My car just started overheating like crazy today. First off it is was hard to get started, once the car started it would idle then shut off, this happened 3 times, finally I got it started. I have the CSI water pump and think it is working, I can hear it turn on and everything. I have a water temp gauge and in like 2 min it went from 160 to well over 250 and was rising real fast. If the fan isn't working would it still go this high so fast? I have plenty of coolant and a 160 tstat. I just checked the coolant and there was some black specs or dirt, maybe rust. Does any one know what my problem coud be, would something small like a clogged radiator make my car get this hot that fast, before it would NEVER go over 205 and that was on a real hot day, it is cold out now. any help would be much appreciated.
Mike

 

Have you done anything to your cooling system lately? Possibly air in the lines that may need to be bled. May also be time to change out the T-stat. Yes, a clogged radiator will affect your temp seeing how it is part of the loop for the coolant to flow.

 

I got all the air out of the lines and it still overheated like crazy, then I took out the tstat to see if it still works. I boiled it and it opened fine. Now I guess I will take the radiator out and see if it is clogged. If it isn't I guess my problem is the water pump. Anyone have any other ideas, the heat goes up real fast when it is real cold out and at idle, and has trouble starting.

 

Let it cool down and when there is no more pressure in the radiator, remove the cap. Start the engine, let it idle and watch for coolant flow once the thermostat opens. Keep an eye on the gauge.