Ok... I have a 2010 Journey SXT that has started to overheat. I changed the thermostat and thought that would have fixed the issue... but no!

I get heat from the heater while driving and when the car is parked after driving, there are NO visible water leaks on the floor. What I see happening to me is that the coolant tank builds up a ton of pressure while driving and then steam rolls out from evaporated coolant.

I first thought the heater core was leaking, but as I mentioned the heater is working fine on the interior... and there are no visible water leaks running out onto my garage floor.

I am so stumped on this and I thank you in advance for any help you can provide.

Thank you!

 

Is your "radiator" cap seal distorted ?

 

Have you tested the coolant to see if it is the proper mixture?

 

Does your Radiator fan work?

 

You may have a blowen head Gasket

 

ok, to solve your problem check out you tube video about the mini van that has a broken Y fitting. you will find this fitting on the D/S of the engine block. and it splits and goes into the fire wall on one side and then the other runs back around the rear of the engine and returns to the coolant resevoir

 

sqkint74 was correct!!! It was the Y-pipe/tube causing all of my issues!!! Unfortunately Dodge requires you to purchase all the aluminum tubes and all I needed was the short rubber hoses with the special bend to it. My local mechanic charged me $588 to replace!!!!

But now after fixing the y-pipe I have NO problems with the coolant or building up of pressure. Vehicle runs great... although... NOW, I am only getting heat on the driver side and cold air on the passenger and rear. Before they replaced the y-pipe the heater was working with no issues. Any suggestions on the reason cold air on the passenger side?

Thanks again for all of your help!!!

 

it would seem that since you actually had a mechanic do the work, that you should take it back and tell them to fix the problem that they caused; but some else was having a similar problem and didn't post his find after he found out what it was

 

Sounds as if it might be as simple as an air lock
in part of the water/coolant path.
I would say that the one who replaced the parts
should be first on the list to see.

 

I have this exact same issue.

So I was driving home and randomly I hear a ding look down saw that the temp was about 3/4 rather then the just below half it sits at.

I killed the engine popped the car into neutral, then coasted to the off-ramp and waited for a few minutes. The coolant bottle was empty no visible signs of leaks, checked the floor boards to see if I had mositure and none. Also checked the oil and no coolant there... So I threw a couple rags on top of the cap (after poping the bottle cap and waiting 10 min, I then began to fill the radiator with water. I filled the entire system up. waited a bit longer to let it cool then drove it to the best place to look at it getting off the highway. I ran the car keeping an eye on the temp guage hit the gas while in park did this for about 30 min nothing turned the a/c on did not overheat.... hmmmm.... where did all the coolant go? So I started to drive it back home babying it keeping it below 60 mph stopping about every 20 or so miles. for about 60 miles (I did not want it to truly overheat.

Well the next day I started by inspecting the cooling system, first I drained the system completely and Put a vaccum on the system, It held negative pressure. for 20 min. then I released the pressure filled the system with water and added a coolant pressure tester then let it sit for 20 it held the positive pressure, I then started the car and let it run with the pressure tester on it. Didn't even move I then had my wife get in the driver's seat and hit the gas nothing still didn't move. so then I drained the system again pulled the first thermostat (there are two a 170f (water inlet)and a 202f(mounts up against the engine). I inspected the first termostat very minimal wear on it it actually almost looked new. So then I decided to put a clamp on one of the heater (it has two cores) core hoses returns to isolate one at a time I back flushed into a jug that I premarked to ensure I got the same amount of fluid when it drained from the fill side I poured the water into the hose using a funnel looked at the marker line on jug same amount of water just slightly dirty, I repeated this procedure for the rear heater core same results just a lot dirtier and both flowed freely, I Then went and tested the radiator which same thing no fluid loss and flowed freely (keep in mind I blew out the lines with a garden hose prior to doing this which was instant when water flowed. I I then continued inspecting the cooling system by removing what i call the coolant distribution box. revealing the second thermostat, which was stuck slightly in the open position had significant wear on it as well. So I found the problem well I went grabbed the oring seal two new thermostats, took them home tested both in a pan with water to ensure they opened at the right temp. They opened really close to my thermometer a deg or two off so i figured Just my thermometer, and called them good. So I reassembled everything filled the system up with water, took it for a drive up a steep hill, at 65mph well half-way up it started to overheat again, So I flipped it around killed the engine, putting the car into neutral and coasted it back into town. I get down into town get out pop the hood have a look my radiator lines were sucked in on themselves, in other words a vacuum was on them so I threw a few rags over the cap released the vent seal, and waited a moment to take the cap off completely the bottle was full but the line was empty, huh? so I filled it up again, then tested the system for leaks again none found, tested the cap which dropped immediately so Then I replace the cap refill and burp the system, got heat in the car both front and back went on a test drive again, drove it to the top of the hill with no issues, (keep in mind the temp was about the same outside) drove it down flipped around went back up, and did it one more time no overheating, so then I turned on the a/c giving it a bit more of a load, repeated this hill two more times, no issues. So I fixed the issues right? well I drained the system filled it back up with 50/50 dexicool burped the system and then went on another drive to ensure no overheating or bubbles in the system. which I had heat the hole time on the first two ups and down on the hill... then turned on the a/c did it again twice not over heating, then I drove it to my in-laws who live 200 miles down the road no issues, checked the coolant while there still full and operating normally, On the way back got about 50 miles from home and temp started to peek I pulled over, and checked no coolant again this time the bottle was bubbling, So I filled it with the coolant I had brought just in case. and continued the drive home without issues, the next day I put a carbon test on the coolant system color did not change. I performed a combustion test held pressure same with leak-down test... which signifies the head gasket it good. Well I then pulled the water pump and visually inspected the impellers on it and that was good. So I have not taken the car on a long drive since the last overheating issues, just quick one mile trips to and from work, as well as grocery store trips... But have no damn clue as to what can be causing this issue.