hey there, my mom drives a 2001 pontiac sunfire, 2.2l engine. auto.

anyways, these past few weeks she has noticed that at red lights, or fast food drive thrus, anything in that reference her car will start to get hot. not at the over heat mark yet, but its getting uncomfortably close.

sounds like a thermostat to me, but someone also told me it could be fans, but fans i dont think it is since its only heating up at idle pretty much. as soon as she starts moving the car cools down again.

so you guys think its just the thermostat on my moms car?

 

Does she have enough coolant or air in the system? See if the fans come on when the car is overheating while running. Try bleeding the air out of the system and making sure its full before you go after bigger things. It could just be the thermostat is stuck closed and isn't letting coolant flow to something as big as a blown headgasket (which it probably isn't if your mom takes care of her car and doesn't beat on it).

Grab the lower radiator hose and see if its hot.

 

Sounds more like the fan to me to be honest.

 

Check the fans. If they're not running then check fuses and then relays. If the thermostat was stuck closed then the car would overheat in a short time. It won't matter if the car is standing still or moving.

 

ok thanks, she tells me something new everyday, just tonight she told me she thinks it only happens when the air conditioning is on... she said it makes a weird hiss sound, then the car tries to move by itself, then overheats... lol, typical description from a mother, but what can ya expect, eitherway im bringing it to my school next week and problem will be fixed, thanks for all advice, keep it coming.

 

My mom has a 2001 Cavi and the Fan Blew out on it and it did the same thing.....check the fan ....and thermo for shits and grins

 

i would say the fan...if it was the thermo it would happen all the time.

it sounds like its fine once it gets some airflow going to it. if there are two fans, which there usually are, the lower temp fan may not be working. but the higher temp fan might be thats why it has been getting close, but not there yet. should be able to get into the relay box and jumper it and find out pretty quickly, could be the fan itself, or a relay/fuse.

 

yah it definately fan, i took her car out last night, did some laps around the neighborhood got it to temp, and checked it out and fan was not moving... so it must be that, ill bring it to school monday and jump the relays to see if they are getting power, if not i guess look into a new fan.

 

why are you going to buy a new fan if the relays arent getting power?

 

i meant that to seam like, if its not the relays... lol, sorry.