chriscisme Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 hi, my car has been overheating, or so it says, but its not smoking or steaming or anything...but i start the engine cold with the coolant cap off and it doesnt puke out coolant does that mean its a headgasket?, there was some kind of sensor or something hanging down in front of the radiator but i glue it back in place but that didnt make a diffrence,i get messages like a/c compressor off engine coolant hot engine hot then eventually, engine overheatted stop engine so what im asking basically is, how do i check if it a head gasket or false boiling and what is the sensor or whatever it was thats infront of the radiator, would that make a diffrence? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 The sensor in front of the condenser is the ambient air temperature sensor. When you start it cold with the cap off, do you see any bubbles in the tank? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 hi, my car has been overheating, or so it says, but its not smoking or steaming or anything...but i start the engine cold with the coolant cap off and it doesnt puke out coolant does that mean its a headgasket?, there was some kind of sensor or something hanging down in front of the radiator but i glue it back in place but that didnt make a diffrence,i get messages like a/c compressor off engine coolant hot engine hot then eventually, engine overheatted stop engine so what im asking basically is, how do i check if it a head gasket or false boiling and what is the sensor or whatever it was thats infront of the radiator, would that make a diffrence? Have you checked your codes? You seem to be saying that it does not appear to be overheating but you are getting messages that it is overheating. A bad coolant sensor? Before you push the panic button there are a whole host of potential problems to check. Your statement about false boiling comes from Ranger's statement about starting it cold here: http://caddyinfo.ipbhost.com/index.php?sho...l=false+boiling So it would appear to me that you don't have a head gasket problem based on that test. Check for codes (might turn up a bad coolant sensor) Check coolant concentration for 50/50 Check cap Check water pump belt WP belt tensioner for binding and not applying tension WP tensioner wheel Check fans for proper operation Check purge line for free flowing coolant Check thermostat Pressure test your system (for leaks in pipes, hoses, clamps, radiator) The above things should be done before you UTTER the words head gasket Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 not sure i understand what you are doing and what the car is doing, but to answer your one question "bolded", do an exhaust gases / CO2 test on the coolant. its cheap and fast otherwise, follow what the previous poster suggested. keeps us posted. hi, my car has been overheating, or so it says, but its not smoking or steaming or anything...but i start the engine cold with the coolant cap off and it doesnt puke out coolant does that mean its a headgasket?, there was some kind of sensor or something hanging down in front of the radiator but i glue it back in place but that didnt make a diffrence,i get messages like a/c compressor off engine coolant hot engine hot then eventually, engine overheatted stop engine so what im asking basically is, how do i check if it a head gasket or false boiling and what is the sensor or whatever it was thats infront of the radiator, would that make a diffrence? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimD Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Would someone please post a clear, concise, scientifically correct definition of "false boiling" for me? My feeble mind wants to put that term in the same category with "a little bit pregnant". Jim Drive your car. Use your cell phone. CHOOSE ONE ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 If a head gasket is breached, exhaust gases will usually be pumped into the cooling system. When the engine is started cold with the cap off, those gases will eventually find their way to the tank and the bubbles will appear as boiling coolant or if there is enough exhaust gas, it may erupt and regurgitate the coolant, thus false boiling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epricedright Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 If a head gasket is breached, exhaust gases will usually be pumped into the cooling system. When the engine is started cold with the cap off, those gases will eventually find their way to the tank and the bubbles will appear as boiling coolant or if there is enough exhaust gas, it may erupt and regurgitate the coolant, thus false boiling. Very good Larry! You're like the walking-talking wikipedia when it comes to auto mechanics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 He he, thanks. Guess you can't get grease under your finger nails for years without learning something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth Posted June 5, 2007 Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 i like this definition the best .... Would someone please post a clear, concise, scientifically correct definition of "false boiling" for me? My feeble mind wants to put that term in the same category with "a little bit pregnant". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg P. Posted June 6, 2007 Report Share Posted June 6, 2007 As the others said, look for the presence of bubbling in the coolant. Also, consider doing a pressure test on the coolant system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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