can you please explain to me why - as I don't know how or why it could be the gasket. Thank you
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 26, 2011, 8:15 AM
Post #10 of 13
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Re: 1998 Pontiac Sunfire GT overheating
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Head gaskets can fail in many different ways and actually only blow white smoke in the most severe situations. Most times they are just allowing compression to leak into the cooling system and burning small amounts of coolant. The compression in the cooling system will both create air pockets and superheat the coolant. If you read back, that was one of 2 suggestions I made that need to be at least looked into. Believe me, you don't want to change a thermostat on this engine unless you have to and it's not acting like a stuck thermostat. Make absolutely sure the system is full of coolant (not water) and the fans come on at around 225degrees before moving onto anything else. You can tell when the thermostat opens by feeling the temp of the lower hose and when you feel it suddenly get hot, the thermostat has just opened which should happen around 200 degrees.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Oshawaguy20
Novice
May 26, 2011, 8:21 AM
Post #11 of 13
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Re: 1998 Pontiac Sunfire GT overheating
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Okay, so is 50/50 premixed coolent no good? and how much would I be looking at in repairs if you are correct in it being the head gasket?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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May 26, 2011, 8:24 AM
Post #12 of 13
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Re: 1998 Pontiac Sunfire GT overheating
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50/50 is preferred. Head gaskets can run $800 or $1000, depending on the extent of damage but don't get ahead of yourself. Find out for sure what is going on.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Oshawaguy20
Novice
May 26, 2011, 8:25 AM
Post #13 of 13
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Re: 1998 Pontiac Sunfire GT overheating
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Okay cause I have been using 50/50 I'll go look into this and check back when I get some more information. thanks for the advice. It's appreciated.
Kyle.
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