I wrote this in September 2004:
"I have an odd problem occurring with my 1992 Cav, 2.2L, and hopefully someone may have some insight to help solve it. When the engine is cool, like first thing in the morning, or after work, if I let the engine warm up for like 10 minutes, all is fine. However if I just start up, and go, the temp gauge just keeps going up, all the way to the top, the "CHECK GAUGES" light comes on, and then the temp plunges right down, and does not go up past the middle of the gauge again. I have a 35 mile drive to work, and it works fine after the initial rise. I am not seeing any loss of coolant, either. In the past 3 weeks, I have replaced the thermostat with a 195 F NAPA unit, replaced the water pump, and completely flushed the cooling system, replacing the antifreeze/water with new. I also tried leaving the a/c on, so the cooling fan stayed on, and the same thing happened. Any ideas out there? Rad Cap? Faulty new thermostat? "
At that time I solved it as follows"
"I'm in the middle of changing the head gasket. It started leaking coolant externally, right by the alternator. When I got all the external stuff removed, I found the head bolt at that spot was loose. I continued removing the head, and it looks good, straight, no visible cracks, so it's going back on after being cleaned up. Hopefully, once I get it all back together, it'll not overheat again.
I found the head bolt on the front, passenger side of the engine broken off. Looks like the head gasket started leaking, and caused the bolt to corrode. Had a lot of fun getting the broken part out of the block. Started right up after getting it all back together, so we'll see how the overheating goes now. "
My daughter and son-in-law had the car since then, and I just got it back. The anifreeze level was down, so I added to the reservoir, and the rad (50-50 mix), and the car is doing the same temperature spike that it did before the head gasket change. Has anyone experienced a head gasket going twice?
1992 Cavalier Coupe, 2.2, 5spd
I had a 94 Cavalier with a 2.2 L and the head gasket was replaced once at GM and it lasted for a few years.
It sounds like the thermostat is doing it's job.
My question is where is the antifreeze going? Did you replace the head gasket or just make the repair as you mentioned with the broken head bolt, leaving the old head gasket in place? Did you properly torque the head bolts? How's the heater core? Some of the cavaliers had problems with a clamp rusting on the line to/from the heater core causing a signifigant coolant leak (underside of car between the motor and firewall) .
Best of luck.
It isn't using antifreeze this year, it was2 years ago. Now, it is overheating shortly after first start, but only under load, not while idling. The overheat condition lasts only a few seconds, then the temperature plunges down, and runs in the normal range. When it did that 2 years ago, it was a prelude to replacing the head gasket. It is not normal for a thermostat to do that.
Of course I replaced the head gasket 2 years ago. I would not take a head off, take a broken bolt out, and leave a damaged head gasket. in place.
Andrew Gillan wrote:I had a 94 Cavalier with a 2.2 L and the head gasket was replaced once at GM and it lasted for a few years.
It sounds like the thermostat is doing it's job.
My question is where is the antifreeze going? Did you replace the head gasket or just make the repair as you mentioned with the broken head bolt, leaving the old head gasket in place? Did you properly torque the head bolts? How's the heater core? Some of the cavaliers had problems with a clamp rusting on the line to/from the heater core causing a signifigant coolant leak (underside of car between the motor and firewall) .
Best of luck.
1992 Cavalier Coupe, 2.2, 5spd
I would recommend doing a compression check on each cylinder to check the head gasket issue that may be in ?.Normally when a car has had the therm,waterpump, changed and the temp gauge fluctuiates u have air trapped in the system caused by either a leak or inproper bleeding of the air out of the system.When I flush a sys I drain,flush, refill leave the rad cap off and heat on high,place cardboard infront of rad to make car get hot and idle for 15-30 minutes till no air bubbles are visible.Unless the heater core has a blockage which in turn will cause the issue bc of the antifreeze not flowing properly would cause the temp gauge to go crazy,u may need to consider buying a new heater core if its the orig even tho no leaks may be inside the car,the core may be rusted internally and trash is blocking the flow of water.This is just info to consider and may not be to the letter correct for ur situation,but worth looking at based on ur post.May others correct or add if need be.
