04 dodge ram overheating

[mikensc]

I have an 04 dodge ram 1500 with 43,000 miles. on a recent trip back home to visit family my temp gauge showed that it was getting hot. it usually stays about in the middle range on the gauge. i pulled into a midas that was nearby and had them look at it. they couldn't find anything wrong. my trip total trip was around 1500 miles and the gauge was in the red showing that it was as hot as it could get but the engine seemed fine. what could cause this gauge to read hot when the engine was actually not overheating? when i made it to my first destination i had it looked at and had them put in a new theromstat but it didn't make any difference.

 

[SuperSix]

It could very well be close to overheating.

1. Stuck thermostat
2. Bad temp sensor > ECM
3. Bad fan relay
4. Air in system (not likely)
5 Blocked radiator tubes (again, not likely)
6. Bad fan motor / Clutch if not electric
7. Corroded/rotten hoses collapsing
8. worn out water pump (bearings/impeller/etc

With 43k - is is still under warranty?

 

[Bignate603]

Supersix, that's a good list.

Was it doing this while you were on the highway? At highway speeds your fan does very little, the air flowing across the radiator just from you driving should have been plenty to cool the car. If you were on the highway it's more likely that there was something keeping you from having normal flow through your system. That makes me think it was probably options 1,5,7, or 8. If you've replaced the thermostat that's not the issue. Bad hoses isn't that likely on a vehicle this new but give all the hoses a squeeze to see if they feel spongy.

On a side note, I've had 2 radiators go out in my Chrysler built vehicles. The first was due to partial blockage and the second had the plastic tank start pulling apart. Replacement radiators are relatively cheap and should be something you can do yourself in an afternoon.

 

[mikensc]

I had it checked at a garage when I had the thermostat changed. Everything is good except maybe #2 on that list. I can drive it like normal and the gauge shows that it is hot. I was driving it on the highway at 75mph and above most of the time. The gauge was pegged over in the red as far as it could go. I pulled over once and checked the engine and it didn't even smell or feel hot but the gauge said it was. If there was something wrong with the cooling system I don't think I could have drove it the 1500 miles without it breaking down. Im going to take it to the dealership and have it looked at but I was wanting to know if someone else had this problem so I know if they are trying to charge me for things that it doesn't need.

 

[Bignate603]

Yeah, that sounds like a bad sensor or gauge. If its pegged into the read the engine compartment should be noticeably hotter than normal and the car shouldn't still be running.

 

[LTC8K6]

The computer and the gauge usually have different sensors.

Typically, if the computer thinks the engine coolant is too hot, it will turn the rad fan on high and it will stay on high and you will hear it clearly.