Overheating overheats then drops back to normal;then overheats again;then back to normal?

where is the drain located on the PT Cruiser where is the drain located on the PT Cruiser

Seems to happen only when I am idling for some time, such as at a light, or stop and go traffic on the freeway



Seems to happen only when I am idling for some time, such as at a light, or stop and go traffic on the freeway

I also have a 2002 PT Cruiser, for only the last 3 months, and I, too, have been plagued with this overheating problem! I have had it in with it's "warranty" 2 different times, both not showing anything wrong with this overheating problem. EVERYTHING was checked, problems with the A/C, Heating, anything else they could think of! I left, with a list of things to "try" to get the problem to return! Nothing I did worked, but after a trip 4 hours out of town, it overheated 3-4 times with my husband driving! Each time we were just idling! And last night, with my husband in the car, it overheated again, this time smelling antifreeze, and we drove straight to the dealership where we purchased it!

We were told the next time it happened, we were to go directly there and have them see it! Of course, no one but the 3rd shift mechanic was there, but he was a gem! He tried several things and after about an hour, he found that it was the cooling fan for the radiator NOT WORKING AT ALL and it had to be replaced! I left it there for the shop to fix today and I will be able to pick it up before they close this afternoon! So, PLEASE check this out! It happens all of the sudden and you will have many more problems arise from it, if you haven't gotten it fixed yet! Hope this helps. Now, I just need to find out how I get my "loss of air" in my front tires fixed! They've had it 2 times, each cleaning the aluminum rims and rebeading the tires. I STILL have 12-16 lbs. of air to replace every 3-4 days, in my front tires! This is ridiculous and I refuse to just accept "It's what happens to a PT Cruiser's front wheels"! I've even had a mechanic tell me that he owned one a while back and the loss of air in one of his front tires was the problem in an accident he had! Unbelievable! Let me know what happens! Linda :) I also have a 2002 PT Cruiser, for only the last 3 months, and I, too, have been plagued with this overheating problem! I have had it in with it's "warranty" 2 different times, both not showing anything wrong with this overheating problem. EVERYTHING was checked, problems with the A/C, Heating, anything else they could think of! I left, with a list of things to "try" to get the problem to return! Nothing I did worked, but after a trip 4 hours out of town, it overheated 3-4 times with my husband driving! Each time we were just idling! And last night, with my husband in the car, it overheated again, this time smelling antifreeze, and we drove straight to the dealership where we purchased it!
We were told the next time it happened, we were to go directly there and have them see it! Of course, no one but the 3rd shift mechanic was there, but he was a gem! He tried several things and after about an hour, he found that it was the cooling fan for the radiator NOT WORKING AT ALL and it had to be replaced! I left it there for the shop to fix today and I will be able to pick it up before they close this afternoon! So, PLEASE check this out! It happens all of the sudden and you will have many more problems arise from it, if you haven't gotten it fixed yet! Hope this helps. Now, I just need to find out how I get my "loss of air" in my front tires fixed! They've had it 2 times, each cleaning the aluminum rims and rebeading the tires. I STILL have 12-16 lbs. of air to replace every 3-4 days, in my front tires! This is ridiculous and I refuse to just accept "It's what happens to a PT Cruiser's front wheels"! I've even had a mechanic tell me that he owned one a while back and the loss of air in one of his front tires was the problem in an accident he had! Unbelievable! Let me know what happens! Linda :)

Same Problem with my 2002 Pt Cruiser. I replaced the Cooling Fan Motor, Coolant sensor, Thermostat, Radiator cap, and Coolant. It still overheats when the Air Conditioning is turned on only????? Same Problem with my 2002 Pt Cruiser. I replaced the Cooling Fan Motor, Coolant sensor, Thermostat, Radiator cap, and Coolant. It still overheats when the Air Conditioning is turned on only?????

I just got a 2005 pt a couple of weeks ago with 137,000 mi. It has overheated twice with the past week. I noticed the idle is rough when I have the front defroster on, and tonight i noticed some sort of small puddle under the front part of the car. I'm trying to narrow down the possible suspects: thermostat, water pump?

I just got a 2005 pt a couple of weeks ago with 137,000 mi. It has overheated twice with the past week. I noticed the idle is rough when I have the front defroster on, and tonight i noticed some sort of small puddle under the front part of the car. I'm trying to narrow down the possible suspects: thermostat, water pump?