Cooling System over pressure problem

[amazinghl]

Originally posted by flyingw80
for amazinghl,

Sorry for being a bit snippy there but this problem is getting a bit frustrating, I have an after market radiator from advance auto parts.......but from what I can tell the over pressure came before that. Its a crossflow radiator that they say is the specific one for the application...all the plastic moldings fit the OEM brackets perfectly...the flues seem to be as large as the OEM ones and jsut as many. Now what did you do to correct the problem. My other problem is that I'm 150 miles from any Saturn dealer so after market parts are easier to obtain readily.

When my heatercore went, I ordered one from autozone. When I got it, I was VERY dissapointed. A lot of the unit's fins were bent and it would not FIT right!!!

So, I returned the unit and went to the junkyard and get a heatercore off a 92 saturn. The 92's heater core's condition was almost perfect. Had only 3 bent fins and it costed me half as much from the autozone.

I havn't have any trouble with it since.

Do you filling the coolant to the "FULL" line or do you top it off?

The cooling fan works fine.....seems to come on at the proper temp.

When does the fan turn on? At 1/4? 1/2? 3/4? redline?

[flyingw80]

to goboating,

I'm leaning toward the head gasket or warped or cracked head theory....Thanks

[flyingw80]

To TedL,

Yes you are right it is unremarkable at 150K but its not at 60K, both of my SL2s were cracked just out of warranty....how conveinent....right. And the dealer tells me "Noooo we never have radiator tank problems". If you'll notice the newer SLs have a lower rated pressure cap...15 psi VS 18 psi that came on the 92. Was that because the pressure on the OEM components was a bit too HIGH???? In my experience manufacturers don't change stuff like that unless they have experienced problem.

The heater cores are failing in the joint of the flue and the end cap plate....never in the pipe area. Have used two types of cores one slodered and one with an epoxy like sealant in that area.

I'm getting more and more convinced that the problem is a cylinder leak of some sort. I just haven't had time after work to check it yet. having to drive my L300 and putting miles on it is ...ARRGH.

Ever heard of Mississippi 2 instate dealers and several others all about 150 mi away.