jk 
Runs Too Hot
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
From: Fraser MI
Overheating (Long)
Just drove my new '93 Pole/Tan conv to Detroit from Milwaukee.
No issues, car ran fine.
Of course not being able to let anything alone I have changed
tranny/engine oils and had a complete radiator flush with new
GREEN coolant. I am idling after a 8 mile drive to work
and notice the water temp gauge heading past the third
hash mark. So drive it back to the flush place and they
do it again, bleed the system at the engine, and all appears
to be OK. Now I take the car to get a diagnostic on a
suspension light I'm getting and the thing starts overheating
again after some idling/start/restart. They think I need a
new thermostat now. (same shop, not a dealer)
Driving the car will make the temp go down to normal
Seems that this car doesn't like to sit and idle. I first
thought the fan was caput, but turn the defroster on
and the fan works fine.
I don't know what to think. Wrong antifreeze, Thermostat,
Fan. The coolant is moving, the air bled.
Opinions please and sorry for the long post.
Craig
No issues, car ran fine.
Of course not being able to let anything alone I have changed
tranny/engine oils and had a complete radiator flush with new
GREEN coolant. I am idling after a 8 mile drive to work
and notice the water temp gauge heading past the third
hash mark. So drive it back to the flush place and they
do it again, bleed the system at the engine, and all appears
to be OK. Now I take the car to get a diagnostic on a
suspension light I'm getting and the thing starts overheating
again after some idling/start/restart. They think I need a
new thermostat now. (same shop, not a dealer)
Driving the car will make the temp go down to normal
Seems that this car doesn't like to sit and idle. I first
thought the fan was caput, but turn the defroster on
and the fan works fine.
I don't know what to think. Wrong antifreeze, Thermostat,
Fan. The coolant is moving, the air bled.
Opinions please and sorry for the long post.
Craig
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 4
From: New Baden Illinois
If it is happening at higher speeds, make sure that the lower air dam is directing air up at the radiator. With all of the items that you have been talking about, you shouldn't be running hot.
In addition, I don't think an electric fan will help much if it is getting hot at higher speeds. Fans are intended to keep it cool when it is not moving and getting air over the radiator.
In addition, I don't think an electric fan will help much if it is getting hot at higher speeds. Fans are intended to keep it cool when it is not moving and getting air over the radiator.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
From: Fraser MI
Running Hot
dgruenke,
The car runs at normal temp if driving it. It only heats up
when sitting still for 5-10 minutes idling. The needle does
not peg but gets close.
My thinking is that it should not be the thermostat as
it obviously is working when the car is moving. Thus
then it will also work when the car is sitting idling.
I assume of course that the gauge is reading engine
coolant temps not radiator coolant temps.
So my suspects are the engine fans. While they work when
the defroster is on they may have a seperate starter for
the fans than the temp sensor starter for the fans. May
also be a sensor.
Hope this makes sense
Craig
The car runs at normal temp if driving it. It only heats up
when sitting still for 5-10 minutes idling. The needle does
not peg but gets close.
My thinking is that it should not be the thermostat as
it obviously is working when the car is moving. Thus
then it will also work when the car is sitting idling.
I assume of course that the gauge is reading engine
coolant temps not radiator coolant temps.
So my suspects are the engine fans. While they work when
the defroster is on they may have a seperate starter for
the fans than the temp sensor starter for the fans. May
also be a sensor.
Hope this makes sense
Craig
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 4
From: New Baden Illinois
Craig's Polo 93:
I was actually responding to icanfixitforyou's first thread. I was not addressing yours.
However, yours can also be a couple of things. If it only gets hot when it is sitting, this is usually related to the fans. First, though, I would make sure that the system is bled correctly. Most newer vehicles have a bleed screw to release the air pockets. If the system is not bled, you may have an air pocket surrounding the temp sensor. The pocket won't be there when you are driving because the coolant is flowing.
Assuming the system is bled correctly, the fans come on when one of two things happen: 1) the a/c or defrost is turned on; or 2) the engine reaches a certain temperature. However, in most vehicles, the fans do not turn on until for the temperature, until the temperature reaches a point that will make you nervous. If the fans are still not turning on at this point, then you have a problem with the temperature side of the fan. Although I am not familiar with the setup on the 1993, most newer vehicles control the fan via a temperature sensor (there are usually 2, one for the guage and one for the fan). You may have a bad temperature sensor or even a bad relay.
Good luck.
I was actually responding to icanfixitforyou's first thread. I was not addressing yours.
However, yours can also be a couple of things. If it only gets hot when it is sitting, this is usually related to the fans. First, though, I would make sure that the system is bled correctly. Most newer vehicles have a bleed screw to release the air pockets. If the system is not bled, you may have an air pocket surrounding the temp sensor. The pocket won't be there when you are driving because the coolant is flowing.
Assuming the system is bled correctly, the fans come on when one of two things happen: 1) the a/c or defrost is turned on; or 2) the engine reaches a certain temperature. However, in most vehicles, the fans do not turn on until for the temperature, until the temperature reaches a point that will make you nervous. If the fans are still not turning on at this point, then you have a problem with the temperature side of the fan. Although I am not familiar with the setup on the 1993, most newer vehicles control the fan via a temperature sensor (there are usually 2, one for the guage and one for the fan). You may have a bad temperature sensor or even a bad relay.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 876
Likes: 1
From: Same as our leaders Out of my mind
Originally Posted by dgruenke
If it is happening at higher speeds, make sure that the lower air dam is directing air up at the radiator. With all of the items that you have been talking about, you shouldn't be running hot.
In addition, I don't think an electric fan will help much if it is getting hot at higher speeds. Fans are intended to keep it cool when it is not moving and getting air over the radiator.
In addition, I don't think an electric fan will help much if it is getting hot at higher speeds. Fans are intended to keep it cool when it is not moving and getting air over the radiator.
My Thanks to Grumpy for showing me how to post pictures!
Last edited by icanfixitforyou; Feb 24, 2006 at 11:15 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 0
From: Hudson Falls, N.Y. 76 Vette Modified L-48
Before you start changing, what I consider, a very nice looking car, why don't you just make sure your gauge is reporting the correct temp...ya know, just for the hell of it... 
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 876
Likes: 1
From: Same as our leaders Out of my mind
Originally Posted by kb2fzq
Before you start changing, what I consider, a very nice looking car, why don't you just make sure your gauge is reporting the correct temp...ya know, just for the hell of it...
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,063
Likes: 1
From: Beverly Massachusetts
Originally Posted by icanfixitforyou
Very astute observation there dgruenke! I have an aftermarket body kit with a very aggresive looking front spoiler and I have been wondering if it isn't hindering, rather than helping air flow at high speeds. Problem is my neck isn't long enough for me to see it a highway speeds. I have purchased a stock front spoiler but it is still in the box, I DO like the way this modified one looks, so I am not quite ready to change it yet.
My Thanks to Grumpy for showing me how to post pictures!
My Thanks to Grumpy for showing me how to post pictures!
is that a bug under that cover?
