Why does pt cruiser overheat?

Answer 1

There seems to be difficulty in finding a clear cut answer to this problem, which affects more PT Cruiser owners as their vehicle ages. Many owners have spent countless dollars and hours having thermostat gauges, radiator fans, radiator caps and water pumps replaced without the problem of overheating being corrected. While any of those parts can go bad, be sure to be upfront with your dealer to provide evidence that their diagnosis is correct and an agreement in writing to protect you in the event they are wrong.

Your first step with the dealer is the request they have checked your coolant for combustion fumes/chemicals mixed in it. They may have to order a kit, this should be done at their expense not yours. If the test comes back positive (ask for the results) stop working with them at that point. Your cause is with the head gasket, and any other recommended repairs to your car without correcting that will be a waste of money.

If this comes back negative, the second thing to check is to be certain they properly checked the fan including the fan motor. There are numerous reports online suggesting the high and low contacts wear out, which can effect the fan running properly and thermostat opening correctly. Be direct with the dealership, and verify that this is not the cause alone before they sell you an entire new fan assembly (which can cost 3 times as much as the motor.) The dealer may test the fan by actuating it, and report it runs fine. Be more demanding than that. If it is the fan call around for best pricing, but look to spend between $350 and $650 for parts and labor on a new fan.

If the fan is not your cause, your next source would be the thermostat. It is recommended that prior to this however that you have your radiator properly flushed to be certain your overheating isn't caused by poor circulation through your cooling system. It's better to pay for this first and find out it's not your problem then to pay for a new and more expensive thermostat only to find you could have flushed it. Call around for exact pricing, but look at $300 - $400 for parts and labor on a new thermostat.

Finally if none of the above seems to have lead you to the proper place, it may then be your water pump. The cost of accessing and replacing this is nearly as high as the head gasket as a teardown of the engine is needed to investigate further. This can cost you between $700 and $900 at a dealership, not including labor and parts to actually repair the problem. Call around to various dealerships for the best price if you decide to tackle a head gasket or water pump.

With any of the above steps, make sure a pressure test is done of your system. If one is done and a pressure leak is found great, but don't let your dealer off the hook by assuming the first problem they find is the only cause. Make sure they have diagnosed your problem by investigating all options! Many PT Cruiser owners have made multiple trips to dealers by letting them! Let their frustration save you money down the road.