so my check coolent indicator lights on and off while driving. I topped it off a bit though it didn't seem to need it. now i was sitting in traffic and i started over heating! WTFFF? anybody got an idea whats wrong?

 

Coolant sin't a consumable, so if you're low, then it's leaking. Coolant should be replaced about every 2 years. If longer alkali can build up and the pH becomes acidic chewing away at the water jackets. If you have a hygrometer you can check with a drop of your coolant. You can also take a DMM and check to see if voltage is being produced.

0.0- 0.2V good

around 0.5 V think about replacing


0.7V+ change it now!!!

 

I bought it in July. Put 12k miles on it since then. (now at 40k.) It isn't leaking. It's just not getting th job done though either. Maybe your right Jeep.

 

Also check your thermostat, could be stuck closed

 

Very likely the issue.

 

What do you mean by over heating did the temp. gauge go up or was steam coming from under the hood?

 

yah the gauge went up til i started moving again. then it went down but the indicator continued to come on and off periodically

 

im having a brain fart. pls explain?

 

Check your cooling fan to see if it's operating

Just my Dos Centavos !

 

the thermostat is nothing more than a metal casing holding a wax pellet against a diaphragm. As the engine heat increases the coolant makes the wax expand forcing open the diaphragm allowing the coolant to pass into the radiator to cool down before recirculating to the engine to cool said engine. If the thermostat is stuck closed then no coolant flows and stagnates within the block not removing heat. Your CTS coolant temp sensor is what governs some engine/trans functions via ECU/PCM/whatever it's called today and that light coming on and off.

 

If the temp went up it could be the thermostat. Check the coolant level after when the engine has cooled down for a few hours (what ever you do don't try to check it when it's hot ).If it's low again than you have leak or the thermostat is closed. Is there any wet spots in the engine compartment?

 

See what Stogey said... there's a TSB for the fan - have you had that done?

 

my coolant was never low when i checked it and their no signs of leaking. there is a tube that leads to nowhere from the reservoir with a few drips below it i suspect that is an overflow tube? I DONT KNOW SH!* about cars let me get that outta the way. with that said, where am i gonna find this thermostat to check if its stuck?

 

Yeh i checked the Vin #'s and no recall for my car. At what point should my fan kick on? don't i put the heater on?

 

It should come on when the temp starts going up if it doesn't that might be the problem.

 

If it cools back down when you get going it's more likely the fan and not the t-stat. It would get even hotter if the t-stat were stuck.

 

true. i wonder why my coolant light comes on b/c my fans not kicking on though?

 

Wich one is coming on?

 

coolant low... the second. first one never came on.

 

How high did the temp go up was it just little over the half way mark or more than that like 3/4 or more?