Confounding Overheating Problem 2000 2.2OHV

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fitzsens

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Hello everyone I have a problem with my car overheating, and I've run out of ideas. I'm still super novice when it comes to car stuff so I could be completely off base with a lot of things.

The fan will not come on when I turn on at all. Tried turning on the AC, doesn't come on.

I've removed the fan and tested the motor. Checks out
Swapped the relays for heater and fan and back. Checks out
Fuses are good
Coolant level is good
Replaced the reservoir Cap
Replaced the Coolant temperature sensor
Replaced the thermostat

The water pump also seems to be okay based on testing it as laid out in the Haynes manual (Pulley does not feel warm, no leak from the weep hole, not audible noises)

I realize I should have taken it to a mechanic to figure out what the exact issue was before doing all this, but I'm stubborn at this point, and all this work has been at a low cost.

My father and I were almost certain the issue was going to be the thermostat. What lead me to believe this was that I could put my hand on the upper radiator hose just before the thermostat housing, and it would be cool to the touch. Additionally, although maybe this normal, when I removed the thermostat, plenty of fluid came rushing out. We assumed this was do to the thermostat being closed all this time, but it could be that I didn't drain the fluid from the block beforehand(which I should have done). He thinks it might be a clog?

I have a cheap OBD2 scanner that only gave me the code P0440 Evaporative Emission System. Seems unrelated.

Any help on this issue would be great. Thanks in advance.
 
does the AC system work?
have you tested the relay socket with a voltmeter or test light to see if it has power coming to it and whether the correct terminal is being energized when you turn on the AC, assuming it works?
what temperature readings do you have when the car is overheating?
 
I don't believe my car has A/C as it does not have a dedicated button for it, and there is no relay in the slot marked "A/C" in the under hood fuse box. If I turn the temp to all the way cold, relatively cool air comes out.

In regards to the temperature when it's overheating:

The engine will reach 90, and then steadily rise from there. The most I've seen it get to are about 2 or 3 ticks past 90, which I believe I calculated was about 96 or so.

I've been able to manage this by avoiding long lights in the past, and keeping the revs down. With the recent increase in outside temperature this has become next to impossible. Either way I don't want to drive it anymore and risk damaging the engine any further.

I have not tested the relay with a voltmeter.

Additionally, as I was short on time when I drained and replaced the coolant, I forgot to properly bleed the system.

I will be draining and refilling it this week sometime and properly bleeding the system to see if that helps.

Thanks for the input.
 
A number of things dont make sense
1. You clearly stated in your first post you tried turning on the AC but now state your car doesnt have it?
2. You are posting temperature readings of 90 and 96, I can only assume you mean Celsius? So this is a Canadian car?
3. If it is Celsius, a temperature of 96 is about 204 Fahrenheit and is NORMAL operating temperature. The fans dont come on till about 215 to 225 Fahrenheit which is 102 to 107 Celsius.
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Yes it does not have AC, I previously had just assumed turning on the air to the cold setting was ac, but then I realized that this car does not have an option for auto ac and only manual. I had yet to drive the car in the summer so I had not paid attention until now.

Yes Celsius.

Well when I first began driving the car last winter the temperature would stay at 90c (194F) and never move. Now, since this winter it goes up to 204F and I try my best to keep it at that. There has definitely been a change in the behavior of the temp gauge going from one winter to the next. Keep in mind that winter temps here almost never falls below 55F.

I just ran the car with the cap off to bleed out some air. The fan came on and kept it just below 194F. This is the way it used to run before. When I put the cap on and took it for a drive, the temp rose and fell between 204 and 194. When I got home i let it idle for a bit, but stopped when it got past 204F as I didn't want it to go any further.

If all that is normal then great. I just don't get increase the in temperature fluctuation. On my previous vehicle, the fan would run at idle often, and I assumed that was normal.

Sorry for the confusion, like I said, I really don't know much about this stuff. Trying my best to learn. Thanks.
 
If the engine fan comes on at 215 to 225 and brings it back down to the 195 to 205 area there is nothing wrong.
 
The head gasket was leaking. Future reference for anyone who ends up looking at this thread. As the outside temperature increased in the summer months, the car got worse to the point that the fan did next to nothing, causing the temperature to continue rising.

Seems the head gasket is a super common problem with these cars.
 
my friends 2004 2.2l is starting to get hotter. i told him to flush the system out and change the thermostat the laughed at him when i told him where the thermostat is and the water pump. good luck and buy a book. rtfm.
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fitzsens said:
The head gasket was leaking. Future reference for anyone who ends up looking at this thread. As the outside temperature increased in the summer months, the car got worse to the point that the fan did next to nothing, causing the temperature to continue rising.

Seems the head gasket is a super common problem with these cars.
Click to expand...

Hey Fitzsens, I'm having the exact same problem with an 01 I just bought a month ago. The prob just started 2 days ago. I was just out changing the spark plugs and boots and noticed oil has been pooling in cavities between the plugs...as well signs of oil leaking (previously... doesn't look to me current although I have wiped everything down in the area to double check after a day or two of driving) from the head cover....for sure its the head gasket thats causing the temp spike????? Just seems odd to be the culprit is all...I was praying it wasn't the thermostat as I am not interested in ripping everything needed out on such a small car and am just on my way out to unhook the battery and drain the power from the system for a computer reset in hopes of resolving the issue.
As you, I was normal at 90 and now I'm going up to about 3/4s of the gauge so around 110 after stop and go and its been about 28-30 degrees here the past couple days.(All temps Celcius of course....stupid Canuck here...)
 
he hasnt been on the forum since october 2017. If you have the 2.4 and have that oil leak it is not the head gasket, it's the valve cover.
Yoo need to do a compression test and coolant hydrocarbon test to determine if you have a blown head gasket.
 
Thanks Mel. I did have a small leak I noticed about a week ago but due to lack of a jack, I couldnt get underneath to see what the hell it was.It wasnt oil or tranny fluid so I assumed coolant and that the water pump was maybe the culprit. At the time, the leak was not a worry as it was just drops. But then, it was pissing out yesterday and I had trans issues(slipping 1st to 2nd and 2nd to third) on my way home from work. I figured it was the trans cooler line and dropped it off at a shop this morn to have a look. Turns out it was the hose from the water pump.... Both are being replaced. They said trans fluid is fine and the tranny is fine....I have my fingers crossed that is so or I'll be right pissed about the repair cost. Anyways for peoples future reading, this was my high temp cause. Unfortunately my elm 327 ate it and I have no way of keeping an eye on important info like temps to prevent damage. I recommend everyone have one just because. Thanks for all your help guys and I'll update on how things turn out.
 
Oh and thank you for the correction on the valve cover gasket. I think it may have been replaced just because the signs of a leak look old and the bolts have been "touched"...just the mess wasnt cleaned up afterwards. I wiped everything down and will have a look at it next weekend to see.....Ill prolly fix it for the $20 it will cost if it is actually leaking. Yes I have the 2.4 but I just bought this to get through maybe 4 months tops. Its mechanically fine for the most part and so low kms for an '01(180,000km) I can get my money back later...only paid $600 for the damn thing
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