My car has been over heating and my boyfriend keeps adding coolant and continues to drive it. I took away the keys to prevent further damage. I do not know where the radiator cap is located. My boyfriend kept adding only to the reservoir and I know it should be added directly to the radiator but he has no clue either as to where the cap is located. Please help
Adding to the reservoir is fine; it works to regulate the amount of coolant in the total system. When there is excessive coolant (or heat when you have a problem) the excess is purged into the reservoir. Likewise, when the engine/radiator cools down, coolant is sucked back into the radiator. (Hot fluids expand, cool contracts, and thus a vacum is created).
You are addressing the wrong problem, here. Taking the keys away was a good first step. You need to also stop driving the car. Coolant loss is a potentially serious problem, not to mention a pollution issue. Get the car to a mechanic and find the source of the leak now. You can't band-aid this. Maybe it's just a hose, but it could be a radiator. No matter what, leaks don't heal up, they only get worse until some thing fails catastrophically. Lose your cooling = lose your engine. GET IT REPAIRED before it relly costs you.
SOURCE: Very hot car.
I'd test the fan by connecting it directly to the battery to verity it is functioning. If it is, check the relays that control the fans they should be located in the fuse box in the engine bay. If the relays are ok the only other thing that could be causing the problem is the temp sensor on the radiator.
SOURCE: car won't start wants to turn over but nothing.
sounds like you have a blown head gasket this would explain loss of coolant and running poorly excessive smoke.
SOURCE: 2003 PT Cruiser overheating
Hi Shannon,
Since the vehicle is already at the mechanics, the standard check this and that scenarios don't apply. I also try to refrain from judging a situation that I'm not in front of, but something isn't quite right.
In case you are being taken advantage of, knowledge is power and I'm going to do my best to empower you. So let's get to the right questions to ask your mechanic.
Things to make note of:
These (not necessarily all) symptoms can be indicative of a problem with the head gasket. The best way to check is with a compression test on all cylinders. This is done by pulling the spark plugs, attaching a pressure gauge and turning the engine once. This is repeated for each cylinder. All pressures should be close. If one or more is significantly less than the others, the cylinder is not containing the compressed gasses within. The symptoms you described along with any one of those on my list should have prompted this test.
Every one of the questions (just about every one) I put down would be reasonable if your car kept working perfectly the first time. I did get on a bit of a rant, please forgive me for that.
When asking them:
I hope there is a reasonable explanation, I don't like to think ill of anyone. I also will not stand for violating professional ethics or people being ripped off.
If these guys are trying to pull a fast one, they are lazy by nature. They are hoping for the same in those they take advantage of. Being prepared is key.
If you have one of those digital voice recorders, make sure it has fresh batteries and set it to record. The second you start asking questions you have the momentum, they are on the defensive.
Ask as many questions as you want. If you don't get straight answers, if you get waffling, condescension or BS, have them get your car ready to go, Don't pay them another dime. And as you leave, ask my final question: Do you guys know a good mechanic?
If you decide to take them to court, that recording is evidence. Their response to that question will likely win you the case.
I hope I have given you enough ammo to get to the bottom of this. If you need anything else comment me back, I'll respond as soon as I get it.
Either way, please let me know what happens. Can you tell I have issues with a certain type of 'business person'? ;-)
Best Regards,
Mike
SOURCE: I have a 2002 Chrysler Town and Country minimvan
May be a bad head gasket check oil for signs of coolant mixing in there may be a cracked head or even a bad head gasket. Going by what you said that there is NO visible leak the only other way for you to be loosing coolant if for it be burning out by engine or mixing in oil. To check for mixing check under oil cap for creamish-while residue or oil looking like milk shake. Good luck and thanks for using FIX YA
SOURCE: fuel filter for 2001 chrysler concorde
for the most part it on the driver side under the car close to the frame of the passenager side just in front of the rear tire in the frame also checkout this website to see if they have your car listed its www.autozone.com if they do you be able to get pictures and diagram showing you where its located on your car.
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