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Home › Cadillac › 2003 › Seville SLS › Repair and Diagnosis › Engine Mechanical › Electric Cooling Fans › System Tests › Test C: Engine Overheating

Test C: Engine Overheating

NOTE: The engine temperature light comes on and stays on, or the temperature gauge shows hot, or coolant overflows from the surge tank onto the ground while the engine is running.
  1. Check for low coolant. If the coolant is low, go to next step. If the coolant is not low, go to step  3 .
  2. Fill the system to the specified level. If the engine still overheats, go to next step. If the engine does not overheat, the system is okay.
  3. Check for a missing or damaged radiator upper air deflector, baffle, or center air deflector. If there are any missing or damaged deflectors or baffles, go to next step. If there are not any missing or damaged parts, go to step  5 .
  4. Repair or replace any deflectors or baffles as necessary. If the engine still overheats, go to next step. If the engine does not overheat, the system is okay.
  5. Check the coolant concentration. If the coolant concentration is adequate, go to step  7 . If the coolant concentration is not adequate, go to next step.
  6. Correct the coolant concentration as necessary. If the engine still overheats, go to next step. If the engine does not overheat, the system is okay.
  7. Pressure test the cooling system. If the cooling system maintains a pressure of 15 psi (103 kPa), go to step  9 . If the cooling system does not maintain the correct pressure, go to next step.
  8. Check for loss of coolant. If the engine still overheats, go to next step. If the engine does not overheat, the system is okay.
  9. Check for a pinched or kinked radiator surge tank hose. If the surge tank hose is kinked or damaged, go to next step. If the surge hose is not kinked or damaged, go to step  11 .
  10. Reroute or replace the hose as necessary. If the engine still overheats, go to next step. If the engine does not overheat, the system is okay.
  11. Check the water pump belt tension. If the tensioner is working properly, go to step  13 . If the tensioner is not working properly, go to next step.
  12. Replace the tensioner as necessary. If the engine still overheats, go to next step. If the engine does not overheat, the system is okay.
  13. Check for an obstructed radiator air flow or bent fins. If any radiator fins are bent or if the air flow to the radiator is being obstructed, go to next step. If the radiator fins are not bent and the air flow is not obstructed, go to step  15 .
  14. Remove or relocate add on parts that block air flow to the radiator. If the engine still overheats, go to next step. If the engine does not overheat, the system is okay.
  15. Check for a blockage in the cooling system passages. If the cooling system passages are blocked, go to next step. If the cooling system passages are not blocked, go to step  17 .
  16. Drain the coolant. Flush the cooling system. If the engine still overheats, go to next step. If the engine does not overheat, the system is okay.
  17. Check for an inoperative cooling fan. If the cooling fans are inoperative, go to next step. If the cooling fans are not inoperative, go to step  19 .
  18. Repair or replace the cooling fan as necessary. See ELECTRIC COOLING FAN MOTOR  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. If the engine still overheats, go to next step. If the engine does not overheat, the system is okay.
  19. Check if the thermostat is stuck in the closed position. If the thermostat is sticking or stuck in the closed position, go to next step. If the thermostat is not sticking, go to step  21 .
  20. Replace the thermostat. If the engine still overheats, go to next step. If the engine does not overheat, the system is okay.
  21. Check for a faulty water pump. If the water pump is faulty, go to next step.
  22. Replace the water pump. If the engine still overheats, go to step  1 . If the engine does not overheat, the system is okay.
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