# Overheating **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** dakota, dodge\ **Created:** [July 17, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overheating/33553 "2009-07-17T17:01:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Greg\_Gaynor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d78d45/32.png) [@Greg\_Gaynor](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Greg_Gaynor)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overheating/33553/1 "2009-07-17T17:01:25Z")
When the outside temp gets above 50 my 2001 Dakota 4.7L overheats.I changed the thermostat and flushed the radiator.The pump seems fine when I turn on the heater,to help cool the engine I get plenty of heat.It started the spring after I hit a deer and took out the airconditioning.What did I miss? ---
**Author:** ![David\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c77e96/32.png) [@David\_Wright](https://community.cartalk.com/u/David_Wright)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 5:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overheating/33553/2 "2009-07-17T17:15:23Z")
does this have an electric cooling fan? ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overheating/33553/3 "2009-07-17T17:18:26Z")
Greg, Does It “Overheat” While Cruising And Idling, both? I’m sure you’ve checked the cooling fan’s operation and properly purged the cooling system of air, right? Do you lose any coolant when it “overheats”? Gauge reading “High”? How are you determining the overheating, that it’s getting too hot? I’m almost embarrassed to suggest this, but a Chrysler Technical Service Bulletin says the radiator cap on these Dakotas can be installed incorrectly. They say you have to look and make sure the little locking tabs are seated where they are supposed to be on the radiator neck. You may have a factory or aftermarket radiator and I’m not sure if this even pertains to your situation. CSA ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Gaynor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d78d45/32.png) [@Greg\_Gaynor](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Greg_Gaynor)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 5:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overheating/33553/4 "2009-07-17T17:28:27Z")
It has an electric and a clutch fan. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Gaynor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d78d45/32.png) [@Greg\_Gaynor](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Greg_Gaynor)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 5:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overheating/33553/5 "2009-07-17T17:43:11Z")
The gauge and the smell tell me it is overheating.the coolant level stays constant.there is no problem in the winter.I will double check the new cap I put on. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c77e96/32.png) [@David\_Wright](https://community.cartalk.com/u/David_Wright)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overheating/33553/6 "2009-07-17T18:07:20Z")
cooling fan is coming on???maybe bad fan clutch too ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overheating/33553/7 "2009-07-17T18:47:34Z")
When you say the deer “took out the air conditioning” should I assume you mean it took out the evaporator? Did anyone check the flow through the radiator after the accident? ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 7:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overheating/33553/8 "2009-07-17T19:18:30Z")
Yep, evaporator slamming into radiator could crush the fins. ---
**Author:** ![Beadsandbeads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@Beadsandbeads](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beadsandbeads)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2009, 1:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overheating/33553/9 "2009-07-18T01:41:35Z")
Does the coolant temp drop a lot when you turn on the heater? That would tend to confirm a clogged radiator or poor radiator flow for some other reason.