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Radiator problem or what?

Sent to Car Experts August 10, 2006 12:28 p.m.

I have a 98 dodge stratus and the car is iverheating right now I have the temperature sensor unplugged so my fans are constinetly going to keep the engine cool. My first thought was that was bad so I changed it and it is stil doing the same thing, would maybe the radiator be clogged its not leaking or could something else be wrong causing it to run, hot also the check engine light is not on so I ruled out and relays?

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $8

Answer
August 10, 2006 1:06 p.m. (37 minutes and 41 seconds later)

REPLIED

You could have a clogged radiator or possibly a blown head gaskets. You will need to pressure test the cooling system with all the spark plugs removed to find out if any coolant is getting into any of the cylinders.

The first thing you need to do is plug that temp sensor back in. You definitely don't want to be driving around with that unplugged. Being unplugged, it's telling the computer that it -40 degree Fahrenheit and the computer is adjusting the fuel mixture accordingly and changing a few other things also.

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Hammer Time -- L1 Master Technician -- 98% Positive Feedback on 2710 Car Accepts
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Reply to Hammer Time
Sent August 10, 2006 1:16 p.m. (10 minutes and 32 seconds later)

Should I start off with the radiator or should I just take the spark plugs off to do the pressure test, how do I do a pressure test? Will that do anything abnormal if I take them out and just put them back in. Also would that sensor being unplugged cause me to get bad mileage for my fuel?

Edited by Customer (name blocked for privacy) on August 10 2006 at 1:21pm

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Answer
August 10, 2006 1:28 p.m. (12 minutes and 7 seconds later)

ACCEPTED

I would test for the head gasket first before throwing any parts at it.

As I told you, running without that sensor will cause many doifferent problems with the engine and could lead to engine and/or calalytic converter damage. The computer never goes into closed loop so it never looks at the other sensors.

Test the system and fix it right.

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Hammer Time -- L1 Master Technician -- 98% Positive Feedback on 2710 Car Accepts
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Reply to Hammer Time
Sent August 10, 2006 1:35 p.m. (6 minutes and 35 seconds later)

Like I asked in my reply how do I do the test? Is it easy?

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Answer
August 10, 2006 1:46 p.m. (11 minutes and 17 seconds later)

REPLIED

Like I stated in my first reply, you pressure test the cooling system with all the spark plugs removed to see if any coolant gets into any of the cylinders.

Keep pressure on it for as long as it takes to find where any pressure loss is going.

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Hammer Time -- L1 Master Technician -- 98% Positive Feedback on 2710 Car Accepts
ASE Mastertech with Adv level Engine performance cert.

Reply to Hammer Time
Sent August 10, 2006 1:51 p.m. (5 minutes and 18 seconds later)

Ok, I was doing some other reasearch, the car doesnt completly overheat it actually never goes over the half way mark but when I turn the car off you here it bubbling in the overflow tank, is that also a sign of a radiator or headgaskets? Last reply I promise!

Edited by Customer (name blocked for privacy) on August 10 2006 at 1:53pm

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Answer
August 10, 2006 1:55 p.m. (3 minutes and 29 seconds later)

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Hammer Time -- L1 Master Technician -- 98% Positive Feedback on 2710 Car Accepts
ASE Mastertech with Adv level Engine performance cert.

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