Meathead16
Member
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2022
- Posts
- 57
- Reaction score
- 70
New guy here, have read a lot, but never joined cause I didn't want to be the odd man out seeing as I don't have a Tahoe or Yukon, but anytjme I'd search for.. well.. anything really, this site was always first page, and has definitely helped me out a lot. Then I saw you had an 'Other' section. 
I have an 05 Avalanche LT Z71, 5.3. 210k, that overheated on me one day after a very short drive.. maybe a mile or two. The temp gauge didn't max out but I got the message on the DIC. Was on a 3 lane rd no shoulder so had to keep driving another 30 seconds or so before I could pull over. The cooling fans were working (electric), the hoses were hot.
I figured it was the tstat not opening as there weren't any leaks that I could see and no coolant loss. Oil looks good. Changed tsat. Used the procedure shown in attached pics to refill. It's for an 02 but figured it would apply just the same. Maybe not?
Coolant level never dropped in the surge tank even though I had plenty left to add. Instead, it started smoking and a good quart at least boiled over and out onto the ground.
Never had an issue before, temp gauge had never been above ~190. I'm thinking water pump but they usually leak out the weephole, at least a little bit, right? Could the impeller have separated somehow? I did see on the tensioner pully what was either oil and dirt buildup, or possibly belt material. Belt is probably due for replacement, but alternator and PS pump are fine so would a bad belt really only not drive one component? I hate throwing parts at an issue and praying for the best, especially after I went against my better judgement on getting the thermostat but for <$10 I said f' it. Well it f'd me back ha. I read that the tstat is not supposed to be replaced by itself but a new inlet should be installed with it, which I did not do. Is that important?
Could it be a restriction in the cooling system? I've only had the truck a few months and was unable to procure any meaningful service history. I have discovered, however, that the coolant level sensor has vanished, and I can't find the connector that went to it..
I have an 05 Avalanche LT Z71, 5.3. 210k, that overheated on me one day after a very short drive.. maybe a mile or two. The temp gauge didn't max out but I got the message on the DIC. Was on a 3 lane rd no shoulder so had to keep driving another 30 seconds or so before I could pull over. The cooling fans were working (electric), the hoses were hot.
I figured it was the tstat not opening as there weren't any leaks that I could see and no coolant loss. Oil looks good. Changed tsat. Used the procedure shown in attached pics to refill. It's for an 02 but figured it would apply just the same. Maybe not?
Coolant level never dropped in the surge tank even though I had plenty left to add. Instead, it started smoking and a good quart at least boiled over and out onto the ground.
Never had an issue before, temp gauge had never been above ~190. I'm thinking water pump but they usually leak out the weephole, at least a little bit, right? Could the impeller have separated somehow? I did see on the tensioner pully what was either oil and dirt buildup, or possibly belt material. Belt is probably due for replacement, but alternator and PS pump are fine so would a bad belt really only not drive one component? I hate throwing parts at an issue and praying for the best, especially after I went against my better judgement on getting the thermostat but for <$10 I said f' it. Well it f'd me back ha. I read that the tstat is not supposed to be replaced by itself but a new inlet should be installed with it, which I did not do. Is that important?
Could it be a restriction in the cooling system? I've only had the truck a few months and was unable to procure any meaningful service history. I have discovered, however, that the coolant level sensor has vanished, and I can't find the connector that went to it..
