Shot in the Dark - Auto Repair Question

I'm one of those mechanic chicks! lol

First, DO NOT drive the car! Repeat overheating will warp a head and can blow a head gasket.

Here's my first few thoughts:

When the radiator cap was put back on wrong you got an air bubble in the system, the system will need to be properly bled.

the waterpump has failed, look around the seal the waterpump. It will have 2 black hoses attached to it, it will be attahced with your belt. The gasket is on the backside of it. The whole waterpump will have to be replaced.

Themorstat (sp) has failed. This is what tells the car to turn on the waterpump and to start recycling the coolant through the engine.

Or it could be a simple hose leak. While the car is cool, inspect all the hoses, and squeeze them. Hoses should be firm and not soft. Look around the clamps.

By the way you can refill through your resevoir when the engine is cooled and off. You refill to the "Cold" mark and recheck to make sure it in the normal range marked "Hot" after you have driven it and "cold" when the engined is cooled down. You never want to add water/antifreeze to an overheated car, that will cause it to warp a head or crack a head, wait till it's cooled down. And never open the radiator cap when the engine is warm, it's under pressure when it's hot and it will blow hot fluid all over the place. I highly doubt this is the problem. If you want to check a cracked head or blown head gasket, pull out the oil dip stick and look for foam.

ohhh darling. i hate it when this stuff happens! i could sit and speculate a bunch. i think the best thing to do is take it up to auto zone. they do a FREE diagnostic. i love free. god luck...M

Did you refill with water or antifreeze. My hubby says you need to have a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze. It you refilled w/just water then the circulation won't work. You refill it when the car is running so the thermostat will let the water/antifreeze mix go in. If you refilled when car was off you would damage the car by warping the head of the motor. So...you need to check reservoir to see the levels of antifreeze/water, if there is mix in the reservoir start car up w/cap off reservoir, let car idle until at operating temp (5 min), then water levels should go down, but should still have mixture left in reservoir...if NO mix left then add some in equal parts. While car is running make sure there is no water spewing on ground below because if there is, you have already had damage and cracked the head of the motor and will have to replace it. That would explain why car is in the red and why no head is coming out, because the mixture hasn't circulate through the heater core. IF none of this works...you may just have a bad thermostat that needs to be replaced. hope this helps!! Good Luck

Are you close to an O'Riely auto shop? They are great about either calling with a question or taking your car up for a diagnostic. My husband is a car guy, (worked on them since before he could drive) and he will only go to O'Riely if it's available.

Good Luck!

you may have screwed up your heater core. You need to get this checked out. My dad has had a couple heater cores go out and that's usually the sign, the heater is blowing cold air, the car runs hot, and you have antifreeze leak.

The radiator is made to be a pressurized system. You should never take the cap off. Always fill the reservoir (like you were doing). When it was operated with the cap off, you most likely warped something because coolant could not circulate properly. Sorry to say, BIG UH OH. Once something is warped or blown, you need to replace right away. Continued operation of the system with a malfunctioning part will only increase damage. Even though your brother works on German cars, they all work pretty similarly (unless he specializes in diesels). Have him at least take a look at it if you think another mechanic won't deal straight with you becuase you're a woman.

First I will say I know nothing (or virtually nothing) about cars. But definitely make sure there is water in the radiator and get it to someone quickly for a diagnostic check. My hubby failed to do that in a timely manner for our Yukon and we ended up with a blown gasket and needed a new engine...so what would have only been a $300 repair for a water pump (to cool the engine...i.e. your high temperatures), instead cost $3,000. If you can afford it...just drive it to the closest mechanic and be done with it. The more you drive it in the hot zone, the more problems you are going to have.

Carrie,

If you were having no problems with the heat or the engine temperature before this boil over I would say it a an antifreeze to water mixture problem. Just start over and flush and refill your radiator. If the operating temperature is still off then you may have a bad sensor.

J. N.