Blockage in SW2

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

 

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 ]

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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