Strange overheatting problem
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Tamuning Guam
Strange overheatting problem
I finally got my dash board back together after tracing down all the bad vacuum lines and replacing them. Now I have an even stranger problem. I'm in Guam and it gets hot, but even in the morning this happens. I can drive my '79 at ~45 MPH and everything is fine, temperature says it's ~200 degrees. If I push her over 55-60 MPH the gauge will spaz out (jump back and forth eratically) and peg at 280 degrees. When I drop back down to 45 MPH the gauge drops back down to ~200 degrees.
The only thing I can think of is a bad pump or thermostat. I have replacements on the way; a 160 degree hi-flow thermostat and the stage II pump to go with it. I'm also looking at replacing the clutch fan with a flex fan from Napa. Can anyone suggest anything else?
I want to hold off replacing the radiator until I get back to the states because I need to replace the core support as well. I really don't want to pay for shipping to this tiny floating volcano.
Thanks in advance.
The only thing I can think of is a bad pump or thermostat. I have replacements on the way; a 160 degree hi-flow thermostat and the stage II pump to go with it. I'm also looking at replacing the clutch fan with a flex fan from Napa. Can anyone suggest anything else?
I want to hold off replacing the radiator until I get back to the states because I need to replace the core support as well. I really don't want to pay for shipping to this tiny floating volcano.
Thanks in advance.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 659
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From: Flower Mound Texas
First, confirm whether or not you have an over-heating problem or if you have a problem with temperature reporting accuracy. Get an IR gun and measure the temperature at the thermostat housing under various driving conditions. You can get an IR gun from EBay for around $45 brand new. Very useful tool.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by Razorhorn
First, confirm whether or not you have an over-heating problem or if you have a problem with temperature reporting accuracy....
Could be a bad sending unit or a bad gauge.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,323
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From: I KNOW JESUS... HE'S MY GARDENER
Originally Posted by Easy Mike
Could be a bad sending unit or a bad gauge.
I had the same issue. Turned out to be the guage & sending unit. Installed a mechanical guage and, miraculously, my overheating "problem" went away.
