Ask Free Auto Mechanic Experts Car Questions

I have a 1999 Grand Am GT the problems i am having are
1.The car begins to overheat, it usually gets up to 205 but now that its been 80 degrees in MN the car has gotten up to 220, the remedy i have used that has been able to bring the temp down to just over 200 is to turn the heat on full blast.
2.The coolant/antifreeze reservoir perpetually goes dry, i can not go a week without adding another jug of coolant.
3.When i turn the car off and get out the engine smells sweet. And to go along with the smell their is a milky white substance that has condensed on the oil cap.
4. The underside of the coolant reservoir cap has a crack that looks like it is permanently pushing the spring up. would this cause the cap to release the coolant when it really shouldn’t?
We are not sure how many miles the car has on it, but the previous owner estimated it to be `Well over 200,000`. The previous owner also informed us that we shouldn’t turn the ac button off.
Does any of this go together, or is it just a lot of problems that a 200,000+ mile car has to deal with?

The problem is that it has been holding water pressure in the return hose for the radiator and it has been overheating. I have replaced the water pump and the thermostat. I am thinking that it may be one or both of the head gaskets but I’m not sure. would like a professionals opinion before i continue with this project. Thanks

I am having problems with overheating in my Dodge Caravan.

Problem: The temp gauge will go to halfway (which is where it normally sits) for a while but then after about 10-15 minutes (give or take 5 minutes) it will slowly (or relatively quickly) move towards hot. Sometimes it gets to hot, sometimes not and will generally stay there for a few minutes then work its way back down to normal. Today it got to hot so I pulled over and some coolant spewed out of the cap and more from the overflow container. Then after 5 minutes I checked the gauge and it had gone down to 3/4. I then started the car and made the short trip home. A couple of minutes later it was back to halfway/normal. The problem seems quite random but it does seem to be aggravated by working uphill or stuck in traffic.

The car does not appear to be losing fluid/coolant unless it gets hot and overflows. Both fans appear to be working correctly and work harder as the engine gets hotter. There does not appear to be any trace of coolant I the engine oil.

I have replaced the temperature sensor and thermostat.

Any ideas?

I changed the thermostat and put in a new water pump, it’s still overheating… I’m told it could be my heater core.

My Ford 4.6 liter engine overheats after just a few miles of driving and blows coolant under pressure out the overflow tank cap.  When this occurs I lose heat to the van, & it keeps happening after another few miles of driving after cool down  This does not happen at ilde.  I’ve replaced the radiator thermostat and all hoses, and had multiple engine coolant system flushes.  (Next may be the water pump belt and fan clutch possibly)  The engine is not missfiring or showing any service codes.  I’m really frustrated

i have a 96 ford tarus(sp) after driving it for awhile and the engine gets nice and hot it looses power and starts sputering. what could the problem be

Gentlemen, have a 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix, 3800V6 engine which begins to overheat while stopped.  Suspect both cooling fans are inoperative.  Have checked main 30 amp fuses which are good.  Can you assist with diagnostics on how to determine if relays and/or cooling fan motors are working or not.

my 1996 jeep grande cherokee limited 5.2 v8 overheats when i turn the a/c on. it boils out of the the reserve tank when i turn the vehicle off. I replaced the relay, radiator , water pump , serpentine belt , thermostat and the fuse. still does it. I don’t think its the fan clutch. ( it has some tension when I spin it ). Any idea’s, I am lost. can you help!!!!!!!

I have a 94 Cadillac Seville SLS that was running hot so I took out the thermostat but it is still running hot is it the water pump or a blown head gasket?

My car started running hot about three weeks ago. Heater would work on and off. Checked water and had oil in it. Replaced intake and head gaskets. Flushed Radiator. Ran fine for day or two. Started running hot again. Heat did not work at all. Changed thermostat. It was stuck. Flushed again. no change, still running hot. Replaced water pump. No change. No oil in water, heat still not working even after new thermostat. Can idle for a while but when accelerated or tr to drive it instantly begins to run hot. Not sure what else to do. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks