Charvel1975

Hi, I just went to store to get some stuff for Thanksgiving and my 2010 Chevy HHR 2.2 LS, the temp gauge started creeping up to about 243 and when I got home just a little bit ago and shut the car off, the fan was going at full blast!

Is this something to do with the radiator or coolant? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

RJ_RS_SS_350

It very well could have something to do with the coolant. Is there any in it? Meaning, have you checked the coolant level recently? And when was it last changed? Any recent history could be helpful. Repair work, collisions, CheckEngineLights.

aradmahogany

I mean it in a nice way, but it sounds like you are one of those types that never opens the hood. Pop it open and once you clear the cobwebs take a look at the coolant reservoir bottle near the front of the engine attached to the radiator. It says dexcool on the cap. See if you can see any liquid in there, it should be orange. If not, go to parts store and get 50/50 premix dexcool. Ignore advice from others to use different coolant. Check back with results.

Oldblue

It’s a 2010, the Dexcool coolant has a life of 5 years, so if you haven’t changed the coolant yet, then change it now. May I also recommend you change the thermostat, get a correct AC Delco 131-158 180 degree thermostat.
Here is a how to change it.

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-...l-p0128-24493/

whopper

To answer the OPs question (Is this something to do with the radiator or coolant?) - it might be, but it might be related to a head gasket failure, or water pump failure, or a list of other possibilities.

Without knowing what diagnostics you have already done all we can do is guess, and offer some very simple suggestions to start as already stated - ie: does it have coolant in it?

Charvel1975

Hello Whopper, yes it wound up being the water pump was toast! Had a new one put in at Conrad's tire a day or so later last year.

whopper

Cool - (pun intended) - glad you got it fixed. thanks for coming back for the update.

Oldblue