2004 Chevy cavalier overheating with ac on and when in idle

Asked by Guru9W835 Jun 14, 2017 at 02:12 PM about the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

My cavalier overheats when the ac is on and when
it is in idle. When I'm driving down the road the ac
is fine but when I am in idle or at a stop like the ac
starts getting really hot and it starts to over heat. I
tried putting free on in it bit it didn't make a
difference.

4 Answers

9,230

does it overheat without the AC on? Engine overheating with AC on is generally caused by one of two possibilities. One, is increased engine load caused by a failing AC compressor. ... Plugged or blocked radiator condenser fins, fans not working efficiently or a water pump that is not circulating coolant could all cause overheating with AC on only.

1 people found this helpful.

Yes it over heats when the ac but only when I in idle and even when the ac is off in idle it still overheats and does it have to have coolant in it?

9,230

Check thermostat for the water pump, coolant levels, and still the possibility of blockage in your radiator hoses. Squeeze the hoses with your hand (without engine on) and see if its flexible. If its rock hard or extremely hard to squeeze, then something is seized up or blocking it. Turning on the AC just adds more stress which may be making it worse

30

Yo 9 times out of 10 your coolant fan isnt working

3 people found this helpful.

Your Answer:

Cavalier

Looking for a Used Cavalier in your area?

CarGurus has 46 nationwide Cavalier listings and the tools to find you a great deal.

ZIP:

Own this car?

Share your experience with others.

2004 Chevrolet Cavalier

Review another car

CarGurus Experts

  • #1
    John Saffrahn
    Reputation
    4,830
  • #2
    dandyoun
    Reputation
    1,990
  • #3
    mbar1
    Reputation
    1,670
View All

Know more, shop wisely

Search

Related Models For Sale

Used Chevrolet Cobalt
16 Great Deals out of 298 listings starting at $985
Used Pontiac Sunfire
19 listings
Used Chevrolet Corvette
690 Great Deals out of 11,986 listings starting at $3,200
Used Ford Escort
18 listings starting at $2,200
Used Ford Focus
384 Great Deals out of 5,119 listings starting at $975

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.