# Over heating **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [March 23, 2015, 3:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating/89400 "2015-03-23T03:55:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![acook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecb155/32.png) [@acook](https://community.cartalk.com/u/acook)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 3:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating/89400/1 "2015-03-23T03:55:44Z")
We were driving home yesterday and all of the sudden the car started to over heat and we could smell antifreeze. We turned the ac off and put more water in it. Today we just had to make a short trip somewhere (we were planning on having it looked at first thing Monday morning). The temperature gage never showed it overheating but as we pulled into our driveway we heard a knocking sound and it just shut off. I am freaking out a little. Can someone please tell me that it may just be a leak and it caused the car to over heat?? ---
**Author:** ![acook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecb155/32.png) [@acook](https://community.cartalk.com/u/acook)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 3:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating/89400/2 "2015-03-23T03:57:10Z")
It’s a 2005 grand prix by the way. ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 3:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating/89400/3 "2015-03-23T03:59:51Z")
No we cannot really tell. When something overheats, you don’t drive the car except for a very short trip the garage. You likely have some internal; engine damage by now. The fact that you smell antifreeze should tell you that there is a leak somewhere, and you’ve lost coolant. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating/89400/4 "2015-03-23T04:01:56Z")
Remove the oil dip stick and see if the oil is over filled and looks like a chocolate shake. If it is/does, the engine had either an intake manifold gasket or head gasket failure. Tester ---
**Author:** ![acook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecb155/32.png) [@acook](https://community.cartalk.com/u/acook)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating/89400/5 "2015-03-23T04:03:22Z")
We checked the oil and it was fine. Color and level were fine. ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating/89400/6 "2015-03-23T04:09:27Z")
> _We turned the ac off and put more water in it._ Did you add water just to the reservoir or directly to the radiator? ---
**Author:** ![acook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecb155/32.png) [@acook](https://community.cartalk.com/u/acook)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating/89400/7 "2015-03-23T04:11:21Z")
we added it to both. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating/89400/8 "2015-03-23T04:12:06Z")
Then a cooling system pressure test should be performed. Some auto parts stores will rent this tester and give you your money back when it’s returned. And if you decide to go this route, make sure the tester has the GM reservoir adapter. Because there’s no radiator cap on the radiator, the tester alone won’t work. Tester ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating/89400/9 "2015-03-23T04:14:45Z")
> _Because there's no radiator cap on the radiator, the tester alone won't work._ I believe this car has a non-pressurized reservoir like my daughter’s '04 Grand Prix. When was the last time the reservoir was known to be full? ---
**Author:** ![acook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecb155/32.png) [@acook](https://community.cartalk.com/u/acook)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating/89400/10 "2015-03-23T04:26:37Z")
Yesterday before it started overheating on the highway. ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating/89400/11 "2015-03-23T04:32:15Z")
Was the radiator also known to be full yesterday before the overheating? Has it been using coolant? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating/89400/12 "2015-03-23T04:35:22Z")
Here’s the radiator/recovery bottle cap for your daughters 04 Grand Pix. As you can see it has a pressure rating. Which means it’s a totally pressurized system. [https://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=295873&cc=1429703&jnid=440&jpid=1](https://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=295873&cc=1429703&jnid=440&jpid=1) Tester ---
**Author:** ![acook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecb155/32.png) [@acook](https://community.cartalk.com/u/acook)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating/89400/13 "2015-03-23T04:44:37Z")
Yes. It has been full the whole time. We haven’t had to add anything to it on a regular basis. Just yesterday all of the sudden it started over heating and there was water in some places. When you add water to it there is a hose that comes out of a metal piece under the starter, you can see water coming out of that little metal piece. ---
**Author:** ![acook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecb155/32.png) [@acook](https://community.cartalk.com/u/acook)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating/89400/14 "2015-03-23T04:45:53Z")
Not starter, alternator, sorry. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating/89400/15 "2015-03-23T04:48:11Z")
"Just yesterday all of the sudden it started over heating and there was water in some places. When you add water to it there is a hose that comes out of a metal piece under the starter, you can see water coming out of that little metal piece. " Should have stopped driving it at that point, I would say ☹ ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating/89400/16 "2015-03-23T04:48:43Z")
This is what I see when I open the hood. _No_ pressurized reservoir. The radiator cap (_on the radiator_) is plastic, however. [http://gtcarlot.com/engines/Pontiac/Grand+Prix/2004/518332/58484520.html](http://gtcarlot.com/engines/Pontiac/Grand+Prix/2004/518332/58484520.html) ---
**Author:** ![acook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecb155/32.png) [@acook](https://community.cartalk.com/u/acook)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating/89400/17 "2015-03-23T04:49:46Z")
I know ☹ that’s what I am afraid of. It will still start but the only place it’s going is to the mechanic. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating/89400/18 "2015-03-23T04:51:17Z")
Don’t drive it to the mechanic. Have it towed 😟 ---
**Author:** ![acook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecb155/32.png) [@acook](https://community.cartalk.com/u/acook)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating/89400/19 "2015-03-23T04:52:06Z")
ok I will. ---
**Author:** ![acook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecb155/32.png) [@acook](https://community.cartalk.com/u/acook)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating/89400/20 "2015-03-23T04:53:57Z")
I’m mostly concerned about the cost of fixing it. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating/89400.md?page=2)