1996 Firebird Overheating Very Fast


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1996 Firebird Overheating Very Fast

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Auto Repair Home>> Automotive Repair>> Car Troubleshooting

morross
New User

Aug 29, 2007, 1:13 PM

Post #1 of 3 (3189 views)

1996 Firebird Overheating Very Fast	Sign In

I have a 1996 Pontiac Firebird. It has started overheating very fast. I am contstantly putting more water in, but it seems after a few miles in overheats fast and stema just barrels out from around the engine. I am pretty sure the water is evaporating very fast once the engine gets hot and it starts steaming. Water pump was checked and is fine. Hoses replaced and fine.

It was leaking last week and my mechanic said it was the intake gasket, but the next day i drove it on a 500 mile trip and it stayed cool all day in 95 degree heat.

Now it is getting hot a mile after i get on the road, and I cant see any signs of leaking, except that the overflow tank and radiator are boiling after only a fe minutes of driving.

Radiator cap looks good. Not sure about the thermostat.
Any ideas why it is overheating?

Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Aug 29, 2007, 5:07 PM

Post #2 of 3 (3184 views)

Re: 1996 Firebird Overheating Very Fast	Sign In

Overheating from any cause will boil in engine and overflow at the reservoir. Overheat will continue if there is too much air in the cooling system. It should be filled to full at both radiator and at reservoir and pressure tested to deatermine where it is leaking. Unfortunatly over heating for some simple reason will become a big problem. It could have started with just a thermostat or any reason and driving it just makes it worse.

You said you keep adding water which is fine for a quick fix to get home or destination but do make sure you have proper mix of coolant in the system when the leak and source problem is found an repaired,

T

morross
New User

Aug 29, 2007, 5:33 PM

Post #3 of 3 (3183 views)

Re: 1996 Firebird Overheating Very Fast	Sign In

Thanks Tom!
I have now learned for sure that it is intake gasket. Small leak. It loses cooland when off- at least some coolant, but no leak when it is running. My problem the last 2 days has been i had very little coolant in, and once i got on the road that caused it to overheat very quickly, and at that ponit, stopping every 10 min or so to add more water defeats the purpose becuase as hot as the engine is at that point, all the water i put in is evaporating quickly. Endless cycle. Last week I had the overflow and radiator full with the engine not having run all night, and drove 500 miles that day with no problems. So, now I know what it was getting hot so quickly. I'll have to replace the intake gasket whenever my mechanic can get to it- he's swamped!
Thanks

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