Gf's car. 96 cavalier 2.2L. car runs ok...temp gauge will go well above normal about an 1/8" from the red then the fans kick on and it drops down just a little bit before the fans stop. So it never stays in the normal. temps are pretty hot here, hit 92 i think today and in dead stop traffic is when its worse. highway speeds everything stays in the normal. I know a little about cars, enough to assume the fans arent kickin on and off at the right temperatures. anyone know anything about this? a year ago just a week after we bought it we had the head gasket replaced because of a visable leak but it wasnt overheating at all we just had it done for precautionary purposes. thanks for your help.

 

Two things you can check. First make sure the car has coolent if not make sure you get the right kind many gm cars use dex-cool check the manual. Second you thermostat could be defective if you think it is not kicking on at the right times. Check theses two things allI can think of.

 

Im sure you know if your car has coolant, but do what he said about the thermostat, but before that, find the bleeder screw somewhere along your antifreeze lines and bleed the system. A little bit of air might be the problem. What you do is run the car until its hot, real hot, turn it off then open the bleeder. Be careful because it will be hot, but if only coolant comes out, (no air) move on to the thermostat. If its not your thermostat check your coolant level sensor. Its right where your wiring harness plugs into the bottom of the coolant resevor.

 

that dex-cool is orange for your FYI kamakoa25 and def do what the others said... i had that problem a couple weeks ago..... changed the thermostat and and the thermostat gasket..... but then i was still overheating...come to find out it was that plus a hol in my lower radator hose... after you check the thermostat and ts still over heating.. see if its leaking coolant.. i its leaking coolant check the hose

 

I have a 1996 Cavalier and an overheating problem. I desperate need help i don't know what to do, please consider this conditions:

1.- My car doesn't have thermostat
2.- Have replaced water pump recently
3.- I use water instead antifreeze
4.-Fan runs direct when start the car (it never stops)
5.-I have recently replaced the radiator

After running the car for 20 minutes it starts to overheat. :/

Any ideas?

 

Your following in my foot steps. Check out past thread "2002 still getting hot after changing everything" I found the heater core was not letting full coolant flow get to the thermostat making it run hot like yours. Bob