Our 1997 aurora is overheating and we are stranded on a trip

Question

After the first time, we added a little coolant (was only a bit low) then it was ok for a short time; then overheated again; left air off and it was ok; now it's just overheating. Any ideas? My husband and son are trying to drive home through the mountains and are now stranded in WVa. Thank you for any help.

Answer 1

I know a Miata is not a Aurora, but see if the fan/s is running on the radiator when the engine is hot. That is if it has electric ones. If it is not, what I did was to find the radiator fan relay, and took it apart enough to stick a piece of folded paper into it so that the radiator cooling fan would stay on. Then I had to remember to pull it out when I stopped for the day.

When I got home I replaced the relay and the temp sensor to the computer, I don't know if your car has these.

Other then that, drive at night, turn the AC off, and maybe even the car heater on.

Answer 2

Here are some tips that can "save the bacon" sometimes!  First of all it would be nice to see how the problem came on! There could be clues there.

Check to see that the radiatoror a/c condenser are not blocked with papers bugs etc, -- air has to flow through there to make it cool!  Next thing is --- does the regular cooling fan kick on, Bad sending unit, relay. or fan motor can  cause problems, --- here it woud be going less tha 35mph, as air pressure from higher speed forces air through,- -below 35 (or that area), - it needs fan to pull air through!  If fan is good a "hot wire" could be rigged directly from fan to battery, cumbersome and needs to disconnected every time vehicle stops to keep battery from running down, - but at least makes air circulate!

Most cars have a relay operated by turning on a/c,-- you can unplug wire to compressor clutch, and leave a/c switch on, - fan on low speed, and Auxiliary cooling fan will run continueously, Some cars have two fans - if this one does, it may also activate regular engine fan also- (bypassing sensor,relay etc.) on that one, -- so both run all the time when engine running (this one turns off with key too)!

Sometimes running with hood held by safety latch will help some, as it lets a little more air flow down through engine compartment, - makes maximum difference going slow (like in traffic).

Sometimes driving a few mph slower helps -- especially in cases where water flow through radiator is partially blocked internally!  If you have enough water in engine, it will heat up more going uphill, but if you shift down a little, and let compression spin engine over going down it will cool, as it is pulling fresh cooler air through, which aids heater dissiaption by water in water jaceket of engine!

Check lower radiator hose coming from engine, - see that it is semi resistant to squeezing together (engine cooled down & raidiator cap off so no pressure in system) - Most newer hoses have a piece of spring steel wire imbeded in construction, however one turns up every once and a while that is supposed to have a separate "spring coil" of wire inside, if this wire rusts and breaks,- it is possible that waterpump can suck this hose flat (especially if radiater partially internally blocked!

The secret here is if they shut down engine soon enough every time it gets hot! Continueing to run an overheated engine past a certian point will surely blow headgasket(s), warp head, or if continued far enough ruin the engine all together!

I assume you have already eliminarted broken fanbelts..... Now we get to leaks, -- if you have a number of containers on board so you can collect water whenever you can, -- you can drive with radiator cap off sometimes (or caught on first flange before totally tight) to slow water loss, and when getting close to overheated, - you just stop with engine running and add water to top off--- (never  pour cold water into hot engine when not running-- it cracks heads and blocks if severe overheat!)   This generally splashes water around for a little bit, so stand as clear as possible when pouring!  And of course hot water on clothes can be uncomfortable..  This only helpfull if you are loosing water, if systrem stays full till it actually boils, blame thermaostat most of the time! --- Or blocked airflow through radiator!

If you think it is thermostat you could of course pull it out and no severe damage will occour, as long as it is replaced when you get home!

Traveling this way (limping) consumes  more time, but may get you home without furter damage.... That is about all the little tricks in the bag!  Good luck!!  

Answer 3

4.0 liter aurora engines are known for head gasket issues ....you loose coolant for no apparent reason and no signs of leaks....are the engine fans running,it may be a good idea to have this issue inspected by a professional....is the water pump belt in good shape(it takes special tools just to remove / install a water pump in this engine).....these are complicated engines and unless your husband and son are very mechanically inclined ...you need some pro help,before you damage your engine beyond repair

Answer 4

MIght be a fan issue, but its hard to say. I  can refer you to some reputable repair shops around the Charleston / Huntington area.

Answer 5

id tow it to a shop and have it pressure tested, those cars are known for intake gaskets leaking.