Smoke or steam coming from vents

He wouldn't overheat if it was just condensation



The fan should do the job just fine keeping you cool, even in those temps. Down in Sac its 110 deg every day and I have yet to see my temp get out of normal range.

 

How's the coolant level in the reservoir?

 

OP, make sure to fill your radiator back up, WHILE ITS RUNNING and the thermostat is OPEN, this means it needs to be in the normal range. You'll blow a head gasket if you keep overheating it.

 

Uh I don't know about that..... I always have been told to never open the cap while its hot or running.

Edit. I think you meant the reservoir so nevermind

 

Good question, lemme check

 

clean er up real nice and then take it back to the dealer.

 

The danger is opening a system that's already pressurized, that's where you get steam burns, etc. If you start the engine cold with the cap off and leave it off while it warms up, it won't hurt anything because the system never pressurizes.

That's actually the procedure for 'burping' the cooling system of a lot of cars after changing the coolant - just keep adding the mix until it stops going down (may take a half hour to burp it out).

Condensation could also be A/C related. When it's really hot out and the compressor cycles off, all the water that's on the evaporator is suddenly at the mercy of the desert air and it can look like steam coming out. If that's the case, it'll fog out for a few seconds, be gone until the evap gets down to temp again, and poof it'll do it again.

Personally if that was my truck I'd check the radiator's coolant level when the engine is cold. If I see the core, off to the dealer.

 

If it doesn't smell like coolant and you aren't getting wet carpet, it's not the heater core.

The hot running at idle is possibly an issue with the fan clutch, but if it's not in the red, it MIGHT be normal for a 110 degree day with high humidity.
My engine never gets above mid-scale, but it's been comparatively dry... even what we refer to as "tropical" is generally still below 40% RH.

High humidity really impacts the radiator's efficiency, and likewise, the AC.
I'm surprised you're getting steam from the vents... I haven't had that happen since my last car that used R-12.

 

I've seen cars blow condensation out the vents and it is usually caused by the system AC freezing up. If the AC is freezing it could be as simple as a defective thermistor.

 

I live in Phoenix just like the OP - have been driving around the past several days and my temp needle hasn't moved a hair off center, which is where it usually stays. I don't think it's weather-related unless he has other problems.

 

Whatever your situation is, since it is under warranty I would say get off of here and take it to the dealer for a factory warranty repair.

 

It was the heater core

 

Glad to hear you got it figured out.

 

Damn... Hope this isn't going to be a 2012 issue. Keeping an eye on mine for sure.