So I have a 93' 3.4 that has been experiencing some overheating problems, and I can't figure out whats causing it for the life of me.

So far I've:

1) Replaced the thermostat with a 190* thermostat

2) Flushed the radiator

3) Replaced the coolant temperature sensor (the one located next to the thermostat)

4) Purged the air out of the system, I think (got the car to operating temp, unhooked the small hose under throttle body, filled up radiator with coolant until coolant drained from hose plug under the throttle body)

edit: 5) New Radiator Cap as well

Is the radiator just shot? New water pump? Someone help me out here!

 

You flushed the rad, but did you back-flush the heater core? Lots of times the hoses are gunked up (if you used stop-leak it'll get stuck in there). Take a water hose with good pressure and spray inside the hose going through the block. Sounds to me the cooling system isn't circulating well.

 

Suppose I didn't back flush the heater core...would it cause a good amount of steam to come from underneath the passenger side door, which is where the heater core is on most vehicles, but I'm not sure on these.

Also, when it gets upto temp, steam starts coming out near the radiator cap as well.

 

Check to see if your fans are cycling on.You may also want to lower your thermostat temp range.

 

190* is the suggested thermostat for the 3.4L

 

If steam is coming out the rad and under the car then you have a blockage somewhere. Too much pressure buildup.

 

Anywhere online or something I could find the route that the coolant takes?

 

if you have steam coming from under the passenger side door then i would say the heater core is bad, could be it was damaged when the system was flushed, use to much pressure and weak points will fail. anyways theres a drain tube for the heater core area that comes out under the car on the passenger side where you are talking about.

 

yeah sounds like a pressure problem a buddy of my had the same prob with the cammy..did almost the same work you mentioned except he didnt know he had a bad heater core

 

The coolant bubbles like a pot of boiling water when the radiator is full as well.

The more I read, the more I'm thinking blown head gasket/ blown intake gasket

Opinions?