Hello - Car heated up on wife the other day - let it sit awhile then added antifreeze and worked fine - no hot. This morning I added (topped off) and wife called this afternoon that it was hot again. Got home and no antifreeze in overflow. Saw some antifreeze sitting in small areas around engine. What to do next please?

Check your Radiator Cap

If it doesn't over heat it's very possible that there is just too much coolant, so if it's leaking from the overflow there is no problem as that's what it's designed to do

you are low on antifreeze. fill and check for leaks

Your cooking the oil in the engine ( getting to hot/possible oil leak on top of engine). Check the front of the radiator for anything that will cause air not pass through the radiator.If you find any bugs/trash/or a build-up dust or dirt clean it out. Next check to see if the radiator and coolant recovery jug has any antifreeze in it. If not refill each to proper levels with a 50/50 mix antifreeze. Then if all is good run the car in the morning and as it is worming up put your hand on the upper radiator hose to feel if it is hot or cold. If the hose is hot and you can feel the antifreeze moving through the hose then the pump is working correctly. If not and the hose feels luke warm with no movement of fluid then the thermostat is stuck closed and will need to be replaced. Also you need to replace the engine coolant temperature sensor (ect) on engine. Hope this will help you.

overheating is most likely a bad thermostat, but the coolant loss is a second big concern. Does the exhaust look like steam? You could have a cracked block and the coolant is leaking into the engine. Also check the oil for contamination.

After the car warms up feel the heater hoses that go into the fire wall from the motor both should be warm if only one is warm and the other is cool the heat valve that opens the flow of antifreeze to the heater core is not functioning locate the valve (either under dash in passenger compartment or in the egine compartment) it has a vacuum line going to it and it should have vacuum when the heat is on if not replace the vacuum line or valve itself. Back flush heater core and also be sure the level of antifreeze is up to the top low antifreeze will cause no heat to occur.

check the engine temp if too hot add antifreeze

Check your fuse and relay to the radiator fan, There going to be high amp fuse so most likely will be in the fuse box by the battery. If the fuse and relay is good, check the wire harness connection at the fans. The other thing to is to run the engine and turn on your A/C, the A/C should over ride the switch and turn on the fans. If the fans do turn on, inspect the radiator fluid, make sure it's at it's level and if it's never been serviced. It may be time, Orange antifreeze has a life of 150,000 miles or 5 years and the green antifreeze has a life of 30,000 miles and 1 year. The thermostat may also gone bad but i don't think at this case since your car only heats up while your stopped. If everything is working (fan) just replace the antifreeze 50/50 mix (Antifreeze/water), Water has great heat transfer but boils so antifreeze is added, and 100% antifreeze does not have great heat transfer and will gel when heated so the two have to be mixed 50/50 and if your not sure how to mix the two. You can buy them 50/50 mix and the capacity to your car total fill is 7.3 liter 4 cylinder/ 8.6 liter 6 cylinder. 

Hi!

I really feel you could be losing a small amount of coolant from the heater matrix/core.

It appears we have an Air lock scenario due to this and you will need to perform a system Bleed.
Park the vehicle on level ground, when cold remove coolant filler cap, start engine and leave to idle, turn heater on full and blower to max. When engine reaches operating temperature watch and listen near coolant filler, keep clear as gurgling and hopefully a boil over should occur. Top up with very warm coolant and wait as it may do it again.
Check for heat inside vehicle if warm replace coolant cap but keep an eye on temperature gauge as the ~Air lock may have moved on from heater matrix/core so proceedure needs to be carried out again from COLD.
Also with your temp gauge reading 1/2 this is normal, possibly the core is blocked or as already suggested leaking, a Radiator sealing additive might help BUT it may be the cause of your cold/warm air?
TOO MUCH SEALER blocking the Matrix/Core?
I hope all this helps!


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Hi there, you are experiencing a water pump failure. this may be in conjunction with a faulty thermostat as well. i wouldn't drive this car until you replace the water pump and thermostat. it will only cause more internal damage. hope that helps and, thx for using fix ya:)