severe overheating... any ideas?

[Even Steven]

Just thought of something....

You said that your A/C stopped working right before your engine overheated, right?

Did you check your fan and fan clutch? Since you were driving offroad, I'll assume that you were moving at slow speeds, so the fan must be operational to keep the cooling system working properly. In other words, since you're not driving on the road, the system can't rely on unassisted air passing through the radiator. This also makes sense for the A/C system since it needs that airflow too.

So I'm wondering if maybe you have a fan or fan clutch issue.

 

[Falls]

Just thought of something....

You said that your A/C stopped working right before your engine overheated, right?

Did you check your fan and fan clutch? Since you were driving offroad, I'll assume that you were moving at slow speeds, so the fan must be operational to keep the cooling system working properly. In other words, since you're not driving on the road, the system can't rely on unassisted air passing through the radiator. This also makes sense for the A/C system since it needs that airflow too.

So I'm wondering if maybe you have a fan or fan clutch issue.

Good thought , something to look into.

 

[96dcmss]

Just thought of something....

You said that your A/C stopped working right before your engine overheated, right?

Did you check your fan and fan clutch? Since you were driving offroad, I'll assume that you were moving at slow speeds, so the fan must be operational to keep the cooling system working properly. In other words, since you're not driving on the road, the system can't rely on unassisted air passing through the radiator. This also makes sense for the A/C system since it needs that airflow too.

So I'm wondering if maybe you have a fan or fan clutch issue.

Well good thoughts, however, the A/C magnetic clutch on the compressor is controlled by the engine control module. When the ECM knows the engine is running hot, it will disengage the A/C system to prevent hotter engine temps by eliminating the extra load of the A/C compressor. It is a fail safe built in the parameters of the ECM on most all newer cars/trucks.

I too would suspect the T-stat if you have no leaks. Also be sure to top off the coolant. Take it to the dealer before you clean off the coolant overfowing-stains, that way the technician can see that infact, it did run hot.

Good Luck.

 

[Even Steven]

Well good thoughts, however, the A/C magnetic clutch on the compressor is controlled by the engine control module. When the ECM knows the engine is running hot, it will disengage the A/C system to prevent hotter engine temps by eliminating the extra load of the A/C compressor. It is a fail safe built in the parameters of the ECM on most all newer cars/trucks.

Okay, think about what you just said. Now, if the engine is running hot, the A/C will stop working. We both agree on that.

So if the fan stops spinning for whatever reason, the engine will start running hot, right? And if the engine starts running hot, the A/C will stop working, right? Remember that he did say his A/C cut out before he overheated.

Also keep in mind that the efficiency of the A/C system will drop without a constant flow of air moving across the condensor, which is located right next to the radiator. It seems logical to me that an inoperable fan will cause the exact symptoms that he stated. Just because the A/C compressor will disengage on an overheated engine in no way proves (or disproves, for that matter) that his fan or fan clutch wasn't causing the overheating in the first place.

 

[BlairB]

Thanks for all the feedback guys, but unfortunately I have much bigger problems now...


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