Just before it was parked for the winter, I had a pair of overheating glitches in my Dakota. The first time I was idling, the second time I was driving. The hvac heat inside the cab stopped completely at the same time the temp gauge started creeping up. each time, 30 seconds later everything went back to normal.

'00 Dak with 40k on the 5.9L

thoughts?

 

could be a stuck thermostat. start with that.

 

no heat in the cab and you were overheating? I would suspect the water pump. Maybe the belt slipped for a minute, since it went back to normal. If your thermostat was stuck it would take for ever to heat up (if stuck open) or it would run hot and stay hot (if stuck closed). But since they are cheap and fairly easy to replace, like thunder said, it is a good place to start

 

My first thoughts were thermostat, then the heater core might be trying to clog up, and from there I was thinking the water pump. But like stated above, could have had the belt slip on the water pump pulley.

 

Could be something as simple as a air pocket.

 

thanks guys! hadn't occurred to me that the common denominator was the pump itself. if it stops spinning (due to belt or pump issues, or a bubble), then both problems would arise. gives me something to look into next chance I get (thankfully I have the minivan for dd duties in the winter 'cause the dakota is to exact opposite of a good winter driver).
--Pete