2001 Pontiac Grand Am.... Is it the thermostat?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brown Pit named Blue
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Brown Pit named Blue

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A few days ago, my car started overheating. I can drive for about 10-15 minutes, then the gauge is all the way in the red zone and the little light comes on. It is full of coolant.
Also, yesterday, I was parked but had the car running. The temp gauge went all the way to the red and the car started idling very high. Then it stopped. What could be wrong?

**When I drive a little faster, it seems to cool down, but goes right back up when I stop.

Thanks in advance.
The heat & defrost works fine. And the fan does turn on because I can hear it blowing when I turn the car off. It stays on a little longer.
 
I'd replace the thermostat first, it may not be opening all the way. Make sure you flush the system and check that the radiator is not plugged.
The electric radiator fan needs to be checked next, if it's not coming on you may have a bad fuse,sensor or switch, or a bad fan motor.
You can check the fan by turning the A/C on, it should run if the A/C works. You then know the motor is good, but need to check the sensor or switch which is something a mechanic has tools for.
 
i would suspect two things.
air in the coolant
or a bad t-stat
2 easy fixes.


when the car is cold take off the radiator cap,
then start car, once it starts warming up fluid will bubble out if air exists. then once it reaches normal temp the t-stat will open up and suck down coolant. add more coolant until it cant take any more then put radiator cap back on.

if it never sucks down the fluid then there ya go its the t-stat.
try that first. if that doesnt work then replace t-stat.
i would do that first then replace t-stat if that doesnt work.
 
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