Expert: Roland Finston - 8/20/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hello I currently have a 2006 Pt Cruiser, I have replaced the water pump, Thermostat, and fan. The air was removed and system bleed. However if I'm at a stop light or in park the car is showing the heating levels high. I do not know what else too do.

ANSWER: Hi Lisa,
I have a couple of questions: what is the reading level on the gauge/what is the position of the needle compared to "H"? Is there any sign of boiling over/loss of coolant over time?
Do the fans come on when the gauge is over 3/4 scale?
Roland

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes there are signs of loss of coolant out of the revisor that hold the extra coolant it goes up right to 3/4 to the H, and I hear the fan once I stop the car it shut it off. Im not using the A/C at all with this issue and honestly avoid driving long distance, however while the car is moving levels seem to be normal.

Answer
Hu Lisa,
I am still not clear whether you are loosing coolant either from the bottle or elsewhere in the system. Are you having to add 50/50 mixture of coolant to the bottle on a regular basis/do you ever get steam coming out of the bottle?  What amount (ounces) of replacement are you doing per how many miles driven (approximately)? Might the radiator cap not be sealing well (remove cap and inspect the seal rubber for cracks).
If you are loosing coolant without seeing it,  have you watched for the emission of white smoke from the tail pipe when you first start engine and during the first few minutes of operation at the curb?
These specifics may provide a clue as to what is wrong. There are about 20 possible reasons for the gauge running high, so this is not easy to diagnose at a distance.
Roland