[Mcw]

Hey guys, I have a 2011 Cadillac CTS 3.0. I was headed into town which is about a 15-20 min drive one way and once I was headed home I noticed I was hearing a humming noise coming from the engine compartment. All of a sudden I got a ding alert from the gauge dashboard then it had an alert message show up saying: engine overheating Turn off AC. And to mention that at the time when it did this my ac was off. After the message alert the temp gauge shot up in a matter of seconds from a notch below the halfway point to all the way past red. As soon as this happened I pulled into a parking lot and after shooting up to red it only stayed there for about five seconds then shot back down to normal temp. I parked and opened up the hood and could smell coolant but could not locate any leaks and for the other ten minute drive back home never shot back up again. So my question is has anyone else known or experienced this issue? I’ve heard it could be one of the fans or the water pump?

 

[Long]

Hey guys, I have a 2011 Cadillac CTS 3.0. I was headed into town which is about a 15-20 min drive one way and once I was headed home I noticed I was hearing a humming noise coming from the engine compartment. All of a sudden I got a ding alert from the gauge dashboard then it had an alert message show up saying: engine overheating Turn off AC. And to mention that at the time when it did this my ac was off. After the message alert the temp gauge shot up in a matter of seconds from a notch below the halfway point to all the way past red. As soon as this happened I pulled into a parking lot and after shooting up to red it only stayed there for about five seconds then shot back down to normal temp. I parked and opened up the hood and could smell coolant but could not locate any leaks and for the other ten minute drive back home never shot back up again. So my question is has anyone else known or experienced this issue? I’ve heard it could be one of the fans or the water pump?

With the engine cool, where is the coolant level in the overflow tank? Proper "full" level is where the two halves (black and clear) of the overflow tank meet.

 

[Mcw]

With the engine cool, where is the coolant level in the overflow tank? Proper "full" level is where the two halves (black and clear) of the overflow tank meet.

Coolant level is real low. I filled up myself a couple weeks back. Like I said the past couple days after I step out of the car I’ve been smelling coolant as soon as I step out of the car.

 

[TheFlash]

you need to get that fixed NOW.

 

[Mcw]

you need to get that fixed NOW.

Omg really I did not know that... smh please respond back with useful information thanks.

 

[Joseph Upson]

The water pump and one of the coolant outlet pipes from the cylinder heads would be high on the list as leak points. The water pump can leak intermittently and the wind passing through the radiator along with the lower skid shield helps conceal the signs of a leak.

 

[Mcw]

The water pump and one of the coolant outlet pipes from the cylinder heads would be high on the list as leak points. The water pump can leak intermittently and the wind passing through the radiator along with the lower skid shield helps conceal the signs of a leak.

Ok thank you very much so im guessing I can possibly run my finger along the borders of the water pump and see if I can feel any coolant on the outside or underneath?

 

[Joseph Upson]

Ok thank you very much so im guessing I can possibly run my finger along the borders of the water pump and see if I can feel any coolant on the outside or underneath?

It's possible, but you may need to raise the car and remove the shield underneath for a better look. I recently replaced the pump on my Mom's car after several instances of waking up the next day and going to the car to find a small puddle of what turned out to be coolant in the driveway in proximity to the pump area of the motor. There was coolant loss and it would only show signs of a leak after the car was parked and allowed to sit for hours. The problem resolved with replacement of the pump, which appeared to be leaking from the smallest of the two holes in the pump bearing housing. LY7 motor, same pump.

 

[Mcw]

It's possible, but you may need to raise the car and remove the shield underneath for a better look. I recently replaced the pump on my Mom's car after several instances of waking up the next day and going to the car to find a small puddle of what turned out to be coolant in the driveway in proximity to the pump area of the motor. There was coolant loss and it would only show signs of a leak after the car was parked and allowed to sit for hours. The problem resolved with replacement of the pump, which appeared to be leaking from the smallest of the two holes in the pump bearing housing. LY7 motor, same pump.

Ok awesome well I’ll take a look and probably go with replacing both the water pump and thermostat just do be on the safe side. Thanks for the good info

 

[TheFlash]

Omg really I did not know that... smh please respond back with useful information thanks.

listen if you don't know what to do you need to take it to a repair shop. This is simple things and obviously it's over your head already

 

[Mcw]

listen if you don't know what to do you need to take it to a repair shop. This is simple things and obviously it's over your head already

 

[Byrdman]

Gentlemen, stick to the topic at hand and don't get personal.
Mcw, I see that you edited your post, presumably to make yourself look better and him worse. Doesn't work that way. The warning was directed at both of you.

 

[Mcw]

Gentlemen, stick to the topic at hand and don't get personal.

I agree thanks

I see that you edited out your angry post directed at The Flash. That doesn't help you or excuse the language.

 

[TheFlash]

You are not qualified to fix your car since u do not know enough to use a cooling pressure tester to determine where your cooling system is leaking from.
Knowing that u had a cooling system leak u filled it and continue to drive the car.
U need to leave this diagnosis to a professional.
This is the only advice i have been giving you.

 

[Byrdman]

Refer to post #12.

 

[Long]

Coolant level is real low. I filled up myself a couple weeks back. Like I said the past couple days after I step out of the car I’ve been smelling coolant as soon as I step out of the car.

That means you have a leak somewhere. Keep an eye on your coolant level and attempt to discern its origin if your skill set is up to par or take your car to a reputable shop and have them perform a proper pressure test to determine the source of your coolant loss.

Good luck moving forward.

 

[Padgett]

One of these is handy. At 15psi leaks show up real quick.

 

[Wit2pz]

Hey guys, I have a 2011 Cadillac CTS 3.0. I was headed into town which is about a 15-20 min drive one way and once I was headed home I noticed I was hearing a humming noise coming from the engine compartment. All of a sudden I got a ding alert from the gauge dashboard then it had an alert message show up saying: engine overheating Turn off AC. And to mention that at the time when it did this my ac was off. After the message alert the temp gauge shot up in a matter of seconds from a notch below the halfway point to all the way past red. As soon as this happened I pulled into a parking lot and after shooting up to red it only stayed there for about five seconds then shot back down to normal temp. I parked and opened up the hood and could smell coolant but could not locate any leaks and for the other ten minute drive back home never shot back up again. So my question is has anyone else known or experienced this issue? I’ve heard it could be one of the fans or the water pump?

Similar scenario happened to me but mine did it while in stop & go traffic. First time it went back to normal within seconds after pulling over. I went a good month or two before it happened again, except this time it went into “limp home” mode before I could reach a place to pull over. Raised the hood and sure enough it was overheating. Let it cool down and cranked the heater at full blast until I got home. I replaced the water pump first but it wouldn’t pump coolant back thru the system so I tackled replacing the thermostat. Be advised, the water pump is easy. Thermostat took me a few days to free it. It’s in a tough spot to reach in front of the firewall. Granted, I didn’t remove my intake manifold to get at it, but I managed. Once I replaced it, I got fluid to run thru the system, but only after the engine overheat warning came on and the radiator fan kicked on. There are different methods chronicled on here if you do a search. Good luck!
Mike

 

[8025phil]

Hey guys, I have a 2011 Cadillac CTS 3.0. I was headed into town which is about a 15-20 min drive one way and once I was headed home I noticed I was hearing a humming noise coming from the engine compartment. All of a sudden I got a ding alert from the gauge dashboard then it had an alert message show up saying: engine overheating Turn off AC. And to mention that at the time when it did this my ac was off. After the message alert the temp gauge shot up in a matter of seconds from a notch below the halfway point to all the way past red. As soon as this happened I pulled into a parking lot and after shooting up to red it only stayed there for about five seconds then shot back down to normal temp. I parked and opened up the hood and could smell coolant but could not locate any leaks and for the other ten minute drive back home never shot back up again. So my question is has anyone else known or experienced this issue? I’ve heard it could be one of the fans or the water pump?

I have a 2011 cts 3.0 never had that happen my water pump was leaking and I had it changed but never had any gauge or warning light issues. Just noticed antifreeze on driveway after I would get home

 

[Tims05V]

I have a 05 ctsv. My thermostat was sticking closed and causing my reservoir to over flow. Because of the position of the temp sensor it showed normal untill the stat opened. Then the analog gage pegged as well as the digital. New stat fixed problem.