2006 Pt  cruiser is getting hot too quickly. it has heat so its not the thermostat/ fluids are full. w/could it be?

TWO THINGS really! get a can of GUNK ORIGINAL ENGINE CLEANER and clean the ENGINE of ALL debris and focus on the space BETWEEN the radiator and the AC condenser where LEAVES< twigs, feathers, nesting material, and ANIMAL droppings have collected since DAY ONE! You MAY have to remove the RADIATOR HOLD down plate to get there! FLUSH everything OUT! >>>then>>> if you have EVER used VALVOLINE or other cheaply made WAX reduction oils, OR BARGAIN oil change specials, do a MILD sludge removal treatment! I use a 50/50 mixture of AMSOIL POWER FOAM and GUNK ORIGINAL ORANGE engine cleaner ( it's MOSTLY diesel fuel) added into the CRANKCASE from the OIL FILL CAP! This will DISSOLVE years of baked in SLUDGE< VARNISH< WAX and TAR left behind by CHEAP oil changes! AMSOIL is mostly butyl cellosolve, a SAFE desludging Agent! GM used to make a thing called X-66 SLUDGE REMOVER! It is BASICALLY the same thing!>>>> DRIVE gently for about ONE HOUR or so! The HOT AMSOIL will penetrate into even SMALL crevices and EXPAND to push out CRAPPY sludgy BUILDUP. >>>:LOCATE your THROTTLE BODY and IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE. It is at the OTHER end of the AIR INTAKE SNORKEL going to the AIR FILTER box! CLEANT HEM with AMSOIL FOAM and a TOOTHBRUSH on BOTH side for the THROTTLE PLATE and in the IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE portal.. The FOAM removes JUNK in a few seconds! RUN the AMSOIL FOAM through the PCV valve and this will CLEAN and RESTORE PISTON RINGS to SHOWROOM CLEAN and you get MORE torque at take off! ENGINE RUNNING of course! A LARGE billow of SMOKE may come out the tailpipe for a MINUTE or so as the AMSOIL does it's job! The SMOKE will stop in a MINUTE or so!>>>>remove the factory JUNK CHAMPION PLUGS and replaced with DENSO TWIN TIP IRIDIUM LASER plugs.  You will be AMAZED at all the EXTRA POWER and ECONOMY they will produce! They are about $7 each and you need FOUR of them!>>>>replace the COOLING FAN SWITCH as a matter of AGE and COURSE! This insures that the COOLING FAN WILL go ON and OFF at the right times! IT is GOOD insurance!>>>>WHEN the engine is CLEAN on the OUTSIDE and CLEAN on the INSIDE< heat will DISSIPATE more EVENLY! The use of EL CHEAPO oils like VALVOLINE are used COATING after COATING will collect on the INSIDE of the engine the OIL PAN< the FRONT COVER< the VALVE COVERS where the breather vents are, the engine SEALS and GASKETS, and even the VALVE SEALS.....EVERYWHERE>>>> then the INSIDE of the engine will be FREE of those HARDENED sludgy coatings that PREVENT engine cooling properly!>>>>Use ONLY factory genuine CHRYLSER COOLANT and NOT PRESTONE or other UNIVERSAL (there is NO such thing) coolants.>>>>Insist on using only PENNZOIL ULTRA EURO or ULTRA PLATINUM OIL with the "0" designation as in 0W-20; 0W-30.  It is at WALMART usually for $20 for FIVE QUARTS! It is made from NATURAL GAS and NOT crude oil! It keeps the ENVIRONMENT happy, and ALSO your O2 sensors and the pricey CATALIYTIC converter. POWER WASH your engine every FEW moths to INSURE things are CLEAN and there are NO LEAKS of any fluids! The PENNZOIL will get you a 500,000 miles ECTENDED ENGINE WARRANTY so KEEP receipts! I have gotten FOUR PEOPLE new or NEWER engines from car makers or OIL makers! You will learn A LOT about auto working this way! And you will be PROUD of yourself as WELL!  ALWAYS check the COOLANT LEVEL      .>>>ALSO REPALCE THE THERMOSTAT with a GENUINE FACTORY CHRYSLER ONE as a MATTER of course! you can do all there things with a SCREWDRIVER and a small set of HAND TOOLS! AMSOIL DEALERS are in MOST STATES and AMSOIL is ALSO ECELLENT oil maker! But ONLY PENNZOIL give you that warranty to 500,000 miles! You can TYEXT ME at rgmuske@yahoo.com about your RESULTS! I LOVE a good report card! HAPPY car = HAPPY YOU! GODO LUCK< and happy DINNER TIME!

It is suppose to heat up quickly for it to run at maximum efficiency.

It has heat so it's not the thermostat??!! 

TILT!!

You need to reassess your faulty belief!! 

If the thermostat is stuck shut, then it won't send any of the hot coolant from the engine to the radiator.  Your heater core will then be the only radiator, which is too small. 

Your engine will overheat quickly.  If you have an aluminum cylinder head, it will warp and cause the cylinder head gasket to leak, which it may already be doing.

-Engine overhaul mechanic and general automotive mechanic since 1972

Here’s what you do. Fill the coolant tank with water. Drive to the nearest scrap yard and say “hi, I’ve got a 2006 PT cruiser . When the guy there says “$50?”, you say “deal” and phone a cab home.

POS Chrysler 4 cylinder with a blown head gasket.

The thermostat is stuck closed. Replace it. Make sure to run the motor for 15 minutes with the radiator cap off to get all of the air out of the cooling system. Don't try to diagnose car problems. Your logic is lacking.

Bleed the coolant.  Check for a bad fan.  Check for a clogged radiator.

Check your ANTIFREEZE RATIO?  It should be a 50/50 mix of COOLANT and WATER.

Mostly water will make it overheat.