whitemax Posted February 12, 2007 Report Share Posted February 12, 2007 I just inherited a 96 Cutlass, and it runs ok, but it overheats. The water pump was leaking bad, so I replaced that yesterday, but its still overheating. The Low coolant light comes on and off, even though the system is full, and when I try to bleed the system with the bleeders it may spit some coolant out here and there, but not a steady stream like Ive read it should be, and thats if anything comes out. With the heater on, it only blows cold air. Ive tried to get to the T-Stat, but I cant get the throttle body off. Now, I didnt pay for this hunk of junk, but its not in the best of shape. The coolant overflow tank has no cap on it! Just some duct tape. Other than the normal T-stat recomendation, are there any other suggestions? Theres no oil on the coolant, and no coolant in the oil that I can see. Sometimes it will climb while idling, but oftentimes it stays cool until on the highway then it starts to really climb. Im depending on this thing to get me to and from work starting tommorrow 35 miles away. Oh the drive in ATL traffics gonna be fun tommorrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canada Posted February 12, 2007 Report Share Posted February 12, 2007 You need to get a cap so your radiator can actually build pressure so it doesn't always boil over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted February 12, 2007 Report Share Posted February 12, 2007 whoa! try disconnecting the line that goes to the heater core, and fillinf the cooling system from there with a funnel! have you been able to remove the 'bypass' pipe on the front of the motor? the throttle body is the next step after that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cueman Posted February 12, 2007 Report Share Posted February 12, 2007 Crazy K, which line on the heater core is the intake? Could you guide me an others in the right direction? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitemax Posted February 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2007 Well I found out what the problem was. about 4 miles away from the office and the first day at my new job when the head gasket blew, and the car died. Oil all over the place. Dont know if the heads are shot or not,or if its just the gaskets, but there was still plenty of coolant in the radiator. I duct taped the tank to seal it up the best I could until I can locate one somewhere else, but I dont think it mattered. I have a friend who said she knows a guy that will replace the head gaskets for $100 plus parts, but the temp needle shot all the way up and the "HOT" light came on, and it died about a quarter mile after that. Im scared the heads are warped. The car is about 28 miles away from home to boot. Man what a first day. And who the hell knows how Im going to get to work tommorrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1990lumina Posted February 12, 2007 Report Share Posted February 12, 2007 Have the lower intake manifold gaskets been done on that car ever?? Since you are having the motor teared into you might want to consider doing the LIM gaskets as well, especially if the motor is a 3100 series engine - they are notorious for failing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitemax Posted February 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2007 At this point I dont even know if I will try to fix it. I was laid off right before thanksgiving ( gotta love corp layoffs) so the moneys all gone. I lucked out finding a new IT job, but I dont think the car was ever taken care of properly, so I have no idea if the LIM gasket was replaced. At this point my only worry is how to get to work tommorrow. By the time I can even get the car, The fine city of atlanta will have towed it and the towing and lot fees are insane (like $90 a day) I just dnt know what to do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5speedz34 Posted February 12, 2007 Report Share Posted February 12, 2007 Have the lower intake manifold gaskets been done on that car ever?? Since you are having the motor teared into you might want to consider doing the LIM gaskets as well, especially if the motor is a 3100 series engine - they are notorious for failing. If the motors getting torn into you are not going to reuse the gaskets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdcutty Posted February 13, 2007 Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 Before i read your second post, i was going to mention the head gasket.. I've had that happen to me where I could get the system bled completely to save my life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted February 14, 2007 Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 Crazy K, which line on the heater core is the intake? Could you guide me an others in the right direction? Thanks! look where the T-stat is. you will se a metal line runing out from the tstate area, it flws up at it's end ehere it meets a rubber hose, and that hose runs to the firewall. disconnect the line there! if you have some spare tubing, you could backfill the sytem with a funnel into ght metal lines, which ould be the best thing to do IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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