# 97 dodge neon overheating

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-dodge-neon-overheating/29918>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [May 2, 2009, 8:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-dodge-neon-overheating/29918 "2009-05-02T20:28:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![stmason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@stmason](https://community.cartalk.com/u/stmason)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 8:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-dodge-neon-overheating/29918/1 "2009-05-02T20:28:51Z")

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My 97 Doge Neon is overheating. I have replaced the belt, water pump, power relay switch, thermostat, and flushed out the radiator. Any other ideas on what it could be?

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**Author:** ![researcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/edb3f5/32.png) [@researcher](https://community.cartalk.com/u/researcher)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 9:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-dodge-neon-overheating/29918/2 "2009-05-02T21:03:12Z")

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You could have a head gasket leaking combustion gases into the coolant system. Have a mechanic sniff the open radiator gas for the presence of hydrocarbons HC. I believe there is a strip test that is available to determine if there is combustion gases getting into the coolant. Check with your parts store.

Hope that helps.

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**Author:** ![waterboy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/waterboy/32/764_2.png) [@waterboy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/waterboy)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-dodge-neon-overheating/29918/3 "2009-05-02T21:08:30Z")

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I hope Researcher is not correct, but I am afraid he might be, a compression test would be in order. As I don’t know all cars and makes is it an electronically controlled cooling fan, and does it run?

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**Author:** ![wizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a87d85/32.png) [@wizard](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wizard)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-dodge-neon-overheating/29918/4 "2009-05-02T21:12:10Z")

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Upper and lower hoses on the radiator. You did not mention these and it could be possible they are collapsing.

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**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 12:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-dodge-neon-overheating/29918/5 "2009-05-03T00:26:25Z")

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Also, you flushed the radiator, but are you sure it is not plugged up? I had a similar problem with a Toyota Pick-up, and had a radiator shop check it for me. the radiator was only flowing 40% of what it should have. I bought a replacement, and that fixed it.

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**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 3:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-dodge-neon-overheating/29918/6 "2009-05-03T03:39:59Z")

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If the upper radiator hose is swelling, that could be a symptom of a leaking head gasket.  
You used plain water to flush the radiator? You can remove deposits from the radiator and engine with a mild cooling system clearer…widely available.