Hi Scotty the Dodge Stratus has been sitting up a while and had overheating problems before I got it the water pump was changed which did not solve the problem I don't know if the thermostat was or not I hear a hissing bubbling sound inside the car and can smell the overheating of the water in the radiator I don't see any leaks anywhere around the radiator or any other components although the radiator cap housing was cracked and needed to be replaced when I bought the car common sense says something made the radiator cap housing crack thank you if you can help
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You have to go through this systematically:
If the cap is bad, replace it with a OEM.
When was the last drain and fill?
Is there air mixed in the coolant/radiator? Any air in the circulation of coolant will raise the temperature?
Is the thermostat stuck or broken? Has it ever been replaced?
Do you have a clogged radiator?
These are the initial suspects.
- Thank you much going to change thermostat tomorrow,I just learned that the cap could do it. I hear hissing and bubbling inside the dash board once it gets over heated and I can spell the old rusty water over heat smell inside the car. I found out today that it sat up over a year I was told it was only sitting up for 6 months what a jerk right and we know him
Good on the thermostat. OEM only. But if the coolant is oxidized, replace it, before you put in a thermostat. There's plenty of tutorials on YouTube on how to do that. It takes a little bit of patience, but it's necessary. I'll explain why, below:
What you're smelling is the oxidation of the aluminum on and in the radiator. When aluminum oxidizes, it produces, not surprisingly, aluminum oxide. What is aluminum oxide? Sandpaper.
Can you imagine what sandpaper does to the inside of the radiator, even as it transforms it? What about the other aluminum components nearby?
So, you must drain and fill the radiator BEFORE putting in any thermostat. And this requires a special spill funnel to get all of the air bubbles out of the radiator before you drive it anywhere (after the drain and fill).
Get your owner's manual to determine what is the right fluid. Get the OEM (Mopar) if you can.
Otherwise, you can change the thermostat, but with aluminum oxide forming in your radiator, it won't be a long-lasting fix.