Overheating issues

[SamanthaB]

I came back hoping my fellow Cruisers would be able to lend me a shoulder to cry on and some advice. My 2003 PT Cruiser just today started overheating. I pulled to the side of the road when the temp warning gauge went off. Popped the hood and could hear the coolant boiling. It turned out it was pretty low. My parents had to drive and find me on the side of the road. We add more and hoped that would help. part of the way back home the gauge jumped again. Managed to limp the car in our driveway before it overheated. Now I'm 1000 miles over my oil change, could my oil filter be clogged?

I had temp problems just as recent as last November. The car would say it was overheating but there was no smoke. Thought we fixed it with a new thermostat. Then it the temp would drop and the needle buried in the cold line and ice air pumping through the cabin vents (in the middle of a bad winter no less) Was scheduled to fix the 2ND! thermostat and my alternator goes. Cost $450 bucks to replace the thermostat and the alternator. Now this. I am ripping my hair out over this car. I love it to death, when it works. It rides nice and is extremely comfortable. But the issues keep cropping up. If anyone can help a frustrated PT owner I would welcome it. I truly love this vehicle but cannot take the stress of it too much anymore

[SamanthaB]

Have checked my oil level and its holding steady. hasn't lost oil since the last oil change.

[quicksilverdon]

Has nothing to do with oil level.
You might have leak, are losing coolant, and when it gets low you overheat.
You need to check the level in the overflow bottle regularly.
Your engine fan may not be working.
How many miles on the PT?

[Busted_PT]

You need to give us some more info ion the pt such as mileage. You have a leak and possibly a cooling fan issue. the oil has nothing to do with the heating problem. If you heat it up to much you will damage the head. So you need to get it under control before you kill it.

[Handy_Cruiser]

Check to assure the fan is working first and that there are no coolant leaks while the engine is running and warm with the radiator cap on tight. If the fan checks out and there are no leaks, I would almost bet it's the head gasket. There are many many PT's with blown head gaskets after an initial overheat for another reason. Blowing the coolant out when the coolant is not extremely hot is one of the symptoms. A chemical test for compression gas in the radiator may confirm this.

Since you have already changed the thermostat, it could also be a plugged radiator. But based on similar threads on this forum, that seems to be more rare than the other usual suspects.

[quicksilverdon]

Originally Posted by Busted_PT

You need to give us some more info ion the pt such as mileage. You have a leak and possibly a cooling fan issue. the oil has nothing to do with the heating problem. If you heat it up to much you will damage the head. So you need to get it under control before you kill it.

Looks like I just typed a tad faster...


You MIGHT get lucky and just need a new radiator cap...