Q45 Overheats at idle

[StrokerQ45]

I just bought a Q45 an im starting to think it was a bad decision.. I replaced all of the fluids an also replaced the water pump an thermostat an im still over heating.. It drives fine at night but as soon as I kick on the ac during the day it overheats.. Its driving me crazy.. Not to mention it idles rough, stalls at the worst times an smells like s***.. Someone please help me solve this issue.. Im desperate right about now

[Skibane]

1. Check the fan clutch. After the engine is warmed up to normal temperature, you should feel some serious resistance when you attempt to spin the fan by hand, because the fan clutch has it tightly connected to the water pump pulley - so tight that it should stop turning immediately after you spin it.

If it continues to spin for more than a small fraction of a rotation, your fan clutch is allowing it to slip - which probably means that the fan clutch is worn out.

2. Check your electric fans in front of the radiator. They should be running when the engine is close to overheating.

3. Did you get the new thermostat back in properly? If it went in backwards, or upside down, it'll cause problems. Note the position of the "Jiggle Valve":

[Q451990]

Ditto on all of the above.

Also, if your car is missing it's road shield (a/k/a belly pan) you should install one. My old Q overheated once during my ownership - and it was in stopped traffic in 100ish degree heat with no road shield installed. Everything else checked out ok. Then I noticed how much hot air was hitting my bare feet while standing in front of the car while it was idling, I realized that the heat pulled through the radiator was being driven straight down, hitting the pavement, and being sucked right back in through the front of the car. With the grile-less design, all of the air flows in from right off of the pavement anyway...

Good luck and to NICO!

Heath

[GSUjinih]

Are you talking about the plastic one? I have seen many Qs in the junkyard and only one so far with one!

[black g50]

Skibane-The electric fans run when the car is too hot?

[Skibane]

Skibane-The electric fans run when the car is too hot?

Yep. They're controlled by the Engine Control Module (ECM). The ECM uses vehicle speed, engine coolant temperature and the A/C settings to determine when to run them, and how fast to run them.

However, when the coolant temperature gets above 221 degrees, the ECM runs them at full speed all the time (regardless of vehicle speed or A/C mode).

[Q451990]

Are you talking about the plastic one? I have seen many Qs in the junkyard and only one so far with one!

Yes. Remember that most yards drain the coolant and oil when the cars arrive, so they would pull the road shield (and toss it to the side) during that process.

Heath

[elwesso]

I've never had any issues with overheating without the belly pan. Unfortunate for me that I live in the rust belt, I cannot physically attach my belly pan anymore since all of the little 10mm bolts have broken off in the holes...

I mirror the things said before, if the radiator is OK (IE replaced recently), and everything else checks out, I'd be thinking a head gasket from the engine being overheated.

[GSUjinih]

Just use some Easy Outs for your broken bolts! I am hoping my southern car will have intact threads.