engine overheating and smells

Hey what's guys my wife has a 2004 Grand 2.2 with only 50,000 miles. Here lately when it sit and idles the temperature gauge reads about 220 or higher after 10 min of running then goes back to normal. It also smells like plastic burning. I've checked just to see if something got stuck on the exhaust but nothing. If anyone has any idea or have this happen to them any help would be appreciated Thanks

thermostat is sticking, only opening when its really really hot. You are lucky, most stuck thermos dont open ever and you ruin the engine.

replace the thermostat, I dont normally suggest throwing parts at a problem but thermostats are inexpensive and hard to test but easy to replace.

I thought about that but would that make a weird burning smell??

Originally posted by Draggin_Soon



I thought about that but would that make a weird burning smell??

your engine got really hot, what is it supposed to smell like?

alright thanks man, I was just saying it never got that hot to hurt anything. Even on the days it doesn't over heat there still a burning smell. It hard to explain it not like it over heat all the time just when i'm stopped in traffic for a while.

plus the thermostat housing is plastic in those i believe.

a way to check one is to get a thermometer for cooking.. boil water to 210, normal opening temp and stick your thermostat in the boiling water, it should open rapidly, if it doesnt, its no good.

Did you check your radiator for a plastic bag? You may have one melted in to the fins. Which would slow down the air flow needed to cool the engine. But other than that I would check the thermostat.

First check to see if she has enough coolant and that the drain plug and bottom of the radiator are still good. Then check her hoses to see if they have anything leaking from them. Look under the car to make sure she does not have a plastic bag melted to any part of her flex pipe or cat. Then go for the thermostat first because it is cheap.