Overheating!!

[M1LMO3]

So story goes was driving with my brother then the car started to beep I thought seatbelt warning but it was the car was hot looked at the gauge and it was going towards the redline we had been driving for about 30kms in 30 degrees.

So turned off the air con the temp went back down to half way then gradually started to built up again.(ended up getting to my brothers house)

I was stumped it has been the first mechanical problem I've had with the car and it just doesn't play up.

So anyways checked I had engine oil and coolant/water first I knew I did but that's where you start all a-o-ok

Then thought maybe aircon done it so the next day took it for a drive with aircon on and nothing it was fine stayed at normal temperature I was like ok.

Then I notice the smell of coolant burning had notice this before but i flushed and bleed it so I thought I'll leave it at that.

But I thought maybe a pump etc but car hasn't missed a beat once again no error codes and sits on half way it's normal temp so I'm thinking of leaving it at that but I'm stilled worried about the coolant burning and may give it a flush again.

Anyways I'm stumped on the coolant burning and the overheating of the car as I said it doesn't play up and has always be mechanical A1.

I'm just worried it may over heat again when I have to do a 150kms round trip.

Any help is much appreciated.

[Killr6]

have you got any leaks or anything? leave like a piece of cardboard underneath your car after its run from hot.

and you could also replace a few cheap things like thermostat and radiator cap.

[VT_SS]

With that said i gather there is no leaking of coolant at all may have i slight crack and is hitting anything hot in the engine bay can you see any blow back anywhere. If it has got a small crack in it you will find out very soon wether that is your prob. (have you got road side asistance) Also have you checked all hoses and clamps ect ?

[M1LMO3]

have you got any leaks or anything? leave like a piece of cardboard underneath your car after its run from hot.

and you could also replace a few cheap things like thermostat and radiator cap.

Changed radiator cap already my old one had the spring broken off and I don't think it as a leak checked it when it first happened but will have another check.

With that said i gather there is no leaking of coolant at all may have i slight crack and is hitting anything hot in the engine bay can you see any blow back anywhere. If it has got a small crack in it you will find out very soon wether that is your prob. (have you got road side asistance)

Nope it's got no back blow it all looks ok under the hood other then the smell of burning coolant I'm thinking maybe a blocked pump but then again it's fine ATM just don't know how it will go for the long distance.

And yeah I've got roadside so if it goes haywire I've got that backing me up but hopefully it's all fine.

Cheers for the comments guys.

[VT_SS]

No worries at least you have roadside ass and i cant say as i know what burnt coolant smells like good luck.

[FATMOE]

Welcome to the Holden club, that's normal.

[M1LMO3]

Welcome to the Holden club, that's normal.

What's normal about it?

[VT_SS]

Welcome to the Holden club, that's normal.

I secound that whats your point.

[oska]

it may be your heater tap they crack on the lower hose inlet from the engine

i recently did mine at first i thought it was the hose

[FATMOE]

Every Holden overheats it's just a common thing about commodores, it will overheat at one stage in its life.

[M1LMO3]

it may be your heater tap they crack on the lower hose inlet from the engine

i recently did mine at first i thought it was the hose

I'll have a good look underneath tomorrow and see if I can see anything

Cheers for that didn't think of it.

[M1LMO3]

Every Holden overheats it's just a common thing about commodores, it will overheat at one stage in its life.

Point taken I hope this is the first and last time

[aaronevolution]

Every Holden overheats it's just a common thing about commodores, it will overheat at one stage in its life.

Agreed. I've done 3 radiators in 4 years in 2 different commodores. I will definitely be taking more care of my cooling system now.

[oska]

I'll have a good look underneath tomorrow and see if I can see anything

Cheers for that didn't think of it.

the heater tap sits under the ABS module if it's leaking you'll see fluid marks on the right hand rail

[M1LMO3]

Every Holden overheats it's just a common thing about commodores, it will overheat at one stage in its life.

Agreed. I've done 3 radiators in 4 years in 2 different commodores. I will definitely be taking more care of my cooling system now.

I've had two commodores in the last 4 years and this is the first time ones overheated so I'm a bit new to the overheating commodore.

Didn't know it was a common occurrence amongst commodores. Learn something new everyday I guess

[M1LMO3]

I'll have a good look underneath tomorrow and see if I can see anything

Cheers for that didn't think of it.

the heater tap sits under the ABS module if it's leaking you'll see fluid marks on the right hand rail

Cheers for that mate shall take a look and I'll know if I've done the tap.

[VT_SS]

Welcome to the Holden club, that's normal.

ahh now i understand my VX overheated once it would of helped if a bit more coolant was in it.

[Tones]

Had the same problem a while ago in my vx v6. Every now and then would over heat, sometimes when it was below 10 degrees outside. Ended up being the radiator. $110 radiator from eBay, problem solved.

[M1LMO3]

Welcome to the Holden club, that's normal.

ahh now i understand my VX overheated once it would of helped if a bit more coolant was in it.

If only it was that simple and i could *facepalm* myself haha but I always keep the fluids up so should be safe from this every occurring.

Had the same problem a while ago in my vx v6. Every now and then would over heat, sometimes when it was below 10 degrees outside. Ended up being the radiator. $110 radiator from eBay, problem solved.

I gave the radiator a once over looked ok but hopefully it's only the heater tap or a hose pretty cheap to replace but I also thought the radiator at first praying it's not would prefer the easiest job of the two.

Cheers

[m1lky]

You can get the cooking system pressure tested at a radiator place. This will tell you if there's a leak, however minor.

When you turned the ac off, did you turn the heater on? This can pull quite a bit of heat off the engine.

Problem sounds rather odd. I can't think of anything the ac would do. Your ac system isn't really connected to the cooling system (excluding heater core)

[VYMAD]

Water pump may be on its way out.

[m1lky]

Just reread your post.

Did this happen straight after you changed the coolant? If so there will have been an air bubble in the cooling system. The ac would have been coincidental.

Try bleeding it again, but from my experiences it usually starts getting hot then sorts itself out. Just keep coolant topped up

[VYMAD]

Welcome to the Holden club, that's normal.

Bullshit! Temp gauge should sit at exactly the same place, regardless of ambient temperature. Will only overheat/fluctuate if there is some type of problem with the cooling system! Normal my arse.

[M1LMO3]

Just reread your post.

Did this happen straight after you changed the coolant? If so there will have been an air bubble in the cooling system. The ac would have been coincidental.

Try bleeding it again, but from my experiences it usually starts getting hot then sorts itself out. Just keep coolant topped up

Nope did that at it's last service a fair few months ago probably 6months ago.

Water pump may be on its way out.

Possible was one thing mentioned when going through the diagonisating process.

You can get the cooking system pressure tested at a radiator place. This will tell you if there's a leak, however minor.

When you turned the ac off, did you turn the heater on? This can pull quite a bit of heat off the engine.

Problem sounds rather odd. I can't think of anything the ac would do. Your ac system isn't really connected to the cooling system (excluding heater core)

I didn't turn the heater on just turned the a/c off too release some pressure of the car and it went straight back to half way.

I'm a bit stumbed could be a number of things but can't see what it is ATM all looks ok no leaks that I've found, it's currently not overheating all fluids are as usually filled.

Only noticeable thing is the coolant burning so I know something's up but will have to go through the process of elimination and probably just replace the heater tap and all hoses, the water pump etc and give that coolant another flush (all is cheap and easy) and go from there.

Cheers guys

[BowTie]

Did it require any fluid afterwards? If so, it's a leak and the overheat was air in the system. From what i have read, it required no coolant and had no air in it. Then no leak. And if all is well now, and the overheat was a one off, then it's an intermittently sticking thermo.

New thermo.
New heater tap. It will break and let you down. They cook motors with no gauge warning.

That will fix it, but its less than $400 for the whole system. New rad, pump, thermo, cap, tap and hoses is easy to do. The peace of mind it brings is sweet.