So I�m at a loss I�m a pretty good mechanic but I�m at a loss right now I�ve changed the thermostat and upgraded the radiator Ik my cooling fans aren�t working at the moment previous owner did some wierd wireing but fixing that but now the car over heats wile driving even I. The freeway and open roads it didn�t do it before it would clime in temp to just above the half mark and kick back down not it just keeps climbing into the red zone I burped is the system and still over heats and gets hot quick it dosnt go into the reservoir unless I pull the red tab on the radiator cap any HELP WOULD BE AWSOME I�m at a loss here and before I take it into an actual shop and spend the money for them to figure it out I want to try and figure it out and save the money

 

You mean they still make Lev-R-Vent radiator caps? Huh... Who knew?

Didja check your air dam? Is it still there? Packrat nest between the a/c condenser and radiator? Check for a stuck gauge? Is it actually getting hot, or are you just trusting the gauge that was garbage when new and hasn't improved with age?

 

Fix the obvious first.

Look to see if coolant is actually circulating in the radiator; if it isn't, the core is either clogged or the water pump is suspect.

Additionally, the temp gauge itself may be reading incorrectly. Buy or borrow an infrared temp gun and check the engine's actual operating temperature.

 

Yes there is flow threw the radiator the temp Gauge is my next suspect thank you ironwill I will try the Infrared temp reader and see also going to put a auto meter temp gage in as well never really trusted dummy stock gauges could it also be a bad thermostat I got from the store bc it wasn�t this bad until I changed it?

 

Did your air dam fall off?

Sounds dumb, but it can make a big difference.

 

These days, with low-quality 'auto parts store' and ebay parts of questionable origin, anything is possible. After everything else checks out (and you've fixed your cooling fan issue), remove the new thermostat, tie a wire around it, dunk it into a pot of simmering water, and see if it opens.

 

I've had 2 different third gens that didn't have the scoop/air dam under the radiator that caused major overheating problems. Start there first since it's just visual.

 

Have you verified that it is actually overheating?

 

OK so help me understand here. I'm pretty stoooooopid, kinda sssssslllllllllllllowwwwwww, so things are harder for me to wrap both of my brain cells around, than it is for other people smarter than me.

You have a car with a fan that doesn't work, and the temperature seems to climb out of control.

Do I detect a relationship here? Possibly even a cause and an effect? Or is there something complicated I'm overlooking? SURELY it can't be THAT simple?

…………………...

Fix your forking fan. THEN start worrying about what else might be wrong. If anything.

And get rid of that lever radiator cap. That's a bad idea from the deep past that is well and widely known to be a FAIL. Just get a good quality normal ordinary one.