Overheating problem

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Glenguy

Glenguy

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I know that this an A body forum, but I need advice about my daily driver, which is a '93 Chrylser Dynasty (it's a Canadian version of the Dodge, but basically the same car). The problem is that it overheats at low speeds, like under 30mph. I put in a new summer thermostat, but I still have the same problem. Do I need to replace the water pump? Thanks.
 
I would suspect radiator may need a good cleaning or simply a new one. Open it up and look inside, may see calcium build up on the core.
 
Just remember thermostats keep car from running too cold, not from running too hot. But I agree, it could just need a good flushing or your water pump could be rusted to the point it isn't circulating water. So check for circulation. also.
 
Watch what you use to flush it and how long it is in there. Pretty easy to flush holes in freeze plugs that are heavily rusted. Don’t ash how I know....
 
tonysrt said:
I would suspect radiator may need a good cleaning or simply a new one. Open it up and look inside, may see calcium build up on the core.
Click to expand...
I would agree. The water pump either works, or it leaks and falls apart--it has little to do with cooling per se. It is going to be the radiator, unless it is something nefarious like a head gasket.
 
Low-speed overheating is usually an airflow problem, not a waterflow problem; at higher speeds the car's forward motion pushes more air across the rad. If the rad were faulty you'd tend to see overheating at high speeds first, then at all speeds. Check to make sure your rad fan(s) operate correctly. Check to make sure the front face of the A/C condenser (in front of the rad) isn't clogged with bugs and dirt. Then pull the rad and make sure its own front face isn't clogged.

There is nothing such as a "summer thermostat" (no really, it's true; I checked the calendar and it turns out we aren't in 1953!). There is one—and only one—correct thermostat rating for a vehicle such as this with computerised engine management, so putting back the correct thermostat is going to be on your to-do list. If you installed a lower-temp thermostat because this car wants to overheat unless the weather's cold, diagnose and repair the actual problem (it's not a too-high thermostat rating) and then install the correct thermostat.
 
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I'm with /6Dan, airflow. If you have electric fans, they have a thermostat also, make sure they come on after the car warms up. Check your fan shroud, missing-broken ?
 
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