Blockage in SW2

Discussion in 'Saturn S-series' started by J B, Apr 9, 2006.

  1. J B

    J B Guest

    I'm not an expert on cars so I thought I'd ask advice from everyone
    here.

    I own a 2000 SW2 and while driving down the highway a semi lost the
    tread from one of it's tires. Being the unlucky guy that I am the tread
    hit the shield under my front bumper and broke it in half. I knew right
    away something was wrong besides just the shield being broken because
    the engine was getting hot on short drives. So I took it into the Saturn
    dealership here in Omaha and was told a piece of the shield had jammed
    up against the "air intake". They replaced the shield and said they had
    fixed the air intake.

    I was still having trouble with the car getting hot so I took it back in
    (a couple of times). They finally did a diagnostic test and I was told I
    needed a new intake gasket and water pump. I had both replaced and
    previously I had them change the thermostat hoping that might be the
    problem. None of the new parts corrected the problem. They have checked
    for a blockage in the cooling system and found nothing wrong.

    I'm convinced a small piece of the shield got sucked up into the air
    intake shortly after the tire tread hit my car. I don't know if that's
    even possible but it did sound like something got sucked up possibly
    into the engine or close to it.

    I'm wondering where that small piece could possibly have travelled to if
    it did in fact go into the air intake. It seems there must be a major
    restriction of air flow to cause a problem as bad as this. I've already
    spent well over $1000 trying to correct the problem and would like to
    become better informed before taking it in to a different mechanic. I
    can't afford to take it in now but hope to soon. Also, could something
    else have been damaged by the tire tread that would have caused this
    problem?

    Thanks, Jeff
     
    J B, Apr 9, 2006
    #1
  2. J B

    Lane Guest

    What do you consider "getting hot"? What level on the temp gauge? I ask
    because a LOT of Saturn owners have continued to post here over the years
    thinking that their cars are overheating because the needle goes above the
    half-way mark (which is not overheating). So please quantify your
    observation.

    Does the fan kick on when the temp gauge hits 3/4? Or does it switch on
    when you turn on the A/C? Might point to damage to the fan assembly by that
    chunk of tire if that doesn't take place which could affect cooling.

    Lane [ lane (at) evilplastic.com ]
     
    Lane, Apr 10, 2006
    #2
  3. J B

    blah blah Guest

    First off what is "over heating" to you? Most people never look at the
    temp gage until they think somethings wrong and when they do they forget
    what "normal" is. (3/4 on the gage for the s-series is normal) 220
    degrees on these engines isnt over heating. The only way to know the
    actual temp is to use a scantool.
    As for the intake, that will not cause this engine to overheat. That
    will just restrict airflow just as if you arent giving it throttle or
    have a vacuum leak which will idle high. No airflow across the radiator
    or coolant flow through the radiator will cause your engine to overheat.
    See if the radiator is obstructed or damaged.
     
    blah blah, Apr 10, 2006
    #3
  4. J B

    SnoMan Guest

    I agre, he needs to inspec radiotr closer and fan operation. Just
    because water passes through it, it does not mean the some of the core
    is not block and reducing cooling efficency. Also make sure the core
    fins are not bent so that there is good airflow through the core.
     
    SnoMan, Apr 10, 2006
    #4
  5. J B

    J B Guest

    First off, thanks for the replies guys. I've been getting a little
    frustrated after putting so much money into the car so I appreciate the
    observations/advice.

    I should have been more clear on the "engine getting hot" situation.
    It's never gotten into the red or actually overheated. But the engine
    has shut off a couple of times (while waiting at red lights) while I was
    driving home from work. That's only a few miles of in-city driving. And
    if I drive a few miles (again, in-city) to a store then start it up a
    few minutes later, the engine acts like it's hot and wants to shut off.
    I didn't have this problem before the tire tread hit my car.

    I don't know how much this will help, but I can drive my car across town
    (more than 10 miles in-city driving) without too much trouble when the
    temps are about 60 degrees or under. But when it starts getting above
    60, but especially around 75 or higher the engine really struggles and
    wants to konk out. I've tried highway driving to test it out and after
    about an hour of driving I stopped at a rest area and the engine really
    sounded like it was laboring, like an engine that was very warm.

    Originally I thought my fan wasn't coming on when it was supposed to.
    Twice when I went into the Saturn dealership they tested the cooling
    system and told me the fan was coming on when it was supposed to.

    I'm not a mechanic obviously but I've had enough older cars to know when
    an engine is getting warmer than it should be. And I know my SW2 is
    acting much differently than before it got hit by the tire tread.

    The next time I have the money to take the car in somewhere (else) I'll
    have them check out the fan first. Still though, something tells me a
    piece of the shield got sucked up somewhere where it's restricting air
    flow.

    Thanks again for the advice,

    Jeff
     
    J B, Apr 10, 2006
    #5
  6. J B

    SnoMan Guest


    You are kinda on the right track but it is possible that the impact
    flattened the fins on raditor/condensor core stack and it is
    restricting air flow through it causing your problem. They make a fin
    "brush/comb" that you can use to strighted out the condensor core fins
    if they have been flattened out.
     
    SnoMan, Apr 10, 2006
    #6
  7. J B

    J B Guest

    Thanks Snoman. Another question: Where exactly is the radiator/condensor
    core stack? I'll probably take the car to a garage and have them put it
    on a lift to get a better look from underneath.

    Jeff
     
    J B, Apr 10, 2006
    #7
  8. J B

    blah blah Guest

    He's refering to the fine mesh of fines that make up the radiator to
    dissipate heat. Something you might try is running your heater full
    blast when it startes acting up. The heater core will be just like a
    small radiator and can help bring down your engines temp.
     
    blah blah, Apr 10, 2006
    #8
  9. J B

    J B Guest

    Thanks 'blah blah'. I have been putting the heater on high to help
    during my cross-town trips. I'll check out the radiator and fan for any
    damage. Might even take it in to Sears to have them put it on the lift
    to get a better look. These cars sit so low to the ground it's hard to
    get a look from underneath.

    Jeff
     
    J B, Apr 10, 2006
    #9
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