I've been trying to figure this out and i havent found any cutlass forums that are much help but pretty much, i bought a cutlass supreme for a beater but i noticed the car runs hot. it drives and runs normal but the temp gauge climbs from cold to hot, then once it peeks at the top of hot, it drops to about half way and it keeps repeating this. i replaced the thermostat and rad hose and that didnt fix it. the car doesnt blow hot air if that helps. im not sure if its an actual head gasket or a bad sensor. i checked the oil but i didnt see any trace of coolant in there and the car doesnt blow white smoke. not quite sure what it could be. anyone have any ideas?
Hi!
I have a 97 Cutlass Supreme with the 3.1l engine. Mine also was running pretty hot. Also I had no heat at all coming from the vents.
I changed the thermostat wich solved the heat problem. The car was still running hot.
I sent my car to the nearest GM dealer and all they did to solve the problem was replacing the radiator filler cap. If I remember correctly the GM tech told me the cap wasn't tighting enough. Cost me like 15$ and the overheating problem fixed.
Hope this helps.
Lower Intake manifold gasket, head gasket, cracked head. Get the coolant jug "sniffed" for exhaust gasses. If that is the case, you have a head or head gasket problem. But the 2 motors that car comes with (3400 and 3100) are both prone to the lower intake manifold gasket failing.
On the other hand....you have other fingers.
In my family we teach that boys have a God-stick and girls have a Shame Cave. -John Stewart
if there is no heat coming on seems to me it might be a heater core problem or an obstruction in the cooling lines somewhere
[quote=¤FactoryPhreak¤]Hi!
I have a 97 Cutlass Supreme with the 3.1l engine. Mine also was running pretty hot. Also I had no heat at all coming from the vents.
I changed the thermostat wich solved the heat problem. The car was still running hot.
I sent my car to the nearest GM dealer and all they did to solve the problem was replacing the radiator filler cap. If I remember correctly the GM tech told me the cap wasn't tighting enough. Cost me like 15$ and the overheating problem fixed.
Hope this helps.
yea i read about that on the one @!#$ty cutlass forum. was your temp gauge constantly going to hot, then droping down to cold and then back up? i might just try a new rad cap. if nots not that, atleast the part is cheap.
JLAudioCavalier wrote:Lower Intake manifold gasket, head gasket, cracked head. Get the coolant jug "sniffed" for exhaust gasses. If that is the case, you have a head or head gasket problem. But the 2 motors that car comes with (3400 and 3100) are both prone to the lower intake manifold gasket failing.
yea ive been reading that they have bad lower intake gaskets on the 3400 and 3100 motors. would that cause the temp gauge to act up like that though? i had someone tell me it was the head gasket but i honestly dont think it is. i mean, i drove the car for 20 mins several times and it keep going to hot then dropping to cold but the car never over heated. i would assume if it was the head gasket, that it would stay hot and not keep droping down to cold.
themarin8r wrote:if there is no heat coming on seems to me it might be a heater core problem or an obstruction in the cooling lines somewhere
yea i figured the no heat might be a heater core. it blows cold air (not ac cold, but cold) when you have it on hot. it gets a little warm but not much. would the heater core cause this problem?
thanks for the help so far guys
Very good possibility your have a plugged up heater core. Is check the hoses going to the heater core also make sure they're not collapsed or plugged up. Usually GM heater cores are cheap to replace just a PITA.
i can understand if the heater core is clogged that it wont blow heat in the car but would that effect the temp gauge? i cant imagine it would. im not really concerned about the heat not working at this point. that would be the next thing to worry about once i get the temp gauge fixed.
It is not the heater core and it is not a head gasket. Have you tried a new radiator cap becuase that could be your problem. Also are you 100 percent sure you have the thermostat facing the correct direction? Also near the font valve cover is there a bleeder screw? If so try bleeding it.
FORGET GIRLS GONE WILD WE HAVE GOVERNMENT SPENDING GONE WILD!
yea spring inward is the way the thermostat goes. im also pretty sure its not the head gasket. im going to try the rad cap first. hopefully autozone will have one, if not i will order it off line.
i know the heater core would be related to the heat issue not the temp issue. hopefully the rad cap is all it is.
Quote:
yea i read about that on the one @!#$ty cutlass forum. was your temp gauge constantly going to hot, then droping down to cold and then back up? i might just try a new rad cap. if nots not that, atleast the part is cheap.
Exactly. The 15$ radiator cap fixed the problem. I was pretty shocked but happy about this cheap and quick fix. I hope this will do the trick on yours.
Ok, take it from someone who has experience with the exact same problem, with the exact same car, and exact same engine...
If the cheap fixes don't do it(like new radiator cap, or just purging air out of the cooling system), there are bigger things that WILL cause this issue.
In my case air was getting back in(which is what makes the temp gauge go nuts) because a headgasket leak was letting exhaust gasses into the cooling system. Any good garage should have a device that checks this. It "sniffs" the coolant for exhaust gasses. if it turns yellow, it is a cracked head of head gasket issue letting exhaust in.
otherwise, a bad lower intake manifold gasket is far too common not to consider.
I promise your heater core is not the problem.
On the other hand....you have other fingers.
In my family we teach that boys have a God-stick and girls have a Shame Cave. -John Stewart
well after replacing the cap and figured that wasnt the problem, i just dropped it off up the street from my house to have a guy look at it real quick. it is a head gasket problem, sucks but it is what it is. i got a complete rebuild kit for 70 bucks so guess i have to spend a day ripping her down and putting in new gaskets.
welp dustins head just got 90x bigger lmao
LE61T PTE6262 Powered 
hahahaha no it really didn't I just think it's funny that after I told him what the issue was,(considering I had that exact issue less than a month ago) everyone had to come in and say things like a plugged heater core to cause a jumpy temp gauge. I knew what the problem was. It is air getting into the system, and it is being caused by the head gasket letting exhaust gasses into the cooling system. I was a little irked for Wade to sound like he knew what he was talking about saying "it is not the headgasket".
On the other hand....you have other fingers.
In my family we teach that boys have a God-stick and girls have a Shame Cave. -John Stewart
well dont worry, i didnt think it was a clogged heater core that would cause it. im just glad i was able to get a whole kit for 70 bucks. cant hurt to have brand new gaskets all around lol.
Lanman31337 - Cavfire wrote:Could it need burped?
check that first...to easy and inexpensive not to try and do. that was my issue
