I have a 2006 chevy aveo and it runs hot when I run the air conditioner and the radiator tank is empty, when I put water in it, it makes a crackling noise and then when I try to give it gas to make it go it pulls and acts like it don't want to go, especially up a hill! What's wrong with my car?

Is the car overheating?
The reservoir will fill up due to heat expansion in the system, this is normal. Top up at the radiator not the tank, run the engine and squeeze all the hoses to get rid of any airlocks.
Check on line to see if there is a bleed valve to get rid of any air in the system.
If the radiator was empty, the tank would not be full, unless you have a blocked coolant hose somewhere?

The A/C causes the engine to work harder (that's why fuel economy suffers when it is run).

If your car has an electric fan - make sure it runs when the engine is hot. If it does not - you may have trouble w/o the A/C running if is gets warmer outside. Look for fail fuses, disconnected plugs, etc.

You may also have flaky thermostat that is not opening fully when needed to exchange hot water in the engine block with cooler water in the radiator.

First, check the coolant level. You should find a semi-transparent reservoir / tank located under the hood that has a cap marked "Coolant". The side of the tank should have two indicator lines - one for HOT and one for COLD. If the engine has been run up to normal temperature (so that it can provide heat in the car), you should see the coolant level at or slightly above the HOT line. If the engine is cold - first thing in the morning or after sitting for several hours - the coolant should be at or slightly above the COLD line. View these levels while the engine is off and the car is parked on a flat, level surface. If there is not enough coolant - you will need to add the CORRECT type for your car.

Hot Engine
(1) With the engine hot, add enough coolant to the tank to bring the level to the HOT line. You may have to check the tank several times after driving if the coolant level in the radiator is down a great deal. NEVER open the radiator cap when the engine is warm or hot!

or:
Cold Engine
(2) With the engine cold, add enough coolant to the tank to bring the level to reach COLD line. Additionally - with the engine cold - you can add coolant directly to the radiator by removing the cap. Start the engine, set heat in car to HOT and add coolant mixture to radiator until level comes up to the bottom of the filler neck. Once the engine is HOT (getting heat in the car) check and top off radiator as needed and put cap back on radiator.

Check the levels in the TANK several times over the next few days when cold. If the tank ever empties -you'll need to have this looked at by a mechanic.

John sounds like your sensor may be bad. Next it could be your thermostat sticking use a temp gun and measure the temp of your radiator at the cap. Do not remove cap. Just take temp. If it is getting hot it should spit water out. Check to see if the electric fan is coming on the sensor to cut the fan on maybe bad or the fan. Hope this helps.

The AC puts allot of heat load on the engine so of course it will run hotter but not overheat the engine, if that happens you may have a clogged radiator.

That is normal, it will not get hot without the thermostat. The water cools in the radiator and falls to the bottom and the bottom hose is cold. This is what cools the engine and stops it from overheating.

here is the fix!!! and it won't cost you a penny to fix!!!

http://realfixesrealfast.com/realfixesrealfast.com/Heat_%26_Air/Pages/Chevy_PU_A_C_blow_hot.html

Happy Days are here again

Tell a friend.

The surge tank should only have a little water in it, not full. I hope you didn't overfill it, this can cause your problem, but I would look at the radiator and make sure it is not plugged and your cooling fans, make sure they are running as well. Then last but not least your water pump may be bad even though you changed it, check for good flow through the radiator, if flow is good and strong then check the fans. You have already done most of what can be done, make sure the thermostat is not in backwards, in fact take it out and see if the car runs cooler, this will help pinpoint the issue also.

You need to add coolant,but have the cooling fans checked to make sure they are coming on,especially when the ac is on.If this was helpful,at all,please rate,thank you..

[1] plugged radiator core. replace radiator,not cleanable
[2] a bunch of dead bugs stuck on air conditioner condenser in front of radiator. open hood and look at front of it if a bunch of debris blast it off with water hose
[3] the air not properly bled from the engine cooling system. some have a bleeder screw that must be opened while engine running untill all air is let out if i dont have a screw for bleeding then you have to let engine run long enough to open thermistat i may take a while when radiator tank feels hot then thermistat is open. coolant level should have dropped top off and put cap on
[4] electric cooling fan not working

If it is smell like rubber, that means maybe the electric wire too hot and some places short. be sure to check it.

This situation sometimes caused blow up fuse.