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2001 Kia Sportage approx 120k miles

2K views 8 replies 6 participants last post by  Markfothebeast 
#1 ·
Overheats if idling and AC is on. Had radiator flushed and thermostat and temperature sensors checked. Previous owner replaced both fans going back to OEM fans. Check engine light came on and code said thermostat. This is why both were checked. After removing and checking started running warm so I turned off AC and turned heater on temperature climbed to 3/4 mark. Pulled off and turned car off for only about 5 mins. Restarted and returned to shop. Car only started to get too warm when idled. Their best guess is water pump is going bad. Car when idling and coolant pressure applied does not get warm. Oil does not look milky and no evidence of leak. When radiator was flushed could not get 7 qts of coolant back in only about 5. Would you guess water pump also?
 
#6 ·
The engine getting hot while idling points towards not enough air being pulled through the radiator but you confuse me with you left the shop (not idling) and the temp went up...Sounds like you were moving at the time... Also a thermal gun should show a temperature DIFFERENCE between the top and bottom hoses otherwise the radiator is plugged and the coolant is bypassing the core and fins...
A radiator is supposed to cool the hot coolant so there should be a difference...

Could be the water pump, thermostat, and it could be a bad head gasket allowing compressed gasses to be vented into the coolant....
Have you had the compression checked on the engine?
Common things on older Sportages are thermostats/radiator/heater cores/water pumps and most of all HEAD GASKETS....
You said the thermostat was "checked" but was it replaced?
Dave
 
#7 · (Edited)
Shop should be able to tell if water pump is working on the Sporty easily,

w/ engine cold, coolant topped off to top of radiator fill .. with radiator cap off, start motor and run up to operating temp -> thermostat open, then rev the engine @ the throttle body to 2.5-3k rpm, if the water pump is good, coolant level in radiator should visibly lower, as the pump pushes coolant through radiator ..

Shop should have done this as part of the system 'burp' procedure, to remove any trapped air, in any case.

Water Pump Diagnosis & Replacement

How old is the radiator in that Sportage ?

If original, it would be on the 'suspect' list here for checking for leaks -> air being pulled into the system .. To test, place non-coated cardboard on the ground under the engine compartment to catch any / all leaks, start vehicle, let it sit & run for at least 30 mins ( 45 min to 1 hr w/b better ), then examine cardboard ..

With the bottom metal rock guard off:

After engine cools down, take some blue Scott shop towels and check around hose connections radiator sides, bottom, and face for any leaks.. Towel will turn dark if coolant is on it..
 
#9 ·
I couldn't get my sportage to run past 190f if I tried. My fans rarely ever run at idle. There's definitely something wrong here. In my experiences with head gasket failure, the vehicle would overheat in all conditions.

I'd double check the temp sender. If I recall it is like a $12 part. Also, if you opt to have the water pump replaced, you may as well have the timing belts /timing idler pulley replaced at the same time.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
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