Just took my '95 coupe outta 12 month storage. Got it to pass inspection, so I'm road legal. Good news.

Bad news. The A/C wasn't working. (Not good in North Texas summer). Took it to A/C shop and found the high pressure switch was bad. R/R and off we go with good cold A/C.

Also bad news. The cooling system is getting a little hot. Even without A/C on, the temps are reading around 230F when sitting at a red light. Once moving they drop to around 205F. I'm thinking I need to investigate the reasons. From reading on the C4 forum, I believe I can start to eliminate some of the culprits. A list follows.
1) Flush cooling system.
2) Replace coolant.
3) Replace thermostat (which one I'm not sure 160F vs 185F)?
4) Drill hole in thermostat? Do new ones come with pre-drilled hole?
5) Replace cooling system pressure cap.
These are the easy ones. Now they get more difficult (time issue)
6) Check primary and secondary cooling fan operation. (How to do this?)
7) If bad replace cooling fans or cooling fan relays?
8) Remove radiator and clean cooling fins. Other posts have a good description of this.
9) Replace radiator with a DeWitts or Champion.

This is a list of possibilities. Does anyone have any other ideas or perhaps a different way to approach the overheating problem?
Thanks.

 

Sounds like the system is working just as designed. 205 to 230 is fine. The fan should come on at 228. If you feel the need, turning the AC on will also turn the fans on and should lower the temp. The car isn't overheating, it is right where it should be. Of course, someone is going to disagree. If it was my car I wouldn't be concerned at all.

 

Do 8, 3, 2, and 1 just for preventive maintenance. The rest is not necessary. 230 is absolutely no big deal sitting at a light in Texas

 

You do not have a problem... When hot in traffic, the last fan setting doesn't kick in until 228*. Drive on.

 

I drive a 95 and what you are describing is normal. Your dual fans come on at low speed at 228 and turn off after a 5 degree drop. Both fans come on at high speed at 237 and drop to low speed after a 5 degree drop. Turning on the AC will put both fan on high speed by default.

On your list #8 has the most significant impact .... really.

 

Like others have said, it's normal for the system to run at 230* while sitting on a hot day. If you're still concerned, try turning the A/C on and see what the system runs at since with the A/C on, both radiator fans should be running always. A lot of people when they tune their ECUs will set the radiators to come on sooner. I have my first come on at 195* and second at 210* I think.

 

Here ya go

 

With reference to replacing the rad cap: Usually, it is not the cap that causes air to enter the
'closed system', but a deformed cap gasket causes the trouble. I know the cap is not an
expensive item, but you can cut a new gasket for pennies.