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2004 Impala Overheating

13K views 34 replies 6 participants last post by  Big Buford 
#1 ·
Hey members. I have a question about my 2004 9c1 which has just over 176k. It seems to be overheating significantly. I replaced my water pump, thermostat(twice) I replaced the coolant elbows that go into the block with aluminum elbows which are stronger. I also have replaced my fuel pump and fuel filters and upper radiator hose. I have also changed the oil and recently added 2 gallons of Dex-Cool (which I hear is a get over, but still used the OE stuff). It seems my auxiliary fans are working correctly as well as they are blowing cool air. One thing I have noticed though is the lower radiator hose is only slightly warm compared to the upper radiator hose that gets almost too hot to touch. I have also noticed that the steam is concentrated mainly directly behind my driver side headlight. Could this possibly be a crack in one of the radiator lines that sits behind the headlight? Sometimes the car itself will display a HOT COOLANT TEMP light but before I can even pull over, the engine temperature will decrease enough to turn the light off and it will sit around the red zone for the rest of the drive but sometimes it doesn't overheat whatsoever and runs just fine! My heater doesn't seem to work unless my car overheats and then as the temp is sitting around the red zone, my heater works amazing (like how it should after replacing it twice now). What do you think guys? Radiator possibly? heater core? I don't seem to notice any coolant leaking like it would be a head gasket or intake manifold vacuum leak. But why would the steam be mainly concentrated behind my driver side headlight? Any ideas would be awesome. Thanks guys, this is driving me crazy!
 
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#7 ·
Not really, that is usually a small leak. If going after the radiator, since the system is drained, flush the core by itself, if you use the hose, don't go full pressure with it. hose at no more than 1/4 power. Now that I'm thinking more, check the upper. may have to tighten the clamp a little.


EDIT: if you used the spring clamp of the old hose, replace it with a new one.
 
#8 ·
I would not rule out a HG leak just yet until you perform tests, are bubbles in the coolant system wile running?, compression test on all 6, leak down test on all 6 is a good place to start.
 
#18 ·
A compression test is the simplest, it's a hose with a pressure gauge at the end you remove a plug screw in the tester and roll over the engine a few times(not starting it), try a web search should be good reading on the procedure.
 
#21 ·
small bubbles on the oil dipstick is no big deal, if you pull the stick and it's milky. that is another story... do a compression and leakdown.
 
#22 ·
I haven't noticed any milky like substance. My oil is very clean due to a oil change literally less than 200 miles ago. What would this milky substance look like? One thing that has been scaring me is the fact of my oil level is unreasonably high on the dipstick which I think would be signs of a blown HG. I still find it complexing on why the majority of the steam is coming directly behind the drivers side headlight?
 
#23 ·
One thing that has been scaring me is the fact of my oil level is unreasonably high on the dipstick which I think would be signs of a blown HG.
Besides the head gasket, an intake manifold gasket leak can also result in coolant getting in the oil.


I still find it complexing on why the majority of the steam is coming directly behind the drivers side headlight?
I've had radiators fail at the seam between the core and the plastic end pans. A leak there, on the driver's side of the radiator, would be in the area of the headlight.

Doug

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#24 ·
It seems like one of the metal elbows might have a hairline fracture or something. It seems like it only steams from this area only. I am going to a trusted shop so they can do a chemical test and pressure test to see if it's a HG. But if it's not then it will hopefully just be a crack in the radiator lines.
 
#25 ·
Quick question for members, I just noticed I don't have a gasket on my thermostat housing, could this be a contribution on the overheating? I noticed a small bubbling coming from the water outlet and that is basically metal on metal with no gasket so the seal is definitely not tight. Any thoughts?
 
#29 ·
If you find any gasket material or gasket maker in the housing (I did when I did mine), remove it all as it may be causing the problem. Keep in mind, this is on the housing only and not the gasket on the thermostat itself. If you still have the leak, do like daman said and replace the gasket on the thermostat itself.
 
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