Hello,
I have a 2004 Monte Carlo. 3.4 Liter
Lately the car has been heating up to much getting just below the red line mark on the temp gauges.
Me and my father drained the radiator and flushed it and replaced it with 50/50 ratio.
And it is still getting to be too hot. Sometimes it gets above normal and sometimes it stays at normal operating temperature.
When it does get too hot I don't feel any pressure in the hoses, they aren't as stiff as they should be when cooling. I was wondering if this would be the water pump going bad.
And one more question is it bad if the reservoir is above the minimum line by a little bit.

-Thank you!!

 

when you drained and filled the cooling system did you remember to bleed the air out of the system? If not, air in the system is probably causing alot of your problems

 

How would I bleed the cooling system?
we only released the valve under the radiator. How would we get rid of the coolant in the reservioir?
Thank you!

 

The 3400 has a bleed valve at the t-state housing (I believe) and I know it has one in the neck (heater pipe) coming up from the water pump housing. Both have either a brass screw in them. Start on level ground (no need to jack up or angle the car). I recommend when FILLING the radiator, open the bleed screws (either is fine) and start filling the radiator (this prevents air from going else where, it should go OUT of the system). If you get to the point coolant is coming out of the bleed screw, close it, you've filled it as far as that will take ya.

You will want to run the car. I always goof it up (as my Grand Am spoiled me by having a self-bleeding idiot proof system). When you start it, check the radiator immediately after, top off as needed. I believe then just cap it and let it idle about 15 minutes. If the temp started to rise, open a bleed screw (slowly). This will let the air out, and hopefully you get to a steady stream of coolant once the system has pressure.

If you have an air pocket, the temp gauge reads hotter as air is hotter then the fluid PLUS the T-stat won't open from hot air, it NEEDS hot fluid to open.

 

Did you change the thermostat ?

 

No I didn't replace the thermostat.
I just replaced the water pump now. And since it's raining I will add coolant and bleed the system tomorrow.

-Thank you guys for the help!