I replaced water pump, radiator & cap & flushed system on 98 Cavalier. Still overheats. Any other ideas?

Question

I've also removed the thermostat. I've replaced the plugs and wires.

It's been difficult to start lately and doesn't seem like it's been running on all cylinders. I don't care about that right now though unless it's related to the overheating.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. This is a mystery.

Answer 1

check to make sure the fan is turning on happened to me sucked

Answer 2

I hate to be the one to say it, but i think you might have a bad head gasket. That might be way it's getting harder to start in seems like it not running on all the cylinders. Let your car set over night , then go out there and pull your oil dipstick and see if it looks like a milky color on it,also open your oil cap and look under the cap and see if it looks milky . you may need to pull your plugs out to see if there 's water in any of the cylinders.

Answer 3

bad head gasket plain and simple. hate to tell you that, but its the truth.

thats why you are running poorly and you keep overheating.

ive had a 94 Cavalier Z24 do the exact same thing.

pissed me off like crazy, i tried everything you mentioned as well and had no signs of oil in water/ water in oil.

heres how i figured it out. pressurize your cooling system with one of those radiator caps with a pump on it. pull your spark plugs on your motor. make sure the system is pressurized to at least 12 psi. if its a bad head gasket, water will start coming out of the spark plug holes. it sucks but it will only cost you 120 bucks for a new felpro gasket and a day's labor.

sorry dude.

Answer 4

Handdyman and the guy above him are right (Blown head gasket).