Can anyone tell me what's going on here? My radiator is fine. It's not clogged and fluid moves thru both the top & bottom hoses. I've replaced the thermostat. I've replaced the temperature switch. The cooling fan comes on as it's supposed to.
But I'm still having an issue with overheating. Why?

I've only had this van for 5 months and it seems like I keep getting punched in the gut when it comes to spending money. I've had to replace a headlight switch, multifunction switch, water pump, thermostat, temperature switch and a transmission line connector all within 5 months. I've spent more in fixes that I have for the vehicle at this point.

I could really use some guidance here. Thanks.

 

What engine? What year is your van? Might considering testing coolant for combustion by-products........

 

1996 Dodge B2500 with the 3.9l V6 engine.

I'm not seeing any of the things that would lead one to think of a head gasket issue or a cracked block. No plumes of while smoke. No bubbles coming up thru the radiator and no discoloration of my coolant.

 

replace the radiator with a nascar one--JMMHO

 

Exactly how does saying that kinda **** help me? It's like if someone was to say "Buy a whole new vehicle - JMMHO". It's not helping, it's just running your mouth so you can feel good about getting under someone's skin. I got enough problems, buddy, so you can try to be helpful or you can try to just stay quiet.

 

Radiator fan clutch is slipping

 

I guess this will be my next step. Today I done a block test to confirm that there is no coolant leaking due to cracked block or heads. No head gasket leaks.

Also put a new radiator cap on, which seemed to help very slightly, but overall it's still running too hot. Much hotter than usual.

 

At idle, when driving, or both?
When it's cool out, hot out, or both?

 

Both and both

 

Ok, yours is going to have two temp sensors. One for the gauge in the dash, and one for the PCM, I would be tempted to plug in with a decent scanner, and see if the two readings are relatively close to each other. A poor connection at the sensor for the gauge can give you an artificially high reading...... If you don't have access to the scanner, just unplug/plug back in the 1 wire sensor three or four times, and see if your temp readings change.

Now, if it actually IS running hotter than it should, get the engine up to temp, shut it down, then try and turn the fan by hand. If it turns relatively easily, fan clutch is toast. If it's really stiff, then that likely isn't the problem.... and you need to look elsewhere.

Probably wouldn't hurt to pick up a cheap IR temp gun, run the engine up to temp, and see what temps in various parts of the radiator look like. I may flow fine in some places, but, not very well, or, at ALL in others. Temp readings will tell you that.

There was a thread recently in the 2nd Gen Ram section, (I think) where a member was having pretty much the same issues as you, and it was because his radiator was clogged lower down the core.