Car: 95 Mazda Mx-6 V6

Problem: It is overheating after extended use of the vehicle. The coolant level is fine AND fresh. The fans seem to be kicking on. I can turn the heat on full blast, and the temp gauge just continues to rise If i stay stationary for a moment, like in a drive-thru line, it will start to rise, and even when i take off, it doesn't cool down.
Thermostat maybe? ...but if it was the thermostat, the fans would not kick on, right? God i miss my honda


Any help is apprciated, thanks...

 

blown head gasket

 

the oil looked perfect as of yesterday though, no coolant in it at all....

 

Fans are based on coolant temperature. Coolant temp sensor is working, and the fans are coming on.

It sounds like it could be a thermostat, or possibly a water pump. The other possibility (being a city car, you're not likely to see this) is bugs and crap having blocked off enough of the radiator to cause it to overheat. I come from a town with a lot of bugs, moisture, and dust/dirt. We usually did 2-3 a year for that in a shop I used to work in.

But I'm laying odds it's a water pump when you trace it down.
Radiator - Free check, look and see if you can see through most of the fins.
Thermostat, $20 fix, well worth trying first!
But call it a hunch....Sounds like the coolant is either going through so fast it's not cooling (broken thermostat) or it's going through so slow it's getting very hot while in the motor (broken water pump, possibly thermostat stuck closed somewhat.)

 

thanks for the educated response man

i was going to pick up a thermostat later, and try it out. i am in denial about the waterpump,lol, because it is rediculously hard to get to on this motor, but obviously a possibility, and i can do a fresh timing belt while i'm at it.. I got this car from a kid up north, so bugs in the radiator could be a factor if anything, and i will check/clean as needed.

 

I feel you on the water pump. 2.0 SOHC Dodge Neon. Chilton lists 7.5 hrs.... Enough said!

 

no shit!?! man thats a rough one, hopefully i can avoid doing it on this for a while!

 

I feel you on the water pump. 2.0 SOHC Dodge Neon. Chilton lists 7.5 hrs.... Enough said!

 

I'm owned by the double post.

 

Water Pump