Overheating Problem
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Humble TX
Overheating Problem
My 88' Corvette has an overheating problem. The temperature slowly rises after I start it up and drive it. It has the ability to go past 260 degrees especially if I have the Air Condition running on a hot day. After, it gets close to 240 degrees I have to turn on the heater to cool it down. When I am driving the car down the highway at a fast speed the temperature will decrease slowly but, not enough to were it needs to be. If I am in traffic the tempature rises rapidly. I removed the thermostat but, the problem remains. My water pump does not leak so I dont think thats the problem. If anyone has ideas on how to go about making the car run back to normal operating temperature please let me know. Thanks :)
:confused: :mad :confused: :mad :confused: :mad :confused: :mad
[Modified by elite, 8:17 AM 8/30/2002]
:confused: :mad :confused: :mad :confused: :mad :confused: :mad
[Modified by elite, 8:17 AM 8/30/2002]
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Re: Overheating Problem (elite)
I sure do. Remove your radiator and clean out the front of it. You will be amazed at how much crap has accumulated on the front of it. Doing this dropped my temps by about 20 degrees overall. You must remove the rad to do this correctly on a C4, but it's not difficult. Do a search on tech articles on the forum and it will outline the procedure.
Oh, BTW, just noticed you're a fellow Texan. The heat here definitely requires your radiator to be removed and cleaned. I can let my car idle in traffic with the AC on during a 105 degree El Paso day, and it won't climb any higher than about 225. During normal driving, it averages 200 in town and 170-180 on the highway. Good luck.
[Modified by Frizlefrak, 1:26 AM 8/30/2002]
Oh, BTW, just noticed you're a fellow Texan. The heat here definitely requires your radiator to be removed and cleaned. I can let my car idle in traffic with the AC on during a 105 degree El Paso day, and it won't climb any higher than about 225. During normal driving, it averages 200 in town and 170-180 on the highway. Good luck.
[Modified by Frizlefrak, 1:26 AM 8/30/2002]
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Illinois
Re: Overheating Problem (elite)
Definitely agree with above post, pull the radiator. My 88 had bird feathers, plastic, and mud caked on. Careful with the trans cooler lines, especially the lower, I broke mine. Also, when you have it out, lean it sideways and run water through it. You'll be surprised what comes out. One other thing, is your main fan working/coming on. It should at around 230 and bring it back down to 214 at idle. I've had that happen and not notice because of the exhaust being loud as is. Fuse blew. Good luck! :seeya
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,818
Likes: 2
From: Alive and well in Burlington NC
Re: Overheating Problem (ACEMG73)
Check to see if the fans are coming on. Could be as simple as a fan relay. But pull and clean the rad in any event. Mine had bunch of leaves and a plastic shopping bag melted to the radiator. Not a pretty site.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 389
Likes: 0
From: Micco FL
Re: Overheating Problem (Steel Blue 91)
Just a little suggestion in replacing radiator. When you get to those tiny 7mm, pain in the back, bolts that hold the thing together...just reverse the screws. Take the clips off the inside piece, put them on the outside piece an put the screws in from the front of the car and not the wheel wells...Will save you lots of time.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,268
Likes: 2
From: Minnesota in the summer, Las Vegas in the winter
Re: Overheating Problem (PTz-92-LT1)
Yea, no kidding! Now you tell me! I did the radiator thing a couple of weeks ago and it dropped my average temp about 10 degrees.......got about a half-pound of sand out of the radiator...use degreaser and power-spray it either at home or at the car wash. The whole job was a worthwhile 4 hours including many small breaks! :yesnod:
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,994
Likes: 0
From: Charleston, WV
Re: Overheating Problem (brdd)
also make sure the air dam is intact......... and BE CAREFUL .........a lot of those screws you will be around are sharp as hell ............. also there are sharp edges at all the corners of stuff............ and you will have to remove the bracket for the a/c accumulator........and there are a lot shrp peices don there too........... buy bandades and beer before you start :seeya
Pro
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
From: Campbell CA
Re: Overheating Problem (elite)
Besides the radiator cleaning, you might want to put a drilled thermostat in. There is another post which talks about the hole sizes (or you can look at the TPIS insider tips book). Lastly, I would put a bottle of water wetter in. I put some in and sitting in traffic, the car didn't want to stay over 203. Now it was only 85 degrees outside, so your results may vary, but it was running hotter than that after i cleaned my radiator.
Good luck.
Good luck.
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Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 408
Likes: 0
From: Columbia Maryland
Re: Overheating Problem (elite)
I plan on doing my radiator for the first time this weekend. Here's a link to the page in the C4 Tech Tips with instructions:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...D=53&TopicID=2
Good luck.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...D=53&TopicID=2
Good luck.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: Longview Texas
Re: Overheating Problem (elite)
When its hot (220 +) you should be able to hear the fans with the door open (not on the freeway please) and the ignition on. If not, open the hood and listen. If the fans are running that is out of the way.
I was overheating too - everyone said clean the radiator off. Day before yesterday I pulled it and got enough leaves, pine needles and stuff off that I might start a compost heap. Right now I am looking for an intake duct screen to take care of that stuff.
Clean off the radiator - that will do it assuming the radiator has good flow. :smash: :smash: :smash: :smash: :smash:
I was overheating too - everyone said clean the radiator off. Day before yesterday I pulled it and got enough leaves, pine needles and stuff off that I might start a compost heap. Right now I am looking for an intake duct screen to take care of that stuff.
Clean off the radiator - that will do it assuming the radiator has good flow. :smash: :smash: :smash: :smash: :smash:
