Is it the thermostat

[todpod]

Have a 2002 PT Cruiser with about 125,000 miles. The radiator was replaced about 3 or 4 months ago since then it has over heated 3 times. Twice on interstate once on the roads around home. All three were longer trips. It doesn't do it just running around home. Wife was driving all 3 times (maybe thats the problem)/ You let it cool down and its fine. Any Thoughts?

 

[Bartman39]

Sounds almost like it could be a sticking theromstat which should have been changed when the radiator was done...? Why was the radiator changed due to a leak or was it overheating then as well...? Also with that many miles I would opt for a new waterpump (bomba de agua)... Not sure if this makes sense to you but a long time ago the 1983-19?? wedge body Camaro had a small piece of plastic that deflected air to the radiator at highway speeds it was up under the frontend just behind the grill area and if not in place the car would overheat but just above 40-45mph (beginning of highway speeds)... A thought...?

 

[todpod]

The radiator started leaking and while the wife was driving and it over heated. Hope to get rid of it next spring. I had a shadow that I changed the thermostat like three times but it never worked right, ended up just pitching the thermostat which worked fine until winter. The thermostat was change before about 3 years ago for some reason don't really remember why.

 

[bruceb]

I would try a new thermostat and radiator cap. Also on a lot of new cars, all the air must be bled out of the cooling system or you get an air pocket with temperature spikes. On a car that old, it is also possible the water pump impeller is worn out and can not move enough coolant fast enough.