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Anonymous Posted on Sep 09, 2012

Auto coolant hot temp light comes on and temp gauge goes up more when idling at a light

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  • Posted on Sep 16, 2012
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If temp gauge is going into the red on a 3.4 engine it must be shut down or head damage can happen within minutes. I have a Monte Carlo that was overheating. I changed everything, thermostat, water pump, belt tensioner, radiator, all with no result. It would start out okay on a cold start but then I would come to a red light and the temp would creep up. Higher and higher until it neared the red zone. The heat would run cold. Most of the time, as soon as it was about to touch the red it would start to drop, the heat would blow hot again and all seemed okay but not for long. This would get worse and worse until the red hot light came on and I found myself on the side of the thruway. This problem is a blown head gasket. I had no other obvious signs, no white smoke from the exhaust, no oil in the antifreeze. I even changed the intake gaskets. Head gasket issues are common on the 3.4 liter engines.

5 Related Answers

Anonymous

  • 79 Answers
  • Posted on Mar 22, 2009

SOURCE: 2005 chevy equinox temp gauge showing hot fan

check the coolant temp sensor

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Anonymous

  • 3 Answers
  • Posted on Feb 18, 2009

SOURCE: 97 Cavalier engine coolant light.

have you changed the sensor on the coolant reservoir? try that.

Anonymous

  • 56 Answers
  • Posted on Mar 14, 2009

SOURCE: 98 chevy cavalier 2.2 L heater problem

It sounds like you have a weak water pump.When the car idles the pump doesnot circulate the fluid fast enough to get heat and the engine temp is hot.When you speed up the engine it starts to circulate a little and you get heat from the heater core.I would definetly put a new water pump,especially if your car has alot of miles.Your green ac light is on because you have the control on defrost,they all do this.Set the control to floor or vents and it should go off.

Anonymous

  • 94 Answers
  • Posted on Dec 08, 2009

SOURCE: hot coolant light goes on and off plus temp. gage

Bad thermostat or bad coolant temperature sender. Thermostats are cheap and generally are easy to get to. I would replace that and it's gasket first.
If it still acts up, I would then replace the temperature sender.
Both of these parts are inexpensive and require little time to replace.
If you need step by step instructions on either or both replacements, let me know.

Anonymous

  • 13 Answers
  • Posted on Jun 22, 2010

SOURCE: 2002 malibu runs hot.

Sounds like you have a faulty head gasket or maybe a cracked head.This can cause overheating and the check engine light to come on.The code for the o2 sensor is probably caused by coolant getting into the exhaust system and coating the sensor.The coolant fan may work but it cannot remove enough heat from the rad to make the engine cool off.Try some engine coolant stop leak to see if it will help.This maybe only a temperary fix.Let me know if you need more.MOE

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This details will help.Thanks.

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Temp gauge says hot(goes all the way to left by gas gauge)little bit of coolant under car once in a while but then coolant will be low-There is no white smoke.Doesn't heat or cool well.heater core has...

the coolant could be just overflow,, as far as the temp,, replace the thermostat as a first thing, when your car gets that hot, it causes readings to be sent to the computer that sends mixed signals to other parts of the car, The first thing you should do is pull the diagnostic codes. This will tell you if the thermostat is dead.check the temp sending unit, it is located under the upper radiator hose, 19mm wrench will take it off, it costs about 20 bucks but you also need to replace the thermostat. all in all its about 25 bucks total and all your gauges work fine....
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I have a 2000 Mercury Cougar and the gauge inside tells me that the engine is over heating, no heat is coming from the heater when I turn it on, the fan for the engine is running at full blast, the engine...

Hi,

The overheating and lack of cabin heat both point to a failed engine thermostat which would be stuck closed. At the warm up stage, the coolant stays in the engine block to bring the engine to efficient operating temperature, then it opens and circulates the coolant through the radiator and heat core. If the thermostat is stuck closed, the engine will overheat, and coolant will never reach the heater core, and you will not get cabin heat.

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