96' Lt4 Overheating (not Simple)
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
96' Lt4 Overheating (not Simple)
Bought This 96 Lt4 Collector Edition From
*corvette's Of Dallas*, I Have Replaced The
Water Pump, Thermostat, And Flushed The
Radiator Due To An Overheating Problem. I Have
Only Put 1,247 Miles On It Since I Bought The Car
And Obviously Feel As Though I Bought A Lemon.
I Dont Recomend Corvettes Of Dallas Due To
Substancial Information That Leads Me To Belieive
They Knew About The Problem. (pricing)
*corvette's Of Dallas*, I Have Replaced The
Water Pump, Thermostat, And Flushed The
Radiator Due To An Overheating Problem. I Have
Only Put 1,247 Miles On It Since I Bought The Car
And Obviously Feel As Though I Bought A Lemon.
I Dont Recomend Corvettes Of Dallas Due To
Substancial Information That Leads Me To Belieive
They Knew About The Problem. (pricing)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,621
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
What are the temperatures hwy and traffic?
Are the fans running?
Correct thermostat?
Who did the work?
Do you know the temperatures that are normal for the car?
Please add the details, I would assume it is hot there, 90+.
Are the fans running?
Correct thermostat?
Who did the work?
Do you know the temperatures that are normal for the car?
Please add the details, I would assume it is hot there, 90+.
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 536
Likes: 0
From: Humble Texas
overheating
I recently purchased 96 model and had same question.My car runs
200 deg.crusin and in traffic runs up to 230deg.I understand these
cars run hot hot hot. As long as the fans are working and your car
is not smoking chances are your okay...
200 deg.crusin and in traffic runs up to 230deg.I understand these
cars run hot hot hot. As long as the fans are working and your car
is not smoking chances are your okay...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,621
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
What are the temperatures? These cars run 200 on hwy and can go to 210-230 in traffic @ 90+ outside. Just to let you know this engine needs a LT1 thermostat for proper cooling operation. Not just any 190 stat. I'm not sure how bad the problems can be if it's wrong. If your above 240 there is a possible problem. 
Last edited by pcolt94; Jun 12, 2006 at 09:20 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,753
Likes: 9
From: Louisiana
anything under 230 and it's o.k. pcolt94 is correct in saying that LT1 needs a LT1 thermostat or just any thermostat will make it run hot. Give us some numbers on the h'way and in traffic. An abnormal increase in temp could be related to many things. Radiator cooling fins clogged up, air in the coolant, fans not working, stuck thermostat, coolant leaks, low coolant, ect.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,214
Likes: 65
From: Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Since you say the fans are not coming on id really love to know what temp you call over heating. I also find it very hard to figure out how you come to believe you bought a lemon, and you say you have substantial info to back this up and one of them is price? What price did you pay for the car? Tell us some more about it, condition, mileage, standard of cleanlyness, does it fire up and start instantly when you turn the key? Does it run smooth? Hesitate at all?
Answer all the above for us and we will then be able to assure you that you dont have a lemon.
Answer all the above for us and we will then be able to assure you that you dont have a lemon.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 19
From: Portland Oregon
Originally Posted by rachels
The 96 Vette Stays Cool On The Highway, If
Im In Traffic The Fans Will Only Come On
If I Run The A/c. It Will Still Get Hot With
The Fans On.
Im In Traffic The Fans Will Only Come On
If I Run The A/c. It Will Still Get Hot With
The Fans On.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
96 Overheating
The Thermo That Was Installed Is For An Lt1,
But The Car Would Still Get Hot With The
Fans Running, Im Not Saying 230 Hot I Mean
The Gage Is Almost At 260. After I Installed
The Water Pump The Car Overheated Faster
Than I Had Ever Seen, So I Hollowed The
Thermostat, After That It Took About 30min
For The Car To Overheat.
But The Car Would Still Get Hot With The
Fans Running, Im Not Saying 230 Hot I Mean
The Gage Is Almost At 260. After I Installed
The Water Pump The Car Overheated Faster
Than I Had Ever Seen, So I Hollowed The
Thermostat, After That It Took About 30min
For The Car To Overheat.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
From: Goodyear Arizona
Originally Posted by rachels
The Car Will Still
Overheat In Trafic With The Fan On, But
When You Get On The Highway The Car
Will Stay Cool.
Overheat In Trafic With The Fan On, But
When You Get On The Highway The Car
Will Stay Cool.
For comparison, I have a '96 CE LT4 and I live in Phoenix. Mine routinely runs around 220*, with an ambient temperature of 110*.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,137
Likes: 5
From: Howard PA
My LT4 was running the same kind of temps, not as bad but close. I did the radiator clean routine (debris, leaves, general crap clogging the airflow) cleaned the condenser as well. Replaced the thermostat with a 180 air bleed type. Replaced the coolant with new 50/50 mix, heat cycled the engine several times to get all the air out and now my temps rarely reach 200, usually runs between 180 and 195. I suppose if I had replaced the radiator it would run even cooler.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,621
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
Have you taken the cap off the tank and watched for a few minutes to see if you have flow. You should see fluid movement almost right away. If it is not moving there is no flow. Rev it up, the flow should increase and the level should go lower by maybe 1/2 inch. I hope the connecting shaft between the engine and the waterpump was re-installed. 
Does the heat blow hot in the car, another indication of coolent flow.
If the thermostat is right and there is flow then look to the radiator for possible blockage. How was it flushed?
Does the heat blow hot in the car, another indication of coolent flow.
If the thermostat is right and there is flow then look to the radiator for possible blockage. How was it flushed?
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Stockton CA
have a 96 collectors also. Runs as high as 235 when you sit in traffic,hits that and comes down to about 215, put the AC on she drops 210 to 220 sitting in traffic at 95 degreez, Take her to freeway speeds 190 to195
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,080
Likes: 3
From: Clearwater FL
St. Jude Donor '06
Be sure you are checking the digital temp guage, as my analog temp needle would touch the red zone all the time with the stock fan settings. The digital guage would show the correct 232ish temp readings when the 2nd fan will kick on w/o a/c on. The 2nd fan will kick on much sooner with the a/c on. It sounds like you may want to reprogram the fan temp settings as I have and it is fine now (2nd fan on at 190/off at 180 w/ 180 tstat). I'd also check the radiator for debris asothers have mentioned here.
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 536
Likes: 0
From: Humble Texas
Originally Posted by C4DC
Be sure you are checking the digital temp guage, as my analog temp needle would touch the red zone all the time with the stock fan settings. The digital guage would show the correct 232ish temp readings when the 2nd fan will kick on w/o a/c on. The 2nd fan will kick on much sooner with the a/c on. It sounds like you may want to reprogram the fan temp settings as I have and it is fine now (2nd fan on at 190/off at 180 w/ 180 tstat). I'd also check the radiator for debris asothers have mentioned here.
Does my 96 have this ???
and rachels why dont you fill out your profile a little bit more then you have
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,214
Likes: 65
From: Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Originally Posted by ol school
Reprogram fan Temp settings ??????
Does my 96 have this ???
Does my 96 have this ???
Originally Posted by ol school
and rachels why dont you fill out your profile a little bit more then you have
