Q: Overheating at idle but blowing cool air. Also when I press the gas it cools it down. What could be the issue?

asked by on June 09, 2017

I've had this car for a few years now. Never had a single issue. Today, it starts overheating. The air got hot and then it got very cool. Also when I'm idle it starts to overheat. But if I press the gas the temp goes alllll the way down. What could be the issue?

My car has 147593 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

AC Compressor Replacement $715.49 - $3134.49 Get a Quote
Radiator Replacement $353.55 - $1403.40 Get a Quote
Water Pump Replacement $187.27 - $1236.57 Get a Quote

Hi There, Overheating with the AC on is generally caused by a couple of possibilities. When the AC compressor is beginning to fail, this may incur an increased load on the motor as it works harder than usual to turn a bad compressor. This increased load causes the motor to work harder than it otherwise normally would, resulting in the motor overheating. The other possibility may be a cooling system that is not working efficiently. This may be caused by a clogged radiator, blocked or clogged radiator condenser fins, a water pump that is not pumping correctly or potentially cooling fans that are not working properly.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Steering lock sensor problem
Hello! That is a very familiar problem to me. I am a previous owner of a C70 and I once had a no start issue which was caused by a bad immobilizer antenna ring. The car would crank but not...
Car jolts while accelerating and won't accelerate from stop.
Hello. From what you are explaining it sounds like you either have a failing fuel pump (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-fuel-pump) or a bad catalytic converter (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-catalytic-converter). Both of these issues will cause these symptoms. I usually start by scanning the computer for codes...
1990 Porsche 944, starts well, shuts off after a few minutes
After checking for the proper fuel pressure, have an experienced technician inspect the ignition systems, crankshaft position sensor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/crankshaft-position-sensor-replacement) and distributor pickup coils. A malfunction here will cause a stall, as these devices help the computer determine when to send...
Replaced blower motor resistor on a 06 honda accord 4.2l. Only blows on high regardless of what speed I set it on
Hi there. Assuming the original problem was no blower motor speeds at all, leads me to believe that the replacement blower resistor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/heater-blower-motor-resistor-replacement) may be your issue. High blower motor relay stuck closed would of given you high speed only,...
OBD support
Hey there. If you have the OBD-2 connector under the dash directly under the steering column, then the ELM327 will work to scan the vehicle after you download the app. I can tell you that this adapter is very cheaply...
Car starts but dies a few seconds later. If I give it any throttle when it does start it kills the engine.
As a general rule, car engines do not like cold weather and do not do operate as well in cold weather. When you start your car in the morning and turn the key to on, the coolant temperature sensor immediately...
Vehicle starts sometimes, but dies and won't restart.
To clarify, the year (1978) of the Chevy Suburban in question you are asking about refers to some EFI terms that a vehicle of this year would not have otherwise come with from the factory. The answer below assumes this...
How to tell if my Yukon has active brake control or not?
If you have a traction control switch to turn traction control on and off then you do not have active brake control. If you do not have the switch then you should be equipped with active brake control.
Car battery light came on and then lost all power
It sounds like you may have a weak battery, a failing voltage regulator or failing alternator. As you may know, the alternator charges the battery while the engine runs by generating amperage and recharging the battery while the engine turns...

Related articles

The Top 5 Selling Cars in Kansas in 2012
Kansas Kansas sees a varied climate with all four seasons, which means drivers in the area choose a variety of vehicles. In years past, some of the front-runners have included the Ford F-150, Buick and Toyota Camry. 2012’s top five...
How to Get Honda Dealership Certified
Honda car dealerships offer automotive technician jobs to mechanics who are certified through the many training programs available.
Which Cars Last the Longest?
The best cars are ones that last the longest without needing much maintenance. The Honda Civic has low repair bills and can rack over 200,000 miles.