Expert: Roger J.M. Warrington - 11/4/2005

Question
I have a new engine and almost everything else on this motor is new as well. It has about 20,000 on this new engine and I am having constant problems with overheating.  Everything has been checked and rechecked for this issue. I even put in a new radiator fan motor.  The only other thing we can think it could be is the fan relay since the fan is not coming on all the time when the engine gets hot.  I can only go about 3 to 5 miles (with stops) and 10 (without stops) before the car heats up to the point that it completely bogs down dies and it takes about 10 to 15 minutes of cooling before it will start and go again before it heats up and dies again.

Could the overheating be caused because the relay for the fan does not work properly, therefore not turning on the fan to cool the engine, causing the car to stop or is there another reason for the overheating and for the car to stop after such a short period of time? Does this kind of overheating cause the car to stop? While it is hot, you can actually turn the car on, but when you put it in gear it stops. It will idle in park for a long period of time without stopping, but on the road and in gear it will stop when it heats up.

If it could be the relay, is there a place were I can find a schematic of the relay for my car so I can fit it myself.

If it isn't the relay, what else could cause this problem with overheating and the car to stop completely when in gear?


Answer
HI Sherrie;
           OK the first thing that I would do is to take out the thermastat and get a new one. or you can even try it with out one for a bit. and also check the timeing . it could be off a bit. but you should have a pressure test taken to see where the leak is if any, and again remove the thermastadt and get a new one, I bet that is what it is if it is not the fan relay. The relay should be in / on the fuse box if not next to the fan unit.
Roger