The van was sporadically overheating at random interval. We regularly check the oil and coolant levels and fill if necessary. It is now overheating within a couple of mile of driving from a cold engine. As it heat up it starts running very rough and dying at stops or in park. The low coolant light came on but the coolant was literally just filled and there was still coolant in the overflow. I am wondering if I should start with the thermostat, water pump, or is there something else I should consider.
Is it leaking antifreeze underneath the engine at all when it sits overnight? If so I would say the water pump is shot. If it isn't leaking, it could still be the water pump but it might(hopefully) just need a new thermostat. And driving it when it's hot like that to the point where it starts to run rough means you run it too much like that and your engine will blow up and there is probably already damage. So check it out before driving it to much more.
What are some things I could check to try and eliminate one or the other? I olny drove it long enough to get to a safe stopping place once it was hot.
I haven't noticed leaking, like I said in the other comment. However, I can not be sure it is not.
thermostat would be where I would start. They are pretty cheap and relatively easy to replace and hopefully that solves your problem. BUT you NEED TO WAIT FOR THE ENGINE TO COOL OFF before taking it apart, otherwise you could get burned. Look for the hose that comes out of the top of the radiator and follow it to where it goes into the engine block. The hose will attach to the fitting bolted to the block with two bolts. Take them out and that is where the thermostat goes. Make sure it is going the correct way though. Hopefully that then solves your problem, otherwise most likely water pump.
Do you have any white smoke coming out the tailpipe when the van is sitting and idling? If you do that could an indicator that you either have a bad head gasket and possilbly a warped head causing antifreeze to go through the cars combustion process and go out the muffler. Does the exhaust on the van smell like antifreeze?
I haven't seen any smoke, although I haven't looked, I will the next time I see it though. But the exhaust smell is rather strong. I fear that it is the headgasket just because this van has been nothing but problems since she got it. If it is the headgasket is there anything to try to "buy some time". She cannot afford to to replace it right now.
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there can be air pocket somewhere you need to bleed system properly. rais the front let is idle bleed it thru bleeding screw. be sure that bubbles are over.
air pockets prevent coolant travel inside system. so it may not reach to radiator, or cabin heater or both.
SOURCE: 2001 olds silhouette engine overheats
Time for Intake Gaskets and possibly head gaskets, very common problem with these, the intake gaskets go bad and the coolant actually burns in the cylinder and of course the cylinder pumps air into the coolant system because of intake gaskets being bad. :-(
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I havent
I haven't noticed a leak. It is not my van so I don't see it fist thing usually. The most recent time I drove it it over heated within a couple of miles and I had to continue driving a short distance to get to a safe stopping point, we were on a rural road.
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