85 Vette overheating HELP
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 179
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From: Waycross Georgia
85 Vette overheating HELP
New problem...My car over heated last night. I think its the thermostat...Where is the thermostat located? When i owned my Grand National there was a site that showed you detailed pictures where everything was located. Is there such a thing for the vette. If not can anyone help me...TPI i need to fix this early in the morning for i have to drive it an hr away to pick up some other stuff for my corvette. I feel like this :boxing
Thanks
C4Dreams
Thanks
C4Dreams
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,251
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Re: 85 Vette overheating HELP (C4Dreams)
Dude what ya need is a HAYNES manual.805-498-6703.
But follow your upper radiator hose to the intake manifold.There you will find your thermostat.
Do you have your front spoiler intact?Its important.Then theres the fan switch...... :chevy
But follow your upper radiator hose to the intake manifold.There you will find your thermostat.
Do you have your front spoiler intact?Its important.Then theres the fan switch...... :chevy
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: 85 Vette overheating HELP (C4Dreams)
What is your definition of overheating? Normal C4 coolant temperature in an 85 above 35 mph is 195. Sitting at a light the temperature will rise to about 228 F where the main fan will turn on and the coolant will slowly decline to about 220. When you get underway, the temp will slowly fall back to 195. None of these temperatures are harmful except to us C4 nervous nellies. I installed a manual switch so I can force on the main fan at will. A programmed chip can be had that will turn on the main fan at a lower temperature. I replaced my waterpump recently with a Stewart and its higher flow and my switch will keep the coolant at 200 F at stop lights. Make sure your radiator is clean as debris collects at the front and it cannot be seen and restricts air flow. My lazy way to clean the radiator is to use my garden hose and blast water backwards through the radiator and then blast water around the radiator cap gap to flush the debris away.
The factory thermostat is 195 F. You may get some CFers recommending a 160 thermostat. It won't allow your engine to run cooler except well above 35 mph or in the winter. Your 85 cooling system was designed to operate at 195 and the temp soars below 35 mph.
The factory thermostat is 195 F. You may get some CFers recommending a 160 thermostat. It won't allow your engine to run cooler except well above 35 mph or in the winter. Your 85 cooling system was designed to operate at 195 and the temp soars below 35 mph.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,159
Likes: 1,733
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Overheating is a common problem in Corvettes, because the factory designed the engine to run hotter to meet emission requirements.
The stock thermostat is 195. Almost everybody does the following to keep the car from running hot:
1. Clean the front of your radiator, its clogged up with debris pretty good.
2. Flush out the radiator, and when you refill, add a bottle or two of Water Wetter.
3. Change thermostats, to a 180 or 160. If you dont want to, at least replace your current one.
4. Add a fan switch, and wire it to your main fan so theyll come on sooner. Either that or a chip reprogram to make them come on at a specified temperature. This is really the only permanent fix.
I added a 160 and chip reprogram, now my temps never really go over 190 Coolant.
Any temps over about 245-250 are too high for our heads, so next time it gets that warm you might want to shut it down.
The stock thermostat is 195. Almost everybody does the following to keep the car from running hot:
1. Clean the front of your radiator, its clogged up with debris pretty good.
2. Flush out the radiator, and when you refill, add a bottle or two of Water Wetter.
3. Change thermostats, to a 180 or 160. If you dont want to, at least replace your current one.
4. Add a fan switch, and wire it to your main fan so theyll come on sooner. Either that or a chip reprogram to make them come on at a specified temperature. This is really the only permanent fix.
I added a 160 and chip reprogram, now my temps never really go over 190 Coolant.
Any temps over about 245-250 are too high for our heads, so next time it gets that warm you might want to shut it down.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 179
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From: Waycross Georgia
Re: (vader86)
Well thanks for all your input...Come to find out some JERK #*%# who owned my car b4 me hooked the Fan up to a wire that leads into my Fuse box wich is then attached to a fuse. Hmm rigged uhmm YUP...but what happened is my friend today was checkin my fuses to make sure eveything was good and saw the wire and just undid it thinking it was some kid of bad radio wireing. Hint why my car over heated...So when i turn on my key the fan kicks on imediatly. Its effective because as soon as we plugged it back in it worked and it didnt over heat...It was night time but we used a flashlight to see the temp *see Dark Dash lights under my sn lol*But it didnt go above 204deg. Someone asked about the front spoiler it isnt intact...Must have been the old owner *GRRR :mad * why is that really important? Thanks guys
C4Dreams
C4Dreams
