xtoggleswitchx

my car is a 2000 camaro ss and it has just recently started overheating when driving. i just changed the thermostat, coolant and belts and tried driving it again just to have it overheat again. any ideas on what my next plan of attack should be?

ODAWG

Check the temperature sensor fan switch, make sure the fans are working if not it may be the switch located on driver side right next to the no. 1 spark plug.

xtoggleswitchx

the fans seem to be working properly, they kick on at around 210 degrees.

99huggerorangeZ

iTrader: (2)

i think you might have a air pocket in your cooling system,did you just flush your system?

xtoggleswitchx

no i did not flush it..... i've never messed with changing the coolant before. how do i go about flushing it?

99huggerorangeZ

iTrader: (2)

when i said flush, i meant changed the coolant? to bleed the air out of the system remove the hose on the front coolant crossover pipe and run engine until steady stream comes out of the hose. also i have to ask,did you route the serpentine belt the right way?

xtoggleswitchx

yes the belt is mounted the correct way.

LS-1Z28

iTrader: (6)

If you have an air pocket, idle the engine with the cap off for a little bit. Once the coolant starts to rise in the radiator put the cap on and you should be fine. Also, take a look inside the radiator with the cap off while it's running and make sure you see coolant being returned from the engine. If there is no activity near the cap of the radiator then I would recommend replacing the water pump.

xtoggleswitchx

Ok LS-1z28 i will do all that today. if it happens to be the water pump is that a pain to deal with?

LS-1Z28

iTrader: (6)

it's not too bad

The hardest part is probably removing the radiator. The water pump is front and center of the engine with a large black pulley. I can send some instructions - PM your email address.

99huggerorangeZ

iTrader: (2)

you should have to remove the radiator to R&R water pump.

LS-1Z28

iTrader: (6)

Correct - that was my bad... I thought there might be some clearance issues.

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

Really need more info about how its overheating. Don't start chasing things or spending money just yet.

In traffic?
On the highway?
Only when you turn the A/C on?

Did this problem just start all of a sudden?
Are you losing coolant?
Is there coolant boiling over or blowing into your overflow reservoir?
Do you see any external leaks?

Don't waste you time and money right now changing a water pump, they always pump water, so the problem is NOT with the water pump. Unless your the 1 in a million who has a sheared water pump shaft. .....and the radiator does not have to come out to change it.

Answer those questions above.......but for now......

Here's how you diagnose this issue:

-Let the engine cool all the way.
-Take the rad cap off.
-Start the engine with the radiator cap off.
-Wait a good 10-15 minutes for the engine to heat up. The t-stat should open and coolant should visibly start to flow. ALSO, if there is air in there, the level will drop, not rise, when the t-stat opens. So top it off if it drops, immediately, don't wait at all. **Keep checking the temp guage to make sure you're not overheating while you're waiting for the t-stat to open.**
-If you do not see the coolant flowing you have a stuck t-stat....change it and you should be ok again.
-If the coolant does start to flow, then your t-stat and your water pump are fine. But the water pump may be leaking.

If the level did drop when the t-stat opened, that means you had air in the system. There's really only a few ways that can happen. Blown head gasket, bad radiator cap, or a leaking water pump or gasket.

Alot of times people simply need a new radiator cap. They get old and while your driving they cannot hold the ~18psi so they slowly **** out coolant, then when you shut the engine down and it starts to cool, it sucks in air. When that air pocket in the cooling system gets big enough, you will all of a sudden get hot.

The blown gasket allows air into the cooling system from the pistons on the upstroke pushing air in.

A leaking water pump or gasket allows air to get sucked in when the engine cools kind of like the bad radiator cap.

So it depends on whats going on........

.

xtoggleswitchx

i think i have fixed the problem.... i believe i had air in the system, i popped the cap and while the car was running the coolant level went down. i purchased a new cap and all is well. thanks guy for all the info!