SL1 1998 Overheating after visit to dealer. (97000 miles)

Ok, here is the problem. a few weeks ago a slight knocking sound and a
soft howl started. I had no other issues as for as I could tell. And
checked and replaced my fluids ever 3 to 4 months.

My room mates said I should take it in for a repairs directly to the
Saturn Dealer here in San Jose Ca.

1st call , within the first hour after dropping my car off. I was
called and told my Water pump needed replacement. And my Radiator
should be replaced soon. I approved the Water pump replacement. And
said I'll have to wait for the Radiator.

2nd, 2 hours later, I was called and told my Thermostat was not
letting water in. (? I should have asked ??) and it had to be
replaced. I approved.

3rd call next day. My radiator and hoses had to be replaced. And my
Radiator was blocked. After a few hours of biting this and canceling
my planned vacation plans. I put up the money and said Sure.

4th call, It was ready and running great! it would be 1420 dollars..
Cough.. Choke. Ok. but a quick note for future repairs. Replace the
Head Gasket, Cylinder head, Cam Cover Gasket (2300 dollars ???)

Today I just picked up the car. Started up nice and smooth. No clouds
like I was told to expect. No odd rocks or such. I signed and drove
off.

Within 3 miles my car started flashing check lights, and the heat
gauge was pegged. Thank god I was home by then as I pulled into the
driveway and turned off somthing kept running. My room mates said it
was the cooling fan trying to cool down the engine. Within 10 minutes
it turned off.

I called the Dealer. Response, Yep, that head gasket or Cylinder is
dead. Bring it in and pay us and well fix it.

Help or suggestions

 

what color is the antifreeze? is it overflowing?

take it to another mechanic for an estimate on what is wrong with it.

 

DEFINITELY find another dealer and get a second opinion.

Lane [ lane (at) evilplastic.com ]
---
Visit my Saturn Car Audio and Performance Page at http://www.evilplastic.com

what color is the antifreeze? is it overflowing?

take it to another mechanic for an estimate on what is wrong with it.

 

Well this morning, I unbuttoned the top and filled the empty Radiator
reserve up to the marked level and left the cap off. Started her up
and let it run. It was good for about 10 minutes, the temperature
guage staying at the 1/4th mark.

The color was fine, no odd tints, just a slight-very light film on the
water when I looked into the radiator reserve tank. Only issue is.
LOTS of bubbles.. LOTS.. Big ones and small ones.

Within 2 minutes after the bubbles started while sitting it reached
3/4th and I shut her down. No overflowing, but it the water level was
lifting and rising almost over a short period of time. And I stress.
LOTS of bubbles.


Thanks for listening.

 

OK, first thing, is it green coolant or dex-cool (orange or red)? Second,
was the level low when you opened the (cold) resivour in the morning? If
so, where did the coolant go? Did it leak?.

What was the cooling fan doing when it reached 3/4 of the gauge? if the
cooling fan isn't running, it won't cool down. On Saturns, unless you are
running the a/c, the fan won't come on until 3/4 of the way up.

With the cap off, most cars will boil over before the fans come up. The
thermostat dosen't open until 195 degrees, and many cars, saturns included,
won't kick on the fans until 220 degrees. Without some pressure to lower
the boiling point, you WILL overflow.

Call around, find someone that will chemically block test your car. The
garage I used to work at didn't even charge for it. They will open the
resivour cap and use a small tool and some blue fluid to check for the
presence of CO2 in the coolant, which will make the fluid turn yellow. If
it turns yellow, you have a blown head gasket, cracked head, or cracked
block.

finally, just a thought. I can get a complete used engine from Greenleaf
for under a grand with a 1 year warranty. The job pays between 11 and 13
hours labour.

Let it sit overnight, fill the coolant resivour up, drive it somewhere and
get it checked.

-Joe

 

My fan goes on at 3/4 or slightly above. I do not think this should be
considered 'overheating'. If it gets to the red and the fan doesn't go on,
then something is wrong.

FYI - I ran my track car all day one day, on and off of redline in 90 degree
temps, missing the front air dam. The temp gauge was at the top of the red
and stayed there with no problems (I had a spare motor in the garage that
was going in soon so there was nothing to lose if something bad happened).
All was fine. No spraying, no burst hoses, no overflowing. So I don't
think people need to be so afraid they shut off the car at 3/4 on the gauge.

Lane [ lane (at) evilplastic.com ]
---
Visit my Saturn Car Audio and Performance Page at http://www.evilplastic.com

 

Ok, the coolant I use is a green one I purchase from the Saturn
dealer. I'll have to put a new Gallon of coolant in the tank and
check its color before I do anything else.

On opening the radiator reserve yesterday, the coolant level was
bellow the lower hose, just large splash at the bottom of the reserve
tank. I checked around the car, and had spread newspaper under the
car to check for leaks. I couldn't find one.

The fan seems to come on as soon as it starts the temperature starts
to rise quickly and is on by the time the gauge has reached 3/4ths.

..
Thanks again.

 

My Saturn fan turns on at 213°, most cars I have dealt with do the
same.

You should be able to run your car with the cap off if everything was
proper. I would say you have a head or head gasket issue with all the
bubbles you describe.

James

 

You forgot your link james
http://www.current.net/james1549/saturn/eng_temp.html

The bubbles could of been from aeration from the pump because the system
wasnt filled fully and purged of air pockets.

Buy or borrow one of these
http://images.solidcactus.com/autobarn/xxxw-kd-3700.jpg

 

Now not there, so this is purely a guess. Your system is dry. You
say no leaks, you have lots of escaping air, and levels are very low.
When a coolant system is drained many passages get air bound. So the
only way to refill is a fully flowing coolant system, and a mech
watching radiator level directly (adding as needed till level stops
dropping).

Now my humble suggestion, get the car back to the mechanic, they did
the work, they need to clean up their mess.

BTW, is this in NJ?

later,

tom @ www.Consolidated-Loans.info

 

No, this was in San Jose, CA. I have plans to take the car in next
week to a new mechanic. The local Saturn shop I took this too demands
its a new head gasket.

Thanks for the reply.