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Overheating -- '99 Dodge Grand Caravan


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spaceman67
New User

Aug 29, 2010, 10:25 AM

Post #1 of 2 (2293 views)
Overheating -- '99 Dodge Grand Caravan Sign In

Hi. '99 Dodge Grand Caravan 3.8L V6, 100,000 miles. Over a 6-wk period previous to this week, antifreeze would intermittently seep from the radiator cap (at least, that's what it looked like). Replacing radiator cap seemed to solve the problem for a couple of weeks, but leak returned. At suggestion of friend, we filled the coolant reservoir to minimum (it had been low), left the reservoir cap open, opened the radiator cap, and ran the car for two minutes (presumably to get air bubbles out of the line). That seems to have been a mistake. Car started overheating. Now can't go more than 5 minutes without overheating (meaning the temp gauge goes nearly to the top, the temp warning light and buzzer come on). The hose that leads to the radiators seems in good shape. It overheats so quickly the (new) radiator cap doesn't even get hot. The one thing I've noticed is that the fan does not seem to come on. The fan fuse is fine, but I'm not sure about the fan relay. I don't have the tools to check it. Would the fan not coming on cause such rapid overheating? If not, what's the most likely source of the problem? Thermostat?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 29, 2010, 10:59 AM

Post #2 of 2 (2287 views)
Re: Overheating -- '99 Dodge Grand Caravan Sign In

You probably just added more air by doing that. The only way to get all the air out is by using either a vacuum fill system or going through 3 or 4 complete cycles of operating temp and complete cool down. Only check the coolant level when it's completely cooled down and then run the cycle again.

Check to see if your fan comes on with the A/C.
If not, try jumping power and ground to it to test the fan motor itself.



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(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Aug 29, 2010, 10:59 AM)






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