Car is a s4 87 gxl

Ok, the car was driving fine for me for the past 2-3 weeks since i had it on the road.

The clutch fan is broken, and spins all the time. The temp gauge never gets above 1/4.

Ran fine yesterday during the day, took it out at night and i noticed the temp gauge getting up to 1/2, and then approaching 3/4 after only 5 minutes after leaving my house so i immediately pulled over and turned the car off. Popped the hood, and could hear the coolant bubbling.

I let it cool back down, then topped it up with some more coolant that i had in the car, and headed back home. Temperature stayed normal, and didn't overheat at all.

When investigating further today in the light, the coolant overflow bottle is full to the top, and is overflowing out of the bottle.

Started the car up, pulled onto the road, noticed it had almost no power, then for no reason at all, car was completely normal. In a lap around the block, temp was was again getting up, and approaching half, so parked the car at home again.

So basically i'm wondering, is the motor bad? Allowing coolant into the housings causing the low power due to improper fuel mixture, until it evaporated / was expelled out of the motor then cleared up?

If not, what should i be looking for?

 

wait, your fan is broken, yet is always spinning?

 

yes it's locked the spinning position.

Better than not spinning imo

 

Are you sure it is broken? they will still spin when it is working and cold, the fluid inside still provides resistance, just not near as much when it is warm. Try putting the car in gear, ebrake pulled, the turn the fan, it should turn with some resistance, but still easily enough to do from the hub.

 

I don't think it's the fan. It's been fine for 3 weeks and just started to happen, and i can still hear the fan all the time.

 

Sounds like the thermostat stuck closed, then freed up?

 

I think you should run a pressure check on your cooling system sounds like a bad seal on the housing. You can "loan-a-tool" one from auto zone but it wont fit. But you can have a friend hold it on the radiator neck and the pressure checker will seal I've done it 3 times before. Good luck hope its not your seal. Also you will have to plug your overflow tube; try fuel line, a bic pen, and hose clamps before the check.

 

sounds like an air bubble in the system or as stated above something up with the thermostat

 

Replace the fan clutch with either a new one or junkyard/ebay sourced used one.
Replace the thermostat and cap with new OEM parts.
Drain/refill the radiator with 50:50 antifreeze.
Replace the belts if they are old.
Check your oil.
And, then post back if the problem continues.

 

Water pump..................

 

wait a second? my temp always runs alittle below halfway... am i overheating?

 

no i don't think so.

My car was just running especially low because the clutch fan was always on i am sure.

So when i saw it above that, i knew something was up.