02' Cavalier cooling system issues... fan switch location???

[RIP_K52007]

02' Cavalier 2.2L I noticed driving it the last month it always went up n down between 195 and 210 figured thats about normal, last night it went upto 240ish then jumped right to 260, pulled over and let it cool down. Today I went looking at it, no leaks, coolant is full, it builds pressure in the hoses, so I changed the thermostat, started it up re filled the system and same thing. 195-210 sitting still, take off down the road and it goes right up to 260.

Does the fan on these effect this alot? and where is the switch that controlls the fan? I might just jump it for now and leave the fan on n go for a lil ride see if it stays cool. Last night the fan kicked on about 220 and it sat there and got hotter. Today the fan didn't come on at any point.

[Crazymays77]

i would run the fan constant and see if that helps or not. might be a bad radiator idk

[RIP_K52007]

Everything seems to be working fine as far as coolant flowing, the heater blows really hot, and the hoses are all pressurized. I put a 180 degree thermostat in it, thats what came out also. I will go hot wire the fan in a few. Taking a break 

[jbeery78]

Let it run up to temp (around 200 or so) then turn on the ac and see if the fan runs. The ac should kick the fans on. If its not then try jumping power to em. Iv seen a few 2.2s with fans that didnt wanna run amd got hot.

[RIP_K52007]

I just got back from about a half mile trip with the fan hotwired on. Did the same thing shot right up to 260. Coolant is still staying full, hoses have pressure.

[jbeery78]

Seems like it should be cooling down driving down the road. Cooling system bled out good? Makr sure the coolant doesnt stink like exhaust.

[jbeery78]

If theres a bleeder in the heater pipe try cracking it a few times. Should havr steady coolant stream.

[RIP_K52007]

There was no bleeder we spent about another hour and a half bleeding the system out here by pulling the hose off the highest point of the system. Seems to be ok now, drove it up town and back about 10 miles and it never broke 230ish keeping a gallon with me to keep topping it off as the air works its way out I guess.

[jbeery78]

Sweet. Yea 2.2s can be tough to bleed air from sometimes. Did u figure out if the fans are running like theyre supposed to be?

[RIP_K52007]

found out the fan is supposed to come on at 228 degree's so yes its working it just doesnt come on as soon as I was expecting. Also with the air in the system I don't think coolant was touching the temp sensor that turns it on and off.

[Eroq]

keep getting air out of it derik?

[RIP_K52007]

Seems to be ok now. Drove it 140 miles today stayed right about 195

[Colorado]

So apparently it just needed burping. BUT, something caused the issue in the first place. 

[7d9_z28]

The 2.2 Cav's are notorious for overheating- they warp the head and blow the head gasket. I just had to replace the head on my boss's 01 Cavalier, and this is its second motor. they warp in-between cylinders 2 and 3.  Also there is a steel coolant pipe on the left side of the engine that should have a bleeder right on top of it, but my boss's was broken off by a previous mechanic. 

[RIP_K52007]

It was probably the thermostat in the first place, I just didn't get the system bled completely after I put the new one in.

01 cavys have a bleed screw. 02's dont. Typical GM, take something that works fine and change it lol.