1998 Dodge Neon Overheating, New Thermastat and Vacume Hose?

Question

I bought a 1998 Dodge Neon on Friday and replaced a tire and a headlight. The next day it started overheating and I noticed that it was losing coolant from around the radiator. It continued to get hot all the rest of the day even though I kept putting more fluid in it everytime I drove it. The next day it didnt overheat at all. Now today it is overheating again and losing fluid so I put a new Thermastat in it and replaced a vaccume hose of some sort. The car acts as if it wants to die, and does sometimes, but for the most part it keeps on going. All of the cooling fans are working and it doesnt look as if there is any water in the oil. Ive been told that I might need a new head gasket. I also put some 'LIQUID COPPER" in the radiator for good measure and flushed it out after just in case there was a hole in the radiator. WHAT DO I DO??? HELP!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

The water pump in that car is driven by the timing belt.  If it is slipping, you have serious problems which probably prevent the car from running at all, or damage a cylinder head.

Sounds like any one, or a combination of the following:

Massive air pocket in the engine block/cylinder head (cooling system not properly filled) - causing overheating and boil overs

Defective/leaking radiator and or cap - causing oveheating and boil overs

Leaking cylinder head gasket or possibly a cracked head (more likey the first) - combustion gases leaking into coolant system causing over heating/over pressure/over boiling.  Coolant leaking into combustion chambers causing poor idle/driveability/stalling.

Just because there is no water in the oil, does NOT mean that your head gasket is NOT leaking.  I have driven around on a leaking head gasket for months with no oil in the water and vice versa.

I have torn apart quite a few Mopar 2.0's with leaking head gaskets that showed no water/oil crossflow.

"Liquid mechanic" is only a temporary fix...

I'm with Dodge Man, as I am a Dodge Man myself.

  

Answer 2

you could have a slipping belt on your water pump or even a faulty one, or a partially blocked radiator, but the slipping belt seems the most likely. p.s it won't screech so feel your drivebelt. if you push the flat bit of the belt and it moves more than 1.5 inch you should get the belt changed or tightened usind the pulley. DIY or take it to a garage. if it was a head gasket you would know about it. i.e water in your oil OR a very rough running engine with little power as water isn't flammable.

Answer 3

to keep from spending more money on it and not know whats going on with it have a shop run a pressure check on the cooling system this will tell you if it has a major leak or a blown head gasket on it,a clogged radiator will cause one to over heat like that because it wont let the coolant go through the radiator fast enough,and so will a bad water pump,if it don't pump enough coolant it will over heat also,with a pressure check they will be able to narrow it down to one thing instead of you having to buy  a bunch of parts for it that it may not need,it will be cheaper for you in the  long run to have this done,good luck with it.