Coolant spill with A/C on...need help please

[DJ SHO]

Just got my A/C working the other day. Nice and cold! But for the last two days it's been in the 80's and I've been running the air most of the time. Well yesterday, and it happened today too, the coolant spilled over from the overflow bottle. The fan(s) are working fine (comes on with AC and at the right temperatures), and the engine temp guage only gets about half way when she's in city traffic with the air on, on hot days. With the air off, I have no coolant spills. Water pump and radiator do not leak, and there's no signs of leaks except from the drain tube from the overflow bottle.

Does this sound more like a thermostat problem, possibly just need a radiator flush, or a do i need a new radiator cap? Perhaps the cap on there now isn't as good anymore. shrug

T.I.A.

 

[projectSHO89]

Try the cap first.

Steve

 

[drdave]

The heat from the condenser makes the cooling system work harder.

You should only have the one fan configuration unless you changed it. Just because the fan or fans come on doesn't mean their good. I had two different fans on my 93 that seemed to be OK, only to have the coolant come bubbling out of my expansion bottle after I turned the car off. Once I put another fan in, never had another problem.

One more thing. I would consider changing your coolant temperature sender. It doesn't sound like it is accurately displaying your temperature for you. Remember, they always fail to the cool side.

 

[DJ SHO]

Thanks for the input.

Got a radiator today, and going to replace the thermostat too - it's sticking. There's a lot of crap in the system (from the good ole Stopleak that was in there), plus the radiator is starting to leak again. I will be replacing the sensors too.