Overheating and cold heat

If your 1998 Cutlass is overheating and the heater is blowing out cold air, and you are also noticing that coolant is leaking out, there are a few possible causes. Here are some things to check:

Check for a coolant leak: Start by checking the engine and radiator for any visible signs of a coolant leak. It's possible that a hose or other part of the cooling system may be damaged or loose, causing coolant to leak out.

Check the radiator: If the radiator is not working properly, it can cause the engine to overheat. Check to make sure the radiator is not clogged or damaged.

Check the water pump: The water pump circulates the coolant through the engine. If it's not working properly, coolant may not be flowing through the system correctly, causing the engine to overheat.

Check the cooling fan: The cooling fan helps to keep the engine cool by pulling air through the radiator. If it's not working properly, the engine may overheat.

Check the thermostat: Even though you recently replaced the thermostat, it's possible that it's not working correctly. A faulty thermostat can cause the engine to overheat.

It's important to address any issues with the cooling system as soon as possible, as overheating can cause serious damage to the engine. If you are not comfortable diagnosing and repairing the issue yourself, it's recommended to take your car to a qualified mechanic.

its busted.
fix it
do you want the list of 20 reasons?
is it leaking
is the fan belt missing or slipping
is the radiator cap bad, missiing or loose (wait till cold)
is the RAD actually full of 50% antifreeze? (cold checked only)

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-troubleshoot-an-overheating-engine.html

google will find them all, every cause.
http://asc-ind.com/cooling-system-information/common-causes-of-overheating/

or use physics?

1. the coolant will not circulate, or Rad tubes (in core) are clogged.
2. the Fans are dead. no air?, it will overheat, every time.
3. there are leaks. (causing low coolant and air pockets in engine)
4. there is steam, the engine head gasket failure deal.
5. late timing, due top cam belt slip, makes HUGE extra heat.
6. #5 can push a weak system over the edge (straw /camel deal)
7. The system fails to hold 14psi pressure due to bad cap or #3,4)

number 1 can be a bad pump , is it leaking green off its tip?

i just answered 4 posts back,
here ill repeat it again.

its busted.
fix it
do you want the list of 20 reasons?
is it leaking
is the fan belt missing or slipping
is the radiator cap bad, missiing or loose (wait till cold)
is the RAD actually full of 50% antifreeze? (cold checked only)

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-troubleshoot-an-overheating-engine.html

google will find them all, every cause.
http://asc-ind.com/cooling-system-information/common-causes-of-overheating/

or use physics?

1. the coolant will not circulate, or Rad tubes (in core) are clogged.
2. the Fans are dead. no air?, it will overheat, every time.
3. there are leaks. (causing low coolant and air pockets in engine)
4. there is steam, the engine head gasket failure deal.
5. late timing, due top cam belt slip, makes HUGE extra heat.
6. #5 can push a weak system over the edge (straw /camel deal)
7. The system fails to hold 14psi pressure due to bad cap or #3,4)

number 1 can be a bad pump , is it leaking green off its tip?

Have a coolant pressure test done looking for a head gasket problem. as well as the fan

For car running hot and overheating issues, I suggest to you go through this help links. Click this link below and go through the troubleshooting procedure to take care of the problems: ----Car runs hot? http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-runs-hot-in-traffic.html
-----------All types of car overheating problems and troubleshooting?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2011/11/all-types-of-car-overheating-problems.html
Car freeze overnight and started overheating while driving?http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/car-freeze-overnight-and-started.html-----------Engine Overheats and heater blowing cold?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/engine-overheats-and-heater-blowing.html

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Car overheats and Air blows hot at idle?
http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-overheats-and-air-blows-hot-at-idle.html
--------overheating? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/buick-century-overheating.html
----------Car engine Overheats and transmission starts slipping?http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-engine-overheats-and-transmission.html
----------This details will help.Thanks.

To troubleshoot this types of problem,click the link below :---

All types of car overheating problems and troubleshooting? http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2011/11/all-types-of-car-overheating-problems.html

--------

heater blows through defrost?

-http://howtobyme.blogspot.in/2012/02/heater-blows-only-from-defrost.html
--------Go through the procedure to confirm the issue.

------
Engine Overheats and heater blowing cold?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/engine-overheats-and-heater-blowing.html

---------
Heat blows cold on drivers side and hot on passenger side?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/heat-blows-cold-on-drivers-side-and-hot.html

-----------

This will help.Thanks.

Overheating can seriously damage a car's engine if left unchecked. Although overheating simply means that a car's engine temperature exceeds normal operating temperatures, the causes of overheating are varied. What follows is a brief list of some of the most common causes of engine overheating.

Faulty Radiator
1. A car that overheats will often have a faulty radiator. A radiator is responsible for cooling hot engine coolant that picks up heat from inside a car's running engine. A radiator "radiates" the heat from engine coolant out into the outside air. A faulty radiator loses its "radiating" effects and allows engine coolant to become overheated, thus rendering it ineffective at adequately cooling and engine.
Faulty Water Pump
2. A faulty or malfunctioning water pump prevents adequate engine coolant flow and can cause a car to overheat. A water pump serves to pressurize and propel engine coolant throughout a car's engine and radiator to increase the heat-reducing capabilities of engine coolant. A faulty water pump loses its ability to adequately pump and propel engine coolant, and can cause a car to overheat.
Coolant System Leaks
3. A leaky engine coolant system reduces the level of circulating engine coolant, which increases engine temperature and leads to engine overheating. Radiators, water pumps, and coolant system hoses and seals--all of these coolant system parts can develop leaks, which can result in low coolant levels and engine overheating.
Faulty Thermostat
4. A car thermostat regulates the flow of engine coolant. A thermostat is a heat-sensitive valve that opens when a car engine reaches a set operating temperature and closes when a car engine is cold and warming up. If a thermostat gets stuck in the closed position, coolant will be prevented from reaching the engine, which will quickly lead to engine overheating and potential engine damage.
Low Engine Oil Level
5. Engine oil, in addition to lubricating an engine's internal parts, helps to keep engine operating temperatures reduced by eliminating friction within the engine. If engine oil levels are low, friction and heat build up inside an engine, a condition that causes increased engine operating temperatures and can lead to engine overheating.

Get your A/c recharged .....

Heater control valve malfunction will not cause engine to overheat unless coolant is leaking externally...Overheating going down the road can be the result of a few different things...Partly clogged radiator...Insufficient air flow due to possible fan problem...External coolant leak...Make sure fans are operting properly and have cooling system pressure tested for leaks...Gaining and losing heat on the inside of the vehicle usually means system is low on coolant but you must find out where coolant is going

First, plastic tube may be the overflow vent from the coolant bottle.Check to see where the attached end goes. You are going to have to check engine for coolant leaks (carefully refill system without spilling anything, then look for dripping anywhere. Look for leaks from all hoses, fittings radiator, water pump etc) After checking for leaks, start it up and check again (watch where you put your hands though) While running, check that the fan comes on when the vehicle reaches operating temp.(no fan, check fan motor, sensor & relay) Turn the heat on (does it have heat?) Check temp of lower hose and upper hose. If overheat happens, is lower hose still cold? (likely bad thermostat). If you found a leak, replace whatever is leaking...best insurance is to change thermostat after any overheat. Last, is there any white smoke from tailpipe, does engine run rough? If so, could be a failed head gasket or crack in cylinder head. (at this point last thing to worry about unless there is excessive smoke or rough run or oil in radiator or coolant in oil).