Hey everyone,

I am VERY new to working on cars so please excuse me for beating a dead horse. I have been reading about this problem all day and I am hoping it is simply the thermostat.

PROBLEM:
The car runs fine and does not over heat at all when driving, but once I stop at a stop light/sign or something, the car overheats, the gauge is at the very top (redline). If I turn the heater on, it remains in the middle where it should be however. I started the car today, DID NOT let it warm up, kicked on the ac and the heater and the fans in front of the radiator did not turn on. The car was only started for 1 minute max but I could tell that the bottom radiator hose was cooler than the top hose. There is no leakage of coolant once stopped and when I took the radiator cap off, there seemed to be plenty of coolant. Does this sound like a thermostat problem? If not, what else do you think it could be? This is an emergency situation due to this being the only vehicle we have and my wife is pregnant and due any day now.

I purchased a new thermostat and gasket today and am replacing it tonight if anyone thinks this will solve my problem. I also read that it may be the "fan switch" or "relay", no idea what that means but I know they are one the thermostat housing. If you think this might be the problem, how do I replace that? I have tried google and youtube on it but i haven't been able to find a decent how-to. ugh.

Please help me!!!! Thank you so much everyone.

 

Sounds like a problem with the radiator fan or circuit.

Unplug the fan switch 2P connector on the thermostat housing. Then short the two terminals of the wire harness connector with a paper clip or piece of wire. When you turn the key to ON(II), does the fan run?

 

If you're desperate, or like I am with my old *** nissan sentra and wanted a fan switch, you can wire them directly to a switch and to the battery. If they dont turn on that way, fans need replaced, if they do, youre good until the kid is born