Very hi temp coolan

I had the same problem with my 1999 grand am .I changed water pump, thermostat. I heard the Pontiac engines , 3.4 had overheating problems one is the intake gasket if your losing water but don't know were its going its leaking at the intake gasket and burning off or if you check the oil cap or the dip stick and theres a milky substance on them it would be your head gasket I had to change my head gasket and while I was there I changed the intake gasket too. I haven't had any problems sence I changed them hope this helps. Jack

Bad fan switch(Fan is not going on )Cloged radiator.Loose water pump belt.Water pump leaking/damaged blades.Incorect water blead/refill(air in the system).Bad water temp sensor.Last:bad head gsket. will show oil/petrol in the water(by filling the system with air also will make cooling much difficult).Cracked head will make white smoke (vapor) in the exhaust).Creamy white oil is from pistons head problem (water in oil)

blown head gasket,check oil for water in oil,gray milky look,check antifreeze in radiator for color,check exhaust for white smoke or water-coolant if its going out exhaust gasket blown inbetween cylinders,see if pushing antifreeze out of radiator etc.check radiator for leaks pressure test it,cap on radiator bad?

REPLACE WATER PUMP ON A 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. FIRST YOU HAVE TO DRAIN COOLANT SYSTEM IN A LARGE DRAIN. RADIATOR DRAIN PLUG SHOULD BE ON THE BOTTOM ON PASSENGER SIDE. THEN RAISE THE VECHICLE SUPPORT VECHICLE WITH JACKSTANDS. REMOVE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD FROM THE ENGINE. CAUTION DO NOT ROTATE THE FLEX COUPLING ON THE FRONT EXHAUST PIPE MORE THAN 4 DEGREE OR DAMAGE TO THE FLEX COUPLING MAY OCCUR. REMOVE THE THERMOSTAT AND THE COOLANT INLET PIPE FROM THE WATER PUMP HOUSING AND SEPARATE THE ASSEMBLY FROM THE ENGINE. LOWER THE VECHICLE REMOVE THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE FROM THE CAMSHAFT HOUSING. REMOVE THE FRONT TIMING CHAIN COVER AND THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FROM THE ENGINE. CAUTION THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER MUST BE REMOVED TO UNLOAD CHAIN TENSION BEFORE REMOVING THE WATER PUMP FROM THE HOUSING OTHERWISE THE WATER PUMP WILL BECOME JAMMED IN THE TIMING CHAIN HOUSING. REMOVE THE HEATER OUTLET PIPE FROM THE WATER PUMP COVER. REMOVE THE WATER PUMP COVER BOLTS FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK AND THE WATER PUMP. REMOVE WATER PUMP RETAINING NUTS AND SEPARATE THE WATER PUMP FROM THE TIMING CHAIN HOUSING. CLEAN THE SEALING SURFACES OF ALL GASKET MATERIAL ON THE WATER PUMP, WATER PUMP COVER AND THE TIMING CHAIN HOUSING. WIPE THE MATING SURFACES WITH A RAG SATURATED LACQUER THINNER OR ACETONE. YOU CAN BUY THESE CHEMICAL AT LOWES OR WALMART DEPARTMENT WHERE THEY SELL PAINTS. FIRST INSTALL THE WATER PUMP COVER AND GASKET TO THE WATER PUMP ON THE BENCH BUT LEAVE THE BOLTS FINGER TIGHT. APPLY A THIN LAYER OF RTV SEALANT TO BOTH SIDES OF THE NEW GASKET AND INSTALL THE GASKET ON THE WATER PUMP. WAIT FOR RTV SEALANT SET UP DRY FIRST. POSITION WATER PUMP AND WATER PUMP COVER ASSEMBLY INTO TIMING CHAIN HOUSING ENGAGING THE WATER PUMP SPROCKET IN THE TIMING CHAIN, AND INSTALL THE NUTS FINGER TIGHT. USE CAUTION TO ENSURE THAT THE GASKET DOESNT SLIP OUT OF POSITION. LEAVE THE NUTS LOOSE TO ALLOW REPOSITIONING WHEN THE BLOCK BOLTS ARE INSTALLED IN THE NEXT STEP. INSTALL THE WATER PUMP COVER TO ENGINE BLOCK BOLTS AND TIGHTEN THEM BY HAND. LUBRICATE THE O - RING ON THE HEATER OUTLET PIPE WITH COOLANT AND INSTALL IT INTO THE WATER PUMP COVER. HAND TIGHTEN THE BOLTS. NOW THAT THE ENTIRE WATER PUMP HOUSING ASSEMBLY IS INSTALLED AND IS FITTED AGAINST THE ENGINE BLOCK. TIGHTEN BOLTS CRISS CROSS SEQUENCE TO INSURE PROPER SEAL TORQUE WATER PUMP TO TIMING CHAIN HOUSING NUTS TO 19 FT LBS .NOW TORQUE WATER PUMP COVER TO WATER PUMP HOUSING BOLTS TO 124 INCH POUNDS. TORQUE WATER PUMP COVER TO ENGINE BLOCK BOLTS 19 FT LBS. TORQUE 124 INCH POUNDS THE RADIATOR OUTLET PIPE TO WATER PUMP HOUSING. INSTALL THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER AND COVER. INSTALL THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. INSTALL THE EXHAUST PIPE TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WHEN ALL IS DONE. START POURING COOLANT IN THE RADIATOR OR COOLANT OVER FLOW JUG.CHECK FOR LEAKS. IF IS GOOD KEEP ADDING COOLANT TO RADIATOR OR OVER FLOW RESERVOIR UNTIL COOLANT LEVEL STOP DROPPING. NOW START ENGINE. WATCH THE COOLANT LEVEL WHEN START DROPPING ADD MORE COOLANT IN RADIATOR OR OVERFLOW JUG. WHEN COOLANT STOP DROPPING INSTALL RADIATOR CAP OR OVERFLOW JUG CAP. LET ENGINE IDLE UNTIL THERMOSTAT OPENS WATCH TEMPERATURE GAUGE WHEN TEMPERATURE GAUGE RISING TO OVERHEATING. TURN OFF ENGINE WAIT A WHILE TAKE A LARGE RAG SLOWLY OPEN RADIATOR CAP A LITTLE TO RELEASE PRESSURE. WHEN PRESSURE RELEASE REMOVE RADIATOR CAP ADD MORE COOLANT. START ENGINE LET IDLE WATCH TEMP GAUGE. TEMP GAUGE START RISING AGAIN TURN OFF ENGINE LET IT SET A WHILE ADD MORE COOLANT. TO RADIATOR. WHEN ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STOP RISING AND THERMOSTAT OPENS YOUR COOLANT SYSTEM AIR IS BLED OUT. JUST LET VECHICLE SET A LITTLE CHECK COOLANT LEVEL MAKE ITS CORRECT BEFORE START DRIVING VECHICLE. IF YOU TAKE VECHICLE FOR TEST SPIN TAKE LARGE RAG AND PLENTY COOLANT WITH YOU.IF ENGINE START OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING PULL OFF ROAD SAFELY WAIT 20 TO 30 MINUTES. USE LARGE RAG SLOWLY OPEN CAP A LITTLE RELEASE PRESSURE. THEN REMOVE RADIATOR CAP ADD MORE COOLANT IF NEEDED. HOPE THIS HELP.

Water pump is driven by timing chain idler and is mounted on the rear of the timing chain housing. Disconnect the neg. battery cable. Drain cooling system. Disconnect oxygen sensor connector.
Remove upper exhaust manifould heat sheild. Remove exhaust manifold brace. Remove lower exhaust manifold heat sheild. Loosen manifold to exhaust manifold spring loaded nuts. Remove radiator outlet pipe to water pump coverbolts. Disconnect exhaust pipe from manifold.
Pull down on the exhaust pipe to disconnect it from exhaust manifold bolts. Disconnect outlet pipe from oil pan and transaxle. If equipped with manual tranaxle, remove exhaust maifold brace. Leave lower radiator hose attached and pull down on radiator out look pipe to disengauge from water pump. Leave outlet pipe hanging.
Lower vehicle. Remove exhaustmanifold to cylinder head nuts. Remove exhaust manifold to cylinder head nuts. Remove manifould. Remove timing chain front cover. Remove timing chain tensioner. Remove bolts bolts securing water pump cover to cylinder block. Remove water pump to timing chain housing nuts. Remove water pump attaching nuts. Remove water pump and cover assembly. Separate componets as necessary.
WHEN INSTALLING WATER PUMP MAKE SURE YOU FOLLOW THE TIGHTENING SEQUENCES THAT AFFECT SEALING. My frist one I messed up and broke the pump so becarful.
Installation
If cover was separated from body during removal, join this componets with a new gasket and hand tighten bolts. Apply bearing grease to splines of water pump drive. Set body and assemble into position.
Install and hand tighten bolts securing cover to cylinder block. Install and hand tighten bolts securing cover to cylinder block. Installand hand tighten nuts securing body to timing chain housing. Lubracate outlet pipe "O" ring with antifreeze. (I use RTV) Connect outlet pipe. Install and hand tighten bolts. Tighten bolts and nuts to specification in the following sequence. I'll ad the torque spec. at the end but this is where if you tighten out of order something will break.
pump assembly to timing chain housing nuts.
pump cover to pump body bolts
pump cover to cylinder block bolts (Bottom Bolt First)
outlet pipe to cover bolts
To complete installation reverse removel procedure.
Torque specs are 19 in. or 26mm all except water pump cover bolts which are 124 in or 14Nm
I never torque the bolts just make sure there done in the right order.

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION NOTE: The manufacturer recommends that the entire powertrain be removed from the vehicle before removing the cylinder heads.

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions in the beginning of this section.
2. Drain the cooling system.
3. Properly relieve the fuel system pressure.
4. Remove or disconnect the following:
   • Negative battery cable
   • Powertrain assembly
   • Intake manifold
   • Cam covers
   • Harmonic balancer
   • Timing chain front cover
   • Oil pump
   WARNING
   Align all timing marks before performing the next step.
   • Chain tensioner from the timing chain
   • Cam sprockets
   NOTE: The timing chain remains in the chain case.
   • Timing chain guides, access for the retaining screws is through the plugs at the front of the cylinder head
   • Water crossover
   • Exhaust manifold
   • Cylinder head bolts by reversing the torque sequence
   • Cylinder head and discard the gasket
   WARNING
   With the camshafts remaining in the cylinder head some valves will be open at all times. Do not rest the cylinder head on a flat service with the cylinder face down, or valve damage will result. NOTE: Clean all gasket mating surfaces. Clean the head bolt holes in the crankcase. WARNING
   Be careful when cleaning aluminum gasket surfaces to prevent damage to the sealing surfaces.
   
5. Check the cylinder head for warpage; it must be less than 0.002 in. (0.05mm). If the cylinder head was resurfaced, the dimension between the combustion chamber gauge pad and the deck surface must be at least 10.5mm. To install: NOTE: Refer to Section 1 of this manual for the cylinder head torque sequence illustration. The illustration is located after the Torque Specification Chart.
   
6. Install or connect the following:
   • New cylinder head gasket
   • Cylinder head, lubricate the bolts with engine oil
7. Torque the M11 bolts, in sequence, as follows:
   1. Step 1: 22 ft. lbs. (30 Nm).
   2. Step 2: Turn an additional 60 degrees.
   3. Step 3: Turn an additional 60 degrees (total 180 degrees).
8. Torque the M6 bolts to 106 inch lbs. (12 Nm).
9. Set the camshaft timing
10. Camshaft guide bolt access hole plugs in the cylinder heads. The plugs should be seated and snug
11. Install or connect the following:
    • Intake cam covers
    • Oil pump
    • Timing chain front cover
    • Harmonic balancer
    • Cam sprockets
    • Chain tensioner to the timing chain
    • Timing chain guides
    • Intake manifold
    • Water crossover
    • Exhaust manifold. Torque the nuts to 22 ft. lbs. (30 Nm) or the bolts to 18 ft. lbs. (25 Nm).
    • Powertrain assembly
    • Negative battery cable Fig. 1: Minimum head resurface dimension
      
    
    
12. Fill the cooling system.
13. Evacuate and charge the air conditioning system.
14. Run the engine and check for leaks.

NOT HARD BUT YOU HAVE TO DRAIN COOLANT OUT OF SYSTEM.CATCHING IT IN A DRAIN PAN .THE 2.4 ENGINE YOU HAVE TO REMOVE. OXYGEN SENSOR THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HEAT SHIELD.REMOVE COOLANT INLET HOUSING BOLT THROUGH THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD .REMOVE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BRACE TO MANIFOLD BOLT.REMOVE TO EXHAUST TO PIPE STUDS.REMOVE COOLANT INLET HOUSING TO WATER PUMP COVER BOLT.REMOVE EXHAUST PIPE FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BY PULLING IT DOWNWARD.REMOVE COOLANT INLET PIPE FROM THE OIL PAN.REMOVE BRAKE VACUUM PIPE FROM THE CAMSHAFT HOUSING.REMOVE EXHAUST MANIFOLD FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD.REMOVE HEATER HOSE FROM THE HEATER OUTLET PIPE.REMOVE THE TIMING CHAIN COVER AND TENSIONER.REMOVE WATER PUMP COVER TO ENGINE BOLTS.REMOVE 3 WATER PUMP TO TIMING CHAIN HOUSING NUTS.REMOVE THE WATER PUMP AND COVER ASSEMBLY.THE 3.1 AND 3.4 ENGINES DRAIN COOLING SYSTEM .REMOVE DRIVE BELT.REMOVE WATERPUMP PULLEY TO REMOVE PULLEY YOU NEED A LONG SKINNEY SCREW DRIVER TO HOLD PULLEY FROM TURNING WHILE YOU REMOVE THE BOLTS.THEN REMOVE WATER PUMP.CLEAN OLD GASKET MATERIAL OFF ENGINE BLOCK WHERE WATER PUMP GOES.BECAREFUL NOT TO SCRATCH PUMP SURFACE ON ENGINE BLOCK.YOU CAN BUY CAN OF GASKET REMOVER AT ANY AUTO PARTS STORES. THEN WHEN YOU PUT ON NEW WATER PUMP.BESURE TO COAT BOTH SIDES OF THE WATER PUMP GASKET WITH GASKET SEALER .BEFORE PUTTING GASKET SEALER ON WATER PUMP GASKET.BESURE TO GET HOLES MATCH UP RIGHT ON WATER PUMP AND GASKET.WHEN YOU GET IN PUMP IN PLACE TORQUE IT AT 89 INCH POUNDS AND PULLEY BOLTS 18 FT LBS.THE 2.4 ENGINE BEST TO HAVE** HAYNES REPAIR MANUAL ** BECAUSE REMOVING THE WATER PUMP YOU ARE DEALING WITH THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER.YOU NEED ALL THE EXHAUST BOLTS TORQUE SPECS.AND WHEN YOU COMPLETE WATER PUMP FIX.ADD COOLANT.CRANK ENGINE.CHECK FOR LEAKS.BLEED COOLANT SYSTEM.

2.4L Engine
See Figure 3

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Drain and recycle the engine coolant.
3. Disconnect the oxygen sensor wiring.
4. Remove the upper exhaust manifold heat shield.
5. Raise and safely support the front end of the vehicle securely on jackstands.
6. Remove the exhaust manifold brace bolt.
7. Unbolt and remove the lower exhaust manifold heat shield.
8. Break loose the manifold-to-exhaust pipe spring loaded nuts.
9. Unbolt the radiator outlet pipe assembly from the water pump cover.
10. Disconnect the exhaust pipe from the manifold.
11. Pull down and back on the exhaust pipe to disengage it from the exhaust manifold bolts.

Do not rotate the flex coupling more than 4°. this could damage the component.

1. Separate the radiator outlet pipe from the oil pan and transaxle.
   1. On manual transaxle, remove the exhaust manifold brace.
   
   
2. Next, leave the lower radiator hose attached and pull down on the outlet pipe to detach it from the water pump. Allow the outlet pipe to hang.
3. Lower the vehicle.
4. Remove the exhaust manifold-to-cylinder head nuts.
5. Extract the manifold, seals and gaskets.
6. Remove the timing chain cover. Refer to the procedure later on in this section.
7. Remove the timing chain tensioner. Refer to Timing Chain removal later in this section.
8. Unbolt the water pump from the cylinder block.
9. Extract the pump assembly-to-timing chain housing nuts.
10. Remove the water pump and cover assembly.
11. Separate the pump from the cover.
12. Clean all mating surfaces of gaskets and sealant materials.

To install:
Prior to installing the water pump, read the entire procedure. Pay special attention to the tightening sequence to avoid component damage and ensure a proper seal.

1. Attach the water pump to the cover and hand-tighten the components.
2. Lubricate the splines of the water pump drive with chassis grease or equivalent, then install the pump and cover assembly. Hand tighten the cover-to-block bolts.
3. Install the pump-to-chain housing nuts and hand-tighten.
4. Lubricate the O-ring on the radiator outlet pipe with an anti-freeze solution and slide the pipe into the water pump cover, install and hand-tighten the bolts.
5. With the specified gaps, tighten in sequence as follows:
   1. Pump assembly-to-chain housing nuts
   2. Pump cover-to-pump assembly
   3. Cover-to-block, bottom bolt first
   4. Radiator outlet pipe assembly-to-cover
   
   
6. Install the exhaust manifold using new gaskets.
7. Install the manifold-to-cylinder head nuts, follow the tightening sequence and tighten to specifications.
8. Raise and support the front of the vehicle.
9. Index the exhaust manifold-to-exhaust pipe flange bolts.
   1. Turn bolt bolts in evenly to avoid cocking the exhaust pipe and binding the bolts. Turn the bolts in until they are fully seated.
   
   
10. Install and secure the radiator outlet pipe to the transaxle and oil pan.

On manual transaxles, install the exhaust manifold brace.

1. Install the timing chain tensioner and chain cover.
2. Attach the lower heat shield.
3. Lower the vehicle.
4. Attach the exhaust manifold brace. Tighten the manifold-to-exhaust pipe nuts to specification.
5. Attach and secure the upper heat shield.
6. Connect the oxygen sensor wiring.
7. Fill the radiator with coolant water mixture until it reaches the heater hose coolant outlet, then install the hose and continue to fill. This will assist with the complete cylinder block fill.
8. Connect the negative battery cable.
9. Start the engine and top off the cooling system and check for leaks.

Faulty thermostat, failed water pump, inoperable radiator fan, low coolant due to leak, faulty radiator cap, leaking head gasket, low oil, major exhaust leak near front, exhaust blockage, or incorrect ignition timing. If there is crust around radiator cap, cap is leaking. How long does it take to overheat? If it runs smoothly when cool, and all fluids are at correct levels, you can rule our head gasket, radiator cap, and ignition timing. If it overheats very quickly and fluids are correct, it is probably thermostat or water pump. If it seems to do better at higher speeds, it is probably radiator fan. You can check this by allowing vehicle to run in Park with hood open. Monitor engine temp on dash. When it is at or slightly above normal running temp, radiator fan should come on. Also note exhaust sound. If it seems loud and overheats gradually, you may have a leak before the converter. If the exhaust sounds quiet, but exhaust manifold is getting extremely hot (may glow red), there is probably a blockage. There will also be OK starting and idle but poor acceleration if exhaust is partly blocked.

This is probably a head gasket problem and not an oil cooler problem.

The oil cooler is fairly easy to test.

Remove the cooler from the engine but do not disconnect cooling lines and then pressurize the cooling system. You can use a radiator test tool to put pressure on the cooling system and look for leaks. If it leaks, replace it.

You may also be able to bypass the oil cooler altogether if it leaks.

The head gasket is another story.

Get a 1/4" pipe to spark plug fitting and put a male air coupling fitting in it.

Then you can charge the cylinders with air from your compressor.

Make sure each cylinder that you test is at top dead center so that the valves are closed.

If air bubbles into your coolant, you found your problem.

If air leaks out your intake you have a bad intake valve

If air leaks out your exhaust you have a bad exhaust valve etc.


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Tim