Recently if my car idles for more then a couple minutes it starts to over heat. We are talking 3-4 minutes. Nothing runs different although A/C gets hot and temp gauge goes out the roof! I have no idea whats going on my water and oil levels are on set. I dont know if its due to my header being hotter then the stock manifold or what?

 

I don't know if your problem is the same as mine, but my car was doing the same thing, and when I tested the coolant I found out it was 100% straight coolant, not mixed. All I did was pour some distilled water in the reservoir and topped off the radiator and its been running cool ever since. It fixed my a/c going hot/cold too.

Best of luck to you.

 

Air in the system? Old radiator cap?

 

Ill check both of those things, I've only had it for a little havent really checked much on it, just havent had time working 60 hours a week in a commision only job.

 

I would change the thermostat. $5-$10 depending on the quality and if youve overheated you want to change it out anyways.

 

I never exactly over heated, it just went way up, probably 3/4th the way to the red.

 

oh shi! Duh! Fans!

Check your fans. Our cars are notorious for having the fan controllers die randomly. Are your fans coming on at all? Also dont forget to check the other things I suggested.

If your car starts to do that again, turn on your heat all the way. It will help cool it off quicker.

 

Turning on the heat would be so much easier if my temp knob didnt snap and my fans do come on. Its weird and has only done it twice, sitting my happy *** in the McDonalds line and at work idleing for about 10 minutes.

 

Just because they come on doesnt mean they do it consistently. They start to fail then just one day they dont work at all.

Just keep an eye on them. Next time you start to over heat pop the hood and see if they are on.

If your fans are on, no bubbles, cap is in good condition there really should be no reason for over heating.

Also check junk yards for the CC assembly. MUCH cheaper than buying a whole new one. No junk yard close? Car-part.com

 

exactly what happened to my lancer

that and my radiator had a pressure leak

 

Well I can hear them when the car starts getting to hot, they are pretty loud. Im gonna go buy that part and start from there.

 

all of these are good points but to run hot in 3-4 mins is not good. but check it all thermostat,fans,rad cap all that good stuff if it all checks out then you just might have a blown head gasket. thats what happened to me and i had same symptoms,not running hot as quick though. check the overflow tank by the radiator while its running for bubbles, if you have some then its a blown head gasket. its going to build pressure and blow coolant out the over flow depending on where the crack is. it sounds stupid but with the car runnin smell the exhaust for a sweet smell thats another sign of a blown hg. hope you work it out and with everybody on here we can help as much as possible.

 

Went out and ran it around the block, no bubbles so I guess thats a good thing ! I mean it doesnt happen all the time, just when its hot out and my car is idleing. Like I'd be more screwed then a hooker in a virgin room if I got in a traffic jam.

 

Does it cool off while your moving?

 

If it starts getting hot, the instant I get over like 3mph it drops superfast back to normal after maybe 15 feet of normal accelaration.