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Question

2004 cavalier won't shut off, gauge goes over 195, seems to overheat, fluids were checked and told were fine. After driving 30 to 40 minutes in traffic.

Submitted: 56 days and 15 hours ago.

Category: Car

Value: $13

Status: CLOSED

Year: 2004
Make: Chevrolet
Model: cavalier
Engine: 2.2 echo tech

Already Tried:
put it in gear and shut it off. or when it cools down it will shut off this has happened to nights in a row now

Posted by GUY V.I. 56 days and 14 hours ago.

Info Request

hi, what do you mean when you say it wont shut off , like the engine stays running when you turn the key off?..guy

56 days and 14 hours ago.

Reply

Yes, when you turn the key to shut off the car, it keeps running. This is our daughters car, she lives out of town. We would like her to have an idea what is wrong with it before she takes it in for repairs. Thank you.

Posted by GUY V.I. 56 days and 14 hours ago.

Answer

hi again, I would say you have a bad ignition switch ,if you can turn the key off and remove it something is shorting out in that switch....guy

56 days and 14 hours ago.

Reply

Would that make the car overheat also? Because as she is driving she notices the gauge going up past 195. When she reaches her destination the car won't turn off even though the key is turned off.

Posted by GUY V.I. 56 days and 14 hours ago.

Info Request

what is the gauge reading exactly?these cars the cooling fan doesnt come on until the temp reaches sometimes 227 degrees, is the cooling fan coming on?did she have this problem at the same time that the car wouldnt shut off ...guy

56 days and 14 hours ago.

Reply

I don't know what the temperature reading is exactly, but this has happened two nights in a row and in both incidents the temperature gauge went up and the car seemed to be overheating right before she gets to her destination which is about 35 minutes of driving. Then when she goes to shut the car off, she turns the key to the off position but the car continues to run. Being out of town we are doing this over the phone. That's why she called home and my husband told her how to shut it down by keeping it in gear. He called it (I believe the term was) dieselising.

Accepted Answer

ok, she needs to check to see if the radiator fan is working,turn on the ac with the car running and see if the fan is running ,if it is not then with the car off see if the fan moves freely, if it does then we need to check the coolant sensor ,it is located at the back of the engine on the firewall side by injectors it has 2 wires going to it they are black (5-7 volts from the ecm) and yellow back to the ecm ,you can use a jumper wire between the 2 wires in the connector to trigger the relay for the fan ,if it doesnt come on ,then check at the relay ,there should be 12 volts bat power to one socket,12 volts key on at another one,with the coolant sensor unplugged there will be ground at another..guy

Accepts:
Expert:	GUY V.I.
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Answered:	9/27/2009

ASE Certified Technician

ase certified--32 yrs experience

56 days and 13 hours ago.

Reply

We will call her and have her try that. Thank you.

Posted by GUY V.I. 56 days and 13 hours ago.

Info Request

ok, and thank you ,from what you describe it more than likely is the thermostat ,but the rest of the system cooling circuit needs to be checked , and once again thank you ..guy

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Question

2004 cavalier won't shut off, gauge goes over 195, seems to overheat, fluids were checked and told were fine. After driving 30 to 40 minutes in traffic.

Optional Information

Year: 2004
Make: Chevrolet
Model: cavalier
Engine: 2.2 echo tech

Already Tried:
put it in gear and shut it off. or when it cools down it will shut off this has happened to nights in a row now

Info Request

hi, what do you mean when you say it wont shut off , like the engine stays running when you turn the key off?..guy

Reply

Yes, when you turn the key to shut off the car, it keeps running. This is our daughters car, she lives out of town. We would like her to have an idea what is wrong with it before she takes it in for repairs. Thank you.

Answer

hi again, I would say you have a bad ignition switch ,if you can turn the key off and remove it something is shorting out in that switch....guy

Reply

Would that make the car overheat also? Because as she is driving she notices the gauge going up past 195. When she reaches her destination the car won't turn off even though the key is turned off.

Info Request

what is the gauge reading exactly?these cars the cooling fan doesnt come on until the temp reaches sometimes 227 degrees, is the cooling fan coming on?did she have this problem at the same time that the car wouldnt shut off ...guy

Reply

Accepted Answer

Reply

We will call her and have her try that. Thank you.

Info Request

ok, and thank you ,from what you describe it more than likely is the thermostat ,but the rest of the system cooling circuit needs to be checked , and once again thank you ..guy

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Have your own Car question?

Related Car Topics:

Question

2004 cavalier won't shut off, gauge goes over 195, seems to overheat, fluids were checked and told were fine. After driving 30 to 40 minutes in traffic.

Optional Information

Year: 2004Make: ChevroletModel: cavalierEngine: 2.2 echo tech Already Tried: put it in gear and shut it off. or when it cools down it will shut off this has happened to nights in a row now

Info Request

hi, what do you mean when you say it wont shut off , like the engine stays running when you turn the key off?..guy

Reply

Yes, when you turn the key to shut off the car, it keeps running. This is our daughters car, she lives out of town. We would like her to have an idea what is wrong with it before she takes it in for repairs. Thank you.

Answer

hi again, I would say you have a bad ignition switch ,if you can turn the key off and remove it something is shorting out in that switch....guy

Reply

Would that make the car overheat also? Because as she is driving she notices the gauge going up past 195. When she reaches her destination the car won't turn off even though the key is turned off.

Info Request

what is the gauge reading exactly?these cars the cooling fan doesnt come on until the temp reaches sometimes 227 degrees, is the cooling fan coming on?did she have this problem at the same time that the car wouldnt shut off ...guy

Reply

Accepted Answer

Reply

We will call her and have her try that. Thank you.

Info Request

ok, and thank you ,from what you describe it more than likely is the thermostat ,but the rest of the system cooling circuit needs to be checked , and once again thank you ..guy

Related Car Questions

Year: 2004
Make: Chevrolet
Model: cavalier
Engine: 2.2 echo tech

Already Tried:
put it in gear and shut it off. or when it cools down it will shut off this has happened to nights in a row now