As some of you know, I'm in Iraq and it kills me that I can't take care of my family. The situation is my wife's 01 Pontiac Sunfire is running hot, but weird. It's opposite of a fan problem. Runs hot while driving then cools when stopped. She just got a new water pump. Could the thermostat be clogged? Quick help would be great.

 

Thanks for your service Hitched!

As for the Sunfire, a wild stab in the dark here but, I agree with the thermostat being the next thing to swap out.

I'm far from a mechanic but, I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Be safe over there!

 

Have them check the coolant level. Crazier things have happened. Sometimes when refilling, there is an air bubble blocking flow and they think it is full and it isn't. Next would be to check the thermostat, see if fluid is flowing through the radiator after it is up to operating temp. Then a far out one is that the new water pump can be faulty. The impeller can be messed up and not turn on the shaft. Rare, but it has happened.

 

THanks guys. I'll let her know. I'll update once we figure out what the crap is going on.

 

I'd say it might not be a bad idea for it to be switched to start. I wonder and this might be a long shot, if the water pump rotation is correct? My brother one time switched jeep engines, an 88 with an 86. He put everything from the 88 onto the 86 block. Guess what, 86 had v-belt and 88 serpentine so 2 opposite rotations. I just thaught maybe it's a possibility, sounds coincidental with the fact of a new pump. Did this happen before or after the pump replacement? Can't really say for sure, having 03 sunfire problems of my own with the old lady's car. The blower fan ticks really loud and I think maybe a leaf is stuck in it.

 

Not a far shot at all. The engine has been replaced, so it could be a different one.

 

Never rule anything out, as we found out on that Jeep deal. Wouldn't take much to just switch routing on engines sometimes, like no a/c vs a/c let's say. I'd imagine it was done at a shop, water pump and or engine replacement so they should stand by it. In reality, there is only so much it could be. Another good point is having air in the system (wasn't burped right or at all) causing the pump to cavitate, NFG there too. Take care over there brother.

 

Remember when replacing a thermostst allways use a Failsafe. It can save an engine.

 

Apparently it quit happening and She wants to hope it stays gone til I get home in 3 weeks. Ida changed it, but you know. Thanks guys.

 

I have a 95 Sunfire as my beater 138k miles. The head gaskets are known to leak and I just replaced the switch for the raidiator fan.