I've already checked my oil for coolant to see if there could be a possible blown head gasket in my future. The oil is clean as a whistle. The radiator's been replaced in the recent past with no leaks. The fluid levels are fine. The dummy light for the coolant hasn't come on, yet my car has been driving very hot on the city streets. While I'm stopped at a prolonged light or loading zone the car gets extremely hot. Almost to the point of having to put the heater on or pull over.

My dummy light has come on for check engine though. But its been that way for a while. I've checked the car over so its not some urgent issue regarding the light. Its an emissions problem with one of the air flow sensors just like it was in the past.

So does anyone have any suggestions of what it could be? Why my car is running hot? Its a 97 automatic, and its got over 110k miles.

 

Any diagnosis shouldstart if possible with a code read if the CEL lamp is illiminated.. Just to be safe,and to help with direction.. First, doyou hear the electric cooling fan run when the engine seems to be over temp? Does the cooling fan run with the A/C on? Could possibly be a thermostat ect, but the Constant Control Relay Module and PCM are in contol of the cooling fan with input from the coolant temp senor.. The cooling fan should come on at about 221 degree's, or when the A/C is turned on.. If the fan runs, and the engine goes over temp, then I'd suspect the thermo as astart point....

 

well I checked the CEL code and its throwing 2 codes:
1) P0401 EGR Flow Insufficient
2) P0402 EGR Flow Excessive

I've dealt with the EGR Valve and the DPFE sensorbefore. I replaced the later,...don't think I replaced the former though.

But that's still an emmissions deal I believe.

One thing I DID notice when it gets hot is when I drive up a hill. Or have to wait at a light while ascending a hill. Its not a huge hill and I'm not there for an extraordinary amt of time. I'm listening for the fan but I'm not sure. I think its on. Tomorrow when I go out, I'll check better for the fan. So if the fan is coming on and it still seems to be getting hotter, its probably a thermostat deal?

 

UPDATE: well after attempting to replace the thermostat myself and coming to the a grinding halt because of the thermostat housing bolts being fused and subsuently breaking...I had it replaced at a shop. And that was the problem thankfully. Thanks for your help!!

 

Thanks for the update, glad it was a fix....