After about 3 miles the temp guage pinns and there is no heat. Thermostat? My coolant level is a little low but I didn't want to add any until I found out for sure what kind. The truck sits a lot and becomes my primary vehicle about now here in NH.

 

1. Thermostat is stuck or
2. Your coolant is froze somewhere (This happened to me a long time ago in a Cutlass). Fortuanatly it just started to freeze, put into the garage and it was fine an hour later. Although my water pump began leaking the following summer. or
3. Water pump is toast.

Step one test the coolant to see hwo cold it is good for. If not good enough for the temp outside get it in a warm garage ASAP. If that is all OK attack the thermostat then the water pump. Your truck has a 7/70 powertrain warranty?? If so if the coolant passes the test just take it in.

 

How many miles? Are you finding any in the oil? How does the coolant look? Is it just dark or does it have rust/scale build up?

If I were you, I'd do a coolant flush and a thermostat change. Be sure to have a proper mix to keep from freezing!!!

 

I have 13k miles. I haven't looked at the coolant yet. This rainy Monday morning I think I will try to find a thermostat, fill up the coolant and get to work. I am still under warranty but I need to get some wheels under me asap.

 

I changed my mind and had it towed to the dealership. Might as well use the 3 months left on the Warranty.

 

Please let us know what they find in this thread after it is fixed, and good luck.

 

The dealer tells me that some VERY SPECIAL hose with a sleeve blew out. Aparently there are none in New England so I will have to wait at least a week for the part but it is covered under warranty.

 

You might consider asking him to order two of them so you have one of your own on hand, just in case it happens again, especially if its out of warranty

 

Hmmm, a bad radiator hose, huh? How would that cause it to overheat? Would it collapse on itself? Just curious.