Questions and Answers

Overheating Pontiac Sunfire Q. Hello, I have a 1999 Pontiac Sunfire, 2.2 liter engine, automatic transmission, 78,553 miles. Well my problem is my car keeps getting hot when i'm in traffic or at a light. The gauge goes towards the red when I'm driving slow or stopped. But as soon as I drive it cools down because the air is hitting the fan.

I have changed the thermostat, sensor, water pump, had the radiator flushed out, new fan motor, but it still gets hot. One other question about the thermostat, I was told that auto part stores sell thermostats with different temperatures, they told be that my car has only one made for my car, is this correct?

I really don't know what else to do. I'm really hoping that it is not something that's going to be expensive to fix. If you would please help with some advice or thoughts on what it might be.

Thanks please help,
Yvonne
Houston, TX

A. There may be nothing wrong with your car! Have you let it run until you hear the coolant fan come on? Note where the dash gauge reads when fan comes on and see if gauge goes down after it does. Then have someone put a scanner on it and see what the PCM is reading for temperatures when fan comes on and cycles off.

That fan will not come on until it sees a temperatures of about 228 degrees. There should be only one temperatures range of the thermostat, 195 degrees.