Seeking Guidance on a Persistent Car Cooling Issue

Hello fellow car enthusiasts,

I've been grappling with a rather vexing automotive issue for approximately six weeks now, and I'm turning to this forum in search of some much-needed advice and expertise. The problem initially manifested itself as the dreaded red coolant temperature warning light flickering to life while I was cruising along the freeway. Interestingly, I discovered that turning off the air conditioning during freeway driving (at speeds of 60-70mph) would typically extinguish the warning light after a couple of minutes. There were a few instances where I failed to notice the warning light and didn't deactivate the AC, which subsequently triggered the check engine light. Fortunately, the check engine light tended to disappear after a day or so, as long as I managed to avoid triggering the coolant temperature warning light.

Upon closer inspection, I noticed dried coolant residue along the passenger side of my vehicle, and the coolant reservoir appeared to be consistently low on coolant. My initial response was to top up the coolant reservoir, and this seemed to alleviate the issue for about a week. However, the problem resurfaced, with the warning light recurring, followed by coolant spraying out of the reservoir. In an attempt to remedy the situation, I experimented with running the car in maintenance mode, raising the coolant reservoir and leaving the cap off to expel any trapped air, suspecting vapor lock as the culprit. Nevertheless, I'm still grappling with the issue, albeit in a somewhat different manner.

Then, I stumbled upon this video (

) and decided to give it a try. Remarkably, it appears to have resolved the problem, at least for the time being.

Here are my questions:

1. Could there be any potential drawbacks or side effects associated with the YouTube-suggested fix, which involves removing the O-ring from the coolant reservoir cap?

2. I've noticed a small hole at the back of the reservoir cap housing, which seemed like it might have been intended for a hose at some point. It acts as a funnel when refilling coolant, preventing leaks. Should this hole be there, or am I overlooking something? I'm considering sharing a picture for reference.

3. I'm open to any additional advice or suggestions you may have to offer regarding this puzzling issue. Your insights would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your assistance, and I look forward to your input on this matter.

 

Subject: Urgent Help Needed: Overheating and P261C Code After Coolant Overflow

Hey fellow car enthusiasts,

I hope you're all doing well. I'm reaching out to this forum in desperate need of help and guidance. Currently, I'm going through an extremely tough time and find myself living out of my car due to challenging circumstances.

Recently, I experienced a concerning issue with my car while driving. As I was attempting to top off the coolant, the car unexpectedly took in a considerable amount—approximately a gallon and a half. In an attempt to address what seemed like an insatiable need for coolant, I added more. Suddenly, the car's warning lights illuminated, resembling a Christmas tree, and it eventually stalled on the road.

After managing to get to a safe parking spot, I noticed that the coolant had overflowed from the reservoir. To make matters worse, the check engine light came on, and upon scanning the car, I received a P261C code.

I'm aware that this code pertains to the engine coolant pump "B" control circuit/open. Considering my challenging circumstances, I'm seeking advice on the most cost-effective way to address this issue. I'm not in a position to invest heavily in repairs, but I need my car to be operational for both shelter and transportation.

If anyone has experience or knowledge related to this issue or suggestions for budget-friendly repairs or troubleshooting steps, I would be immensely grateful for your insights and assistance.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post, and I appreciate any help you can provide.

TO ANSWER SOME OF THE ABOVE QUESTIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS... I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE CAR, HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS, HAVE NEVER USED ANY SORT OF QUICK FIX TO COVER ANY PROBLEMS AND THIS IS THE FIRST ISSUE OF THIS MAGNITUDE. CAR ENGINE SOUNDS FINE, DOES NOT SHAKE AND WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN 4-5 MILES FROM WHERE IT DIED TO MY FRIENDS HOUSE WHERE I CAN WORK ON IT. I HAVE CHECKED THE OIL FOR MIXING OF COOLANT AND THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ANY NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO RULE OUT A HEAD GASKET BUT I DONT BELIEVE IT TO BE THE ISSUE YET. THANK YOU ALL, YOUR ALL AWESOME. SOME MORE THAN OTHERS LOL.