my car still overheats even after we have done just about everything there is to stop it what else could it be

180

Asked by lostgurl May 22, 2013 at 01:12 PM about the 1998 Pontiac Grand Am 2 Dr GT Coupe

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

23 Answers

180

i just changed the pump thats not it iv changed just about everything that mighht make it run hot even put bluedevil in it... STUCK AN LOST

18 people found this helpful.

...had a '73 Toyota Celica (my third one) what had a rusted block...overheated on the way from SF to LA ended up taking a whole lot of cool-off stops...yes the block was full of rust and coolant was "choked off with rust because a former owner used water instead of coolant at some point in the car's history....you might just see if it is possible that your block and coolant jacket passages are rusted...not sure of a solution what wouldn't take harsh chemicals to cut thru the rust...this being the case~

3 people found this helpful.

a flush with perchloric acid? your pool store may sell some chemicals what could flush thru the engine...disposing is problematic....have to capture them in milk jugs and take them for proper disposal~

2 people found this helpful.
965

If you have replaced the thermostat and waterpump. most likely the headgaskets!

6 people found this helpful.
965

Go ahead, change the radiator.. I had 220,000 miles on mine and out boiled out without over heating. Next thing I knew it over heated. I'm a mechanic and I changed my headgaskets flushedthe cooling system and BAM problem solved!

4 people found this helpful.
965

PS, if the radiator isn't leaking just flush it. Much cheaper.. Get a bottle of super flush prestone follow the directions and it will be fine!

2 people found this helpful.

that's why I was saying with a handheld temperature sensing gun, could pinpoint where is the failure....also the hose "sucking" itself to collapse is another tip-off~

4 people found this helpful.
965

Another way to check for bad headgaskets is to remove overflow tank cap and start it up. if it starts to boil out within a couple minutes its your headgaskets!

2 people found this helpful.
50

A couple other things to consider is whether or not the cooling system has air trapped in it. It may need to be 'burped". The other thing is check to be sure the radiator cooling fan is coming on. When it came from the factory it came on two times. 1. When the coolant got too hot. 2. When the air conditioning was turned on. Check to see if it comes on ONLY when the air conditioning is on. If so something is wrong probably either with the sending unit or the fan relay. There are two relays and one is for the AC.

5 people found this helpful.
965

If the water pump is working correctly, the top and bottom hoses should both be warm when the engine is up to temp. If the radiator needs to be boiled because it is plugged, a radiator shop can test it for you for free. But the usual cause is also the most common and cheapest - the thermostat. Follow your upper radiator hose from the radiator to the engine and it should be right there. Any auto parts store should have it. This is not a dealer only item. Good luck!

2 people found this helpful.
90

Also pontiac has a bled out system to blead any posible air in the system, Now i have changed fans, thersmostat, temp censor, system cooling flush, and it stills over heat and ob top the fans dont start to cool down the engine, but if i un plug the temp censor the fans start working on hi, i plug them back in and starts eorking on low, i shut off the car and start it back on fans eont start back, end of storry and after $700 dollars spent in parts i desided to change the car computer $500 no more problems Seems that after the car overheated the first time the computer fried :/

10 people found this helpful.
230

Hi. I am having the same problem with my 02 Grand Am with a 2.2L Ecotec engine. I had a head job done, new water pump, new thermostat, new radiator. My fans come on, but my car still overheats. There isn't any water in the oil. When the car runs hot, the coolant blow back out through the coolant reservoir overflow hose. What can be the issue? I even took the thermostat out and still have the same issue so I put it back in. Can someone please help me out. Thanks.

23 people found this helpful.
70

hey Dennis I just wanted to know if you found a solution for your problem I'm having the same problem with my 99 Pontiac grand amGT

7 people found this helpful.
20

I put water pump, thermostat. Come to find out it was the reservoir cap the gasket was eaten up, fixed my problem on 02 grand am

2 people found this helpful.
20

They finally ran a self bleedr for the water neck . I found if u put a fitting in the air bleeder on the outlet tree for pump , put a tee in line from radiator to resavour ,it will eliminate the problem !!! It will self bleed the air stopping formation of steam and overheating .

2 people found this helpful.
110

I have changed my thermostat, radiator and the water pump, but its still overheating and i know its not the headgasket what else could the problem be?

11 people found this helpful.
30

I have a 2000 Pontiac grand am and I'm having the same issue it only runs hot at idle or slow bumper to bumper traffic. I just changed the thermostat and coolant temp sensor:o) so I'm thinking reservoir it looks old and has a small crack I think not sure but will try because it and the hose we're the problem with my Malibu.

3 people found this helpful.

I had a similar problem after changing a water pump, that I could not figure out. In the end I fixed it with a gallon of water. I refilled the radiator with straight antifreeze rather than a 50/50 mix, not knowing that glycol does not transfer heat as well as water. Using straight antifreeze caused the car to run hot and overheat at low speeds. Using the correct 50/50 mix solved the overheating issue.

10

Ok bare with me here because at first my answer will seem ti make no sence. Ive had been having the exact same problem with my 2000 grand am. I life depends on my car running so it was getting very worrisome for me. Especially when it got so bad I had to have a head gasket done. After having the head gasket done and had checked everything you would normally think would have any effect on the cooling system, I was still having the same problem. New head gasket and - 500$ I was at my wits end. Then my baby wouldn't start one day. I had been running errands all day and on one of these errands my baby just wouldn't start. She would crank over but would not start. Well I do all my repairs myself and im reasonably new at this repair stuff so I do alot I mean alot of research on you tube before I do any repairs. Well my conclusion was a bad fuel pump. So I pull out my gas tank slip in a new fuel pump. Fuel filter. Change my oil, oil filter and air filter while I'm at it. Well during my days of research I ran across one video talking about all the things a bad fuel filter could effect. But when it breaks mentions that a bad fuel pump could make your car over heat I scammed past it thinking I must have heard that wrong cause after all what could a bad fuel pump have to do with it. Well I get the work done turn my key and yes my baby starts up and purrs like a kitten. I kept a close eye at my fuel gage to make sure I had no leaks and of corse I also kept a diligent eye on my temperature gage as I had become accustomed to doing. I instantly noticed my temperature gage was not in its normal place witch would be straight up and down in the middle and tempting to go over the line into the too hot area. It was just below the middle line now. Right where it should be but never before had been. It stayed there. Heater on or not it stsyed right where it was supossed to be. Ever since that day I put in a new fuel pump my car has not over heated. I can drive around on a hot day without my heater blaring and she won't over heat. I have tried to find that video again so I might learn what a fuel pump has to do with the cooling system but I haven't been able to find it. My car is still running cool I have relaxed on stressing over getting her too hot and breaking down again. Who would have guessed that a new fuel pump would take care of my over heating issue. A new pump is only 87$ filter $17$. So for $100 i now have a very cool trust worthy car. My next project is fixing the driver side window that won't open or close. Same issue that many other grand am have. Good luck and trust me. Change your fuel pump, its not at all as hard as it sounds. Try it, you will be astonished. And free of your over heating problem. Good

1 people found this helpful.

Your Answer:

Grand Am

Looking for a Used Grand Am in your area?

CarGurus has 67 nationwide Grand Am listings starting at $1,000.

ZIP:

Own this car?

Share your experience with others.

1998 Pontiac Grand Am

Review another car

CarGurus Experts

  • #1
    tenspeed
    Reputation
    10,970
  • #2
    james sparrow
    Reputation
    2,360
  • #3
    John Saffrahn
    Reputation
    2,280
View All

Know more, shop wisely

Search

Related Models For Sale

Used Pontiac Grand Prix
8 Great Deals out of 185 listings starting at $1,500
Used Pontiac Firebird
11 Great Deals out of 362 listings starting at $5,950
Used Chevrolet Corvette
717 Great Deals out of 12,129 listings starting at $3,200
Used Honda Accord
1,537 Great Deals out of 29,298 listings starting at $600
Used Honda Civic
1,339 Great Deals out of 28,695 listings starting at $600
Used Toyota Camry
2,107 Great Deals out of 37,491 listings starting at $575

Used Cars for Sale

2005 Pontiac Grand Am For Sale
5 listings starting at $1,000

Content submitted by Users is not endorsed by CarGurus, does not express the opinions of CarGurus, and should not be considered reviewed, screened, or approved by CarGurus. Please refer to CarGurus Terms of Use. Content will be removed if CarGurus becomes aware that it violates our policies.