Car overheating
My car is overheating, The waterpump was replaced in December 2014.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
One thing that needs to be determined is coolant level. Never attempt to open or service a cooling system on a hot engine, as injury can result. There are quite a few possibilities, a thermostat stuck closed, a coolant leak, or possibly a failed head gasket. A cooling system performance test and a cooling system pressure test need to be performed in order to determine the cause of the overheating. You may want to enlist the help of a mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will be able to diagnose the cooling system issue and repair the problem to avoid overheating the engine and cause permanent damage.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
The most common reasons a Chevrolet Malibu is overheating are a coolant leak (water pump, radiator, hose etc.), the radiator fan, or a failed thermostat.
Not enough coolant: check the coolant level periodically. If the level is under the minimum level recommended, the engine may overheat because there is not enough coolant.
Cooling System Leak – This is probably the most common cause of an overheating engine. If any component in your cooling system–which includes your radiator, hoses, water pump, head gasket, and thermostat casket–starts to leak, you`re in trouble.
Overheating is the most common symptom of a failing thermostat. Due to corrosion or aging, your car`s thermostat can get stuck in a closed position. If this happens, the thermostat will not let the coolant reach the radiator, and, as mentioned above, the engine will overheat, causing severe damage.
If you notice that your engine overheats, the coolant temperature sensor could be the problem. At times, the coolant temperature switch may fail such that it starts transmitting hot signals permanently. This causes the computer to erroneously counterbalance the signal, thereby causing the engine to misfire or overheat.
Some of the most common include transmission problems, electrical issues, and interior accessory faults. Still, none come close to the damage the worst models might sustain. If you invest in one of these models, you can feel comfortable on the road.
A failing oxygen sensor is an oft-overlooked cause of overheating. Your converter links to oxygen sensors in your vehicle. These sensors are used to measure the mix of air and liquid fuel. If the mix is off and becomes too rich, your catalytic converter can overheat as a result.
Technically speaking yes you can use plain water in your cooling system but it isn`t recommended as a long term solution and certainly not in extreme weather conditions.
Your radiator is likely already damaged, but in the early stages of overheating, it can be repaired. The more you drive on it, the more you`re likely to see burst hoses burst, failed radiator stems, and exploding cooling systems.
The 2023 Chevrolet Malibu has a predicted reliability score of 85 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average, and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.
Overall Reliability Ratings: Is The Chevrolet Malibu Reliable? Overall the Chevrolet Malibu reliability is 57.5 and that makes it very reliable. The chart below illustrates exactly how this ranks compared to some other cars, but the average overall rating is 57 as some comparison.
Can an engine survive overheating? Yes – as long as you respond quickly and don`t let your car go into full meltdown mode, it should be repairable. Too much heat can result in further complications, such as cracks leading to significant oil leaks or loss of performance.
Your Chevrolet Malibu is a car with staying power and a reputation for reliability. A malfunctioning thermostat leads to engine overheating and keeps you from getting the dependability you`re used to. You can rely on a new Chevrolet Malibu thermostat from AutoZone to keep your engine running like it should.
Normal Temperature engine temperature gauge
Most experts agree that your engine should run between 195 degrees and 220 degrees. In ideal situations, your needle will maintain a posture right in the middle of your gauge.
One way to check for proper coolant circulation is to check the upper and lower radiator hoses. The upper radiator hose should be hot, around 190–200 °F. (The safest and most accurate way to get this temperature reading is with an infrared thermometer.)
Several things can cause that condition. A stuck closed thermostat, blocked radiator, a faulty water pump, or low coolant all need to be checked. The fans turning on is normal when the engine gets too hot. However, if the coolant is low, or not circulating, it does not cool the engine.
It`s usually noticed if your coolant is low, but low oil can also cause the engine to overheat. This can occur even if your coolant level is fine. If there is too little oil in the engine, it will continue to heat up because it has no opportunity to cool.
With the engine off, open your hood and locate the water pump pulley. With gloves on, grab it and wiggle it back and forth. There should be no movement, if there is, this along with the noise is a good indication you may have a water pump problem.
Start your car`s engine and allow it to idle. Look through the radiator filler neck to see if the coolant flows. At this time, it should not be flowing as your car has not reached the operating temperature to cause the thermostat to open. If you find the coolant is flowing, it means the thermostat valve is open.
However, most car experts recommend car thermostat replacement after 10 years. However, this is an optimistic number. Thermostats are more likely to stop working much earlier than a decade. Some factors that induce an early thermostat failure include harsh weather, rough driving, bad engine or thermostat parts.
You`ll most likely hear a quiet clicking sound followed by air moving through the ductwork. You can also place your hand on a vent to feel for hot or cold air. If you don`t hear or feel anything within a minute or two of making the changes, your thermostat may need to be replaced.
If you notice that your engine overheats, the coolant temperature sensor could be the problem. At times, the coolant temperature switch may fail such that it starts transmitting hot signals permanently. This causes the computer to erroneously counterbalance the signal, thereby causing the engine to misfire or overheat.
Usually, a clogged catalytic converter will overheat and can have damaging impacts on your car`s engine.
Engine Overheating
While sometimes a faulty sensor sends a permanent cold signal to the engine, it can also send a permanent hot signal. The computer will again miscalculate the signal and cause the engine to heat up instead of cooling it down.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
My heat in my car stopped working two days ago and now my car is overheating. I put antifreeze in my car and it’s still overheating 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix
ANSWER : Hi there – you may have 2 related events here, a coolant leak, and a problem with the heater system. The current issue may be air inside the cooling system, which can cause overheating, and a lack of heater function. The lack of heater function could have 5 causes: the engine is not getting up to correct temperature (center of the gauge) due to a malfunctioning thermostat, the heater control valve is not letting hot coolant into the heater core, there is a restriction in the heater system that is preventing adequate hot coolant flow through the heater core, the heater fan is not working to transfer heat from the heater core to warm air for the passenger compartment, or the air blend doors inside the heater are not working properly to route warm air to the desired vents. I would recommend a heater system inspection](https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/heater-is-not-working-inspection) by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
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car is overheating and leaking water and anti freeze
ANSWER : Coolant leaks can occur because of cracked hoses, leaking gaskets, faulty water pumps, or damaged radiators. When the coolant level goes low, the engine will start to overheat due to the low coolant level. I would first recommend giving the cooling system a visual look over. If it is not obvious where the coolant leak is coming from, I would recommed having the cooling system pressure tested in order to determine the leak source. If you would like to have your cooling system pressure testedcoolant is leaking inspection, consider YourMechanic, as a certified technician can come to your home or office to inspect your cooling system.
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I put the wrong key in my car and a few weeks later my car just shut down and it will not start I believe it’s the computer but…
ANSWER : Hi there. What had happened is the wrong key set the security to the vehicle. This is to prevent the vehicle from starting with the wrong keys. Try removing the battery cables (+) and (-) for 13 minutes. During that time, put the original key in the ignition and turn it on. Activate everything in the car even though there is no power. Then remove the key and hook up the battery cables. The computer should have reset and reset the security. If the security is still being tripped, then I recommend seeking out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you
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Replaced alternator on car 2 times each time shows it’s charging 14v let car run for a little bit then test drive and car voltage
ANSWER : There are reports that the replacement alternators will not communicate with the engine computer and will not charge correctly. I recommend using only the manufacturer approved replacement part. It can be new or remanufactured but approved for use in the vehicle. Some lower cost alternators on the aftermarket will have charging problems since they will not communicate with the ECM on the vehicle and will stop charging.
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My car overheated while on the highway. I added coolant and let the engine rest and cool down. Now the car will not start. How can
ANSWER : Hi there:
Unfortunately, there is no exact reason we can offer to you as to why the vehicle won’t start now after your overheating issue; without first inspecting the vehicle. However, if the vehicle overheated on the highway there is a high possibility that major engine damage has occurred, which is possibly why the vehicle won’t start now. This damage could include head gaskets being blown, which can cause coolant to enter the internal portions of the engine and lead to additional damage. The best thing for you to do is have your vehicle towed back home, then contact YourMechanic.com to have one of our professional mechanics complete a car is overheating inspection.
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My car will not start Intermittently. I purchased a new battery 2 weeks ago and yesterday the car wouldn’t start. Got a jump and
ANSWER : The issue you are having is probably due to an intermittent fault in the starter motor itself or a deficiency in the starter electrical circuit, for example a large voltage drop due to a poor ground or a high resistance connection. These issues can be readily diagnosed and resolved on a mobile basis if you request a hard starting diagnostic. If you request that diagnostic, the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you promptly. Based on Toyota’s Factory Service Manual, the battery should not be disconnected if the vehicle engine is running. The battery acts as a large resistive voltage sink and consequently taking the battery out of the circuit, while the alternator is still running, can create a voltage spike on the car’s electrical system which is not good for voltage sensitive components such as the engine computer. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
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Power steering loss, no belts are turning but the car is running fine. I also have a soft pedal. Whats wrong with my car?
ANSWER : I have only seen this situation once in my 30+ years and it turned out to be a broken crankshaft pulley. Belts are driven by the engine. The crankshaft pulley spins the belts, which in turn spin the air conditioner compressor, power steering and water pumps, and the alternator. The vehicle should be towed to your local repair shop and not driven. Without the water pump spinning to circulate the coolant, the engine will quickly overheat and result in more extensive damage.
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Battery and oil light come on when trying to start car, take keys out try again car starts no problem and lights go away
ANSWER : Of course, don’t switch gears without being fully stopped, unless your Owner’s Manual or the manufacturer has alternative advice. However, the gear shift issue has no relation to the no-start problem you are describing. Inasmuch as you only have 6,000 miles on the car, the "constant on and off" that you believe has occurred is meaningless in comparison to the expected total vehicle service life. That is, assume what you perceive as "constant on and off", during merely 6,000 miles, might be equivalent to using the car "normally" for three years. A new car should be trouble free for at least 5 years, unless there is a defect, so your "constant on and off" is not a causal factor for any fault on the vehicle. What you might have is a defect in the ignition switch, or perhaps the immobilizer system, but if the problem is not in the switch itself, clearly there is an electrical problem.
If your vehicle is under warranty, by law the dealer MUST repair the issue you are describing within a prescribed time frame and number of "attempts", otherwise the dealer will run afoul of Federal and state Lemon Laws that give you very specific rights, and recourse (contact an Attorney; we are Mechanics, NOT attorneys). Consequently, if the vehicle is still under warranty, to save yourself money do be sure to seek a resolution from the dealer. If the vehicle is not under warranty, obviously a certified Mechanic from YourMechanic could identify the electrical fault and resolve this for you. If you want to go that route, please simply request a no start diagnostic -electrical system and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
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