i just changed the thermostat and car runs hotter now than before

did you get all the air out?? make sure the level is correct.
as far as the hesitation, that sounds like another issue.

Roy

The coolant isn't even getting into the motor. Could it be a vacuum hose?

thats because of the air in the system. did you fill the coolant with the thermostat out till the coolant came out and then install the thermostat??

Roy

I had changed the thermostat a few days ago. I filled everything up yesterday and the hose from the reservoir is not getting into the motor at all. Is the water pump bad?

it could be. you need some help from a shop to verify. have not seen any saturns with broken impellers.

Roy

I laid some cardboard under it while I'm visiting family today. If the water pump is bad, it will leak right?

no, not if the impeller is not working.

Roy

What is the impeller and where is it located?

on the back of the water pump and that circulates the coolant.

Roy

Do I have to take the water pump off to fix it?

yes, you do. thats assuming it is the problem.

Roy

Ok. Ur a big help buddy. I'm hoping I can fix it myself. Too bad I can find an income based mechanic lol.

good luck

Would it be cheaper to just get the new water pump

that is the only way it comes. you cannot buy an impeller

Roy

Just to add to this one those model saturns dont trap air when servicing the cooling system you just warm them up and top them off.As far as the impeller wearing away on the water pump i have worked for saturn for over 16yrs working on those cars and have never seen one do that.So i really doubt yours did that.How do you know the coolant isnt getting i to engine?Are both radiator hoses upper and lower getting really hot?Also whats going on with the way its running?Any codes in the computer?

Yes the hose coming from the radiator to the intake on the drivers side gets extremely hot. I took the little hose that runs from the reservoir to the engine off and nothing is going thru at all.

The hose from the radiator on the drivers side goes to the head not intake.Also is the lower hose getting hot when the coolant gets really hot?

Also is the belt spinning the water pump pulley?

It does get hot but not like the other. I didn't even know wat the water pump looked like until today so I didn't pay any attention to it since. I didn't know wat I was looking for.

It would be the pulley bellow your ac compressor with three 10mm bolts holding it on.See if its spinning.You said its getting hotter since you replaced the thermostat what was it doing before you replaced the thermostat?How hot is it getting now?Is the radiator cooling fan coming on?

The fan is not coming on. But before I changed the thermostat and emptied the radiator it seemed like the water was helping. I'm going to look at the pulley shortly.

So I checked the water pump and the pulley is working, but the fan is only coming on when I turn the air conditioner on. I'm so frustrated now.

So did the fan work before you changed the thermostat?How hot is the temp gauge getting?