The purpose of this article is to help you if your GMC, Chevy, or Buick is showing the “engine overheated idle engine” fault code.
Here are the most common causes for this fault message after working on a few GM cars.
You may be seeing an overheated idle engine message on your GMC, Chevy, or Buick for a number of reasons. I will discuss the top reasons below. Let’s get started
“Engine Overheated Idle Engine” Fault Message: What Does It Mean?
This message simply indicates that your engine is too hot to operate properly, and you have been notified about it in your driver information center.
For the engine to be protected from further damage, it must be idled to cool. The engine can be tried to drive once it has been brought back to a safe operating temperature.
With the appropriate steps, it is possible to resolve this issue found in Chevrolet, GMC, and Buick vehicles.
The engine is usually not damaged, but it needs to cool down before it can be restarted, based on my experience as a mechanic.
“Engine Overheated Idle Engine” Fault Message: What Causes It?
Following my explanation of the fault message, let’s examine the reasons for its appearance.
Temperature sensor on engine coolant faulty
A malfunctioning or faulty engine temperature sensor is the most common cause of this problem.
A coolant sensor provides information about how hot or cold your engine is to your vehicle’s computer (ECU).
Achieving an ideal operating temperature requires the ECU to adjust the output signals accordingly.
An ECU is unable to accurately calculate engine temperature if the sensor fails or malfunctions. As a result, although the engine may not be overheating, the Engine Control Module may believe it is.
As a result, your vehicle’s instrument panel will display the message “engine overheating idle engine”.
2. Bad Thermostat
In addition to the overheating of the engine, a malfunctioning thermostat is the second most common reason for this message.
In your engine’s cooling system, the thermostat regulates the flow of coolant.
During periods of excessive heat, coolant may be admitted into the engine, but once the temperature returns to normal, it may be closed again.
The failure of such a valve may lead to your vehicle’s engine running hotter than normal, causing the vehicle’s instrument panel to display the message.
3. Low level of coolant
You need coolant to keep your engine running safely.
Heat is absorbed from the combustion process by the coolant as it circulates through the radiator and engine block.
This process is repeated by returning the coolant to the radiator through hoses after it is coolened by air blowing across its surface.
A leak or poor maintenance can lead to the engine overheating if the coolant level drops too low. The dashboard will show you this message when it happens.
4. Radiator Leak
In addition, bad radiators caused by leaks are another common problem.
It is common for the temperature gauge in a vehicle to rise due to a radiator leak.
Through its tubes and fins, the radiator circulates coolant to cool your engine and absorb the heat generated by the combustion process.
The cooling system may become leaking due to damage or wear, resulting in hot air being exhausted from the engine bay instead of cooling and being returned to it.
Consequently, your engine will overheat, resulting in a message indicating the engine has overheated during idle.
Seeing an overheating message should not cause you to idle for too long
It depends on many factors, including the temperature outside and the condition of your cooling system, how long it takes for the engine to cool down after overheating.
The cooling process will typically take 30-40 minutes after your engine has overheated.
On a cool day, you’ll pay less if your car is parked in the shade.
It may take longer than 40 minutes for the car to cool down if it is parked in direct sunlight on a hot summer day.
Idle Engine Overheated Warning Fix and Reset
Initially, I recommend you disconnect the battery for about five to ten minutes to reset your car. Check if the message goes away after reconnecting the battery and starting your car.
Maybe your temperature sensor needs replacing, which is cheap and easy. It’s possible the sensor’s gone bad if it doesn’t.
It is possible that a bad thermostat or radiator is the cause of the coolant temperature sensor malfunction. The car should be taken to a mechanic who works at a dealership/independent shop to be diagnosed. Engine Overheated Idle Engine
