2GN.ORG

My car is overheating in mostly traffic conditions or if its hot outside lol it doesnt really matter anymore. A little info mite help

2000 Dodge Neon automatic
109000
has pressure in the radiator hoses, thermostat was replaced(now it takes twice aslong before it overheats then before)
oil is fine and im not due for a change for another 1000miles

I used some stop leak shit for the cooling system cause a few months ago i had a mild leak of coolant. since then i haven't had any leak out and it appears fine. Everything is topped off and is the right color. The car was orignally a fleet vehicle so if something went wrong it was fixed when it was in service. Idk how long its been out of service for but i got it at jus over 102000 miles. I would like some opinions as to what the cause could be before i spend a crap load to get various things replaced.

Ha, you may be spending money anyways. At 105,000 the timing belt/components/water pump was due for replacement. Could be one reason they released the car from service. If you do not know if it has been done, plan on it. If the belt snaps, you will be replacing valves, or a head.

Stop leak is generally a bad idea, as it will cause issues where air pockets and flow may be present. Or if the radiator coolant level is low, it might seal the tubes in the radiator. But being a down flow type, it may not be as big of a problem as the cross flow types.

It is pegging the gauge, or bubbling out to the expansion tank?

Does the fan kick on?

Where was the coolant leak at?

How does the ATF look? The heat exchanger has a tendency to begin leaking, mixing coolant and ATF. This is worse for the transaxle than the engine, if the coolant gets into the ATF. If not caught quickly, the transaxle will fail.

If the temp gauge is only slightly above half, and it is "boiling" you may have a head gasket issue.

i think your rad is clogged. worst thing you did was use that stop leak.
over time is clogged your fins and that's why its over heating.
start with running water just through your rad with the hoses off.

I bet any money that water will be pouring out the top before and flows out the bottom.

if not and all flows well then check the water pump like od was saying.