When I drive my tamp gage will overheat to about 240blow ...


When I drive my tamp gage will overheat to about 240blow hot air til then and then go down to noram remp around 200 and blows cold air Mechanic's Assistant: Have you checked the coolant? Have you checked for a leak in the ...

When I drive my tamp gage will overheat to about 240blow hot air til then and then go down to noram remp around 200 and blows cold air Mechanic's Assistant: Have you checked the coolant? Have you checked for a leak in the cooling system? No leak and addrd coolant Mechanic's Assistant: What is the make/model/year of your car? Pontiac Grand Am 2003 SE Mechanic's Assistant: Are you fixing your Grand Am yourself? What have you tried so far? No would just like general opinion All i did was try and add coolant Mechanic's Assistant: Anything else you want the Mechanic to know before I connect you? There is like a crackling sound kind of when i start my car

Automotive Expert
Hi! Welcome to JustAnswer. Thank you for contacting us for assistance with your vehicle. I'm Ron. I will be happy to assist you with your question. May I ask to whom I have the pleasure of speaking with today?

Myla
Automotive Expert
Good morning Myla. Nice to see you today! I'm sorry to hear you are having this problem. I know this can be frustrating. Please give me one moment to type out some information for you. Sit tight one minute. I'll be right back! Thank you for holding Myla, The problem you are describing sounds like you either have trapped air in the cooling system or you have a failing engine thermostat. I would start here with having a cooling system pressure test performed to me sure the cooling system is able to hold pressure as needed and if that checks okay then the next step would be to replace the thermostat and rebleed the cooling system to remove any trapped air.

II replaced the thermostat last september
Automotive Expert
Okay, that does not necessarily mean it has not failed again, the fact that the temp comes up and drops along with the heater going from cold to hot does indicate there is a coolant flow issue so the pressure test needs to be done which will also verify if the cooling system is completely full with no trapped air.

Also the crackling sound it sound likes its coming from the radiatorokay
Automotive Expert
The cracking noise does in fact indicate the cooling system is low on coolant and you have trapped air in the system.

okay can i just add coolant to it? OR do i have to flush the whole system and read coolant and will that help the heat not working?
Automotive Expert
You can try adding coolant but if you have trapped air it will need to be bled or you will not be able to get the trapped air out.

how do i do that? or would i be better taking it to a shop to do it.
Automotive Expert
The best way to bleed the system is with a vacuum bleeder and unfortunately, if you do not have this tool and or the Air to run it then you are best served here to take it in to the shop.

Okay so just one more time the problem im describing doesnt sound like anything with the radiator?
Automotive Expert
No, it does not sound like the radiator, it sounds like you either low on coolant with trapped air or the thermostat is failing.

Okay, thank you!
Automotive Expert
You're very welcome, Myla! Glad I could be of some help today! I hope everything works out well for you! If there are any additional questions on this issue that should arise, please feel free to reply and ask! Have a great day!

What others are asking

believe i have a bad power steering pump, how much does that job cost usually? now my car is having trouble starting, any relation
You will need to have the engine checked to see if it was a starter drive that was stuck and you burned up the starter. It may be the starter that was making the noise. I recommend having this checked...
rpm below 1 when idle
Hi there: What you're describing is not a normal situation. Although changing the spark plugs and O2 sensor tend to fix this type of issue, it could also be caused by dirty fuel filter (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/fuel-filter-replacement), clogged fuel injector lines, or...
My oil and engine light are flickering on and off after about 15 minutes of driving
The oil light is coming on after it warms up due to once the oil is warmed up it thins out and oil will leak past worn parts like the main crankshaft bearings and crankshaft rod bearings. Your oil pump...
We are replacing rhe water pump and the special tool is not working it just keeps slipping the water pump is very rusty need help
The replacement of the water pump on your vehicle is more complex than the average vehicle and does require a special GM tool (J 38816-A Water Pump Remover & Installer), therefore if you desire you can request that a certified...
my friend ran over a curb with a lowered car and now the car wont move. its manual and when you put it in any gear it wont move. a
Hello. It sounds like when the vehicle hit you also had a cv axle failure. Any suspension damage can change the angle at which the axle sits causing it to either fail or pop out of the transmission. I would...
Jeep won't start. One click when key is turned.
Confirm that the engine immobilizer system (security system) is not activated thus preventing the car from starting. If the immobilizer system is on, you may see a security warning light. To temporarily override the immobilizer system, see these instructions (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-shut-off-the-anti-theft-device-in-your-car-by-jason-unrau)....
Door lock problems
Hello. The door lock issue at hand is likely due to a faulty door lock timer module. The door lock timer module is located inside of the dashboard and happens to be a common failure on Subaru vehicles. If requested,...
2008 Kia Sedona, 3.8L V-6, transverse : check engine light constant on; occasional random misfire(P0300) with P2198
If you are getting random misfire codes and O2 sensor codes after getting fuel i suggest you have a fuel sample test to see if there is excessive water in the fuel. You can try adding some drygas in the...
Code P0010 and P0011
Your car is fuel injected, which means that pumping the pedal will not make any difference in terms of starting the vehicle. Codes P0010 and P0011 relate to the varying differences between the camshaft and crankshaft, which is something that...