Hey guys, when im going up hill, like in the mountains or im driving on the freeway uphill the engine temp guage climbs pretty close up to the Hot line. the car has 95k miles on it. what do you think the problem could be? clogged radiator? from what i know it still has the factory thermostat. do you think the thermostat could be dirty or something? any help would be appreciated. thanks !

 

almost sounds to me like a fan issue, especially if it stays center under normal driving, check your fan clutch (spin it by hand w/ the engine off, if it spins more than 1/2 a turn or so replace the clutch)

and check to make sure the e-fan is going on w/ the a/c as that could cause it too.

the other thing you should do is check your anti-freeze to see what the boiling/freezing point of it is,
http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Det...125_0006384096

it SHOULD be a 50/50 mix which gives you boiling/freezing points of 265/-34
http://www.finalube.com/Product_Data...tended_pdf.pdf

since the factory anti-freeze is 5 yrs/100k miles (iirc) you are getting close to a flush due anyway

 

Replace the T-stat first with an OEM 195 from the dealer and finish filling with 50/50.

 

Fans in top shape. it has good resistance and stops almost immediately after i spin it by hand... plus i dont think the fan is much use when going 55 on the freeway as the outside rushing air is the main thing cooling the radiator. and the e-fan engages! but yea ill swap out the thermostat and see what happens!

 

So i took the D in for a diagnostic and the dealer said everything works fine but the fan clutch needs to be replaced and thats whats causing my uphill overheating weird..

 

Have you checked the rad for clogs? Did you use an IR detector? Just sayin'.

 

got back from the dealer with my car. yea also i always wondered when i turned off my car i could touch the radiator and it felt cold etc. weird. but they ended up changing the fan clutch and giving me a new radiator. cars like new! radiators burning now if i try to touch it so im guessing my old rad was clogged!

 

There it was! Clogged rad. Sucha simple fix but they wanted to keep you going back to get more of yoru money! Glad you got it fixed.

 

Thanks for the update!