Minor Temp Problem
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,957
Likes: 6
From: The Woodlands TX TX
Minor Temp Problem
My digital guage is reading 235 most of the time now and the temp. needle is in the 260 caution range. I heard that each sensor is in a different location. Anyway, it used to run in between 200 and 220 on the digital guage, even in summer bumper to bumper traffic with the AC running. So, I think I'm running a little hot.
Any sugestions, before I take it in to my shop?
Any sugestions, before I take it in to my shop?
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: London England
Sounds like a blocked radiator, remove the radiator shroud and look down
between the AC radiator & the engine cooling system radiator, leaves Etc
often get sucked up between them thus reducing the efficiency also check that the fins aren`t clogged up with road grime if this checks out OK maybe there is an internal blockage, warm the engine up and see if there are any parts of the radiator surface cooler than the rest, if so, remove the radiator & flush through with a hosepipe thoroughly.
Hope this is of some help..
Regards,
Eddie.
between the AC radiator & the engine cooling system radiator, leaves Etc
often get sucked up between them thus reducing the efficiency also check that the fins aren`t clogged up with road grime if this checks out OK maybe there is an internal blockage, warm the engine up and see if there are any parts of the radiator surface cooler than the rest, if so, remove the radiator & flush through with a hosepipe thoroughly.
Hope this is of some help..
Regards,
Eddie.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 10,878
Likes: 1
St. Jude Donor '07
C4s gather every piece of road waste and leaves you can imagine.
See:
First clean out the underside from in front. Then get the upper shroud off and clean out that crap. You would be amazed what gathers in between.
When all is said and done, and your temps return to normal, buy a screen to put on the underside to impede leaves and crud. You'll be glad you did. I sure was!
See:
First clean out the underside from in front. Then get the upper shroud off and clean out that crap. You would be amazed what gathers in between.
When all is said and done, and your temps return to normal, buy a screen to put on the underside to impede leaves and crud. You'll be glad you did. I sure was!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,564
Likes: 6
From: Woodstock Georgia
What year? Profile says 98 (C5), but I thought I remember you having a mid 90s C4. If my memory is right then take a flashlight and look thru the little opening on the passenger side top of the radiator cover. If there is debris a shop vac and homemade wand extension will suck it out. Next step would be to use the bleeder screw and 'burp' any air out of the coolant system. Hope one of the above is all you have to do. ps--also check closely to be sure water pump is not seeping coolant from the weep hole and dripping down on the optispark. Hope this helps.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,753
Likes: 9
From: Louisiana
From the avatar pic and mentioning a digital and analog coolant guage it's a 91-96, unless bumper swap.
I spent about 45 minutes observing the coolant temperature operation range on my stock (never modified) 95 LT1 with 50,000 miles and 180* t-stat. I started the engine and let the temp rise. All of the info is while at idle and the outside temp 80*. Idle temp reached 228* before both fans came on and never saw the temp past 230* via digital guage. Analog guage was in the hash marks and showed approx. 250* from guessing, 260* being the highest number which is miss leading. The temp dropped to 217* and both fans cut off. With the A/C on the temps sat around 201-205* and never got lower or higher. This I consider normal at idle and when driving at about 55 mph the digital temp guage stays around 185-190* range.
For those that have questioned the operation of the coolant system on early and late model C4's, refer to this. Temps may rise faster and drop slower in hotter weather, but the operation of the fans are the same, controled by the ECM.
Check between the A/C condenser for trash (bird nests, leaves, plastic bags, anything that will block air flow to the fins). Make sure the air is out of the coolant system as temps will stay on the hot side do to air pockets. Make sure the coolant level is full and there are no leaks in the system. Make sure the fan(s) are operating as they should. Use only the coolant the manual says.
For those that have questioned the operation of the coolant system on early and late model C4's, refer to this. Temps may rise faster and drop slower in hotter weather, but the operation of the fans are the same, controled by the ECM.
Check between the A/C condenser for trash (bird nests, leaves, plastic bags, anything that will block air flow to the fins). Make sure the air is out of the coolant system as temps will stay on the hot side do to air pockets. Make sure the coolant level is full and there are no leaks in the system. Make sure the fan(s) are operating as they should. Use only the coolant the manual says.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,957
Likes: 6
From: The Woodlands TX TX
SOunds easier to do than it is...just getting the shroud of is sending me to sears for new tools tomorrow. I cant reach the 7mm hex screws next to the frame rail on the sides of the shroud near the bottom. I need a long 7mm wrench or socket type wrench that can fit between the shroud and the fram rail.
