C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Coolant Temp Problems

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 11, 2022 | 11:33 AM
  #1  
Jackdawgs14's Avatar
Jackdawgs14
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 25
Likes: 2
Default Coolant Temp Problems

Kinda a long story but i have a 1985 corvette and i was having problems with my rad fan not wanting to turn on i assumed the relay was probably bad and ordered a new one and though while i was at it i might as well change the fan temp switch out for a 190° on instead of stock 215° or whatever stock is. There were no instructions for how to wire the new temp switch and i tried wiring it to a different relay but with no wire diagram on how to do it it failed. So i attached the factory blue cable to it because at worse im back to where i started with having no fan running. When running the interior temp guage will say the car is either at 300 or low with no inbetween. Does anyone have a suggetion on what i should do. Should i just go back to factory everything, or does anyone have a good wire diagram or photos of how they wired it up. Or should it just work with the factory wire and there is something else wrong
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2022 | 11:34 AM
  #2  
Jackdawgs14's Avatar
Jackdawgs14
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 25
Likes: 2
Default

To make a little more sense, currently my rad fan didnt work and idk y i put a new relay on in case that was the problem but have no way of knowing until it reaches temp. I would like to lower the fan turn on temp to 190° on instead of the factory temp which is why i got a new cooling fan temp switch which could also be the problem but idk how to wire it correctly. And with the new temp switch on i no longer have an accurate temp guage.
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2022 | 11:44 AM
  #3  
Tom400CFI's Avatar
Tom400CFI
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Default

The fan is controlled by the ECM. It sounds like you swapped the coolant temp sensor in the cylinder head that sends signal to the temp gauge in your dash, for a temp switch....thinking that would change your fan temps?

I believe that the two ways to get your fan to come on at a lower temp are:
1. reprogram that parameter in the ECM
2. Wire up your own temp switches, relay(s) and run the fan that way.
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2022 | 05:54 PM
  #4  
Cruisinfanatic's Avatar
Cruisinfanatic
Le Mans Master
Supporting Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,221
Likes: 697
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
Default

Originally Posted by Jackdawgs14
Kinda a long story but i have a 1985 corvette and i was having problems with my rad fan not wanting to turn on i assumed the relay was probably bad and ordered a new one and though while i was at it i might as well change the fan temp switch out for a 190° on instead of stock 215° or whatever stock is. There were no instructions for how to wire the new temp switch and i tried wiring it to a different relay but with no wire diagram on how to do it it failed. So i attached the factory blue cable to it because at worse im back to where i started with having no fan running. When running the interior temp guage will say the car is either at 300 or low with no inbetween. Does anyone have a suggetion on what i should do. Should i just go back to factory everything, or does anyone have a good wire diagram or photos of how they wired it up. Or should it just work with the factory wire and there is something else wrong
Why in the world do you think you need to run the car cooler than spec?
Your fan comes on at 228
190? Why?
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2022 | 07:51 PM
  #5  
Tom400CFI's Avatar
Tom400CFI
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Default

It's a personal thing.
Reply
Old Oct 13, 2022 | 12:31 PM
  #6  
Jackdawgs14's Avatar
Jackdawgs14
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 25
Likes: 2
Default

Originally Posted by Cruisinfanatic
Why in the world do you think you need to run the car cooler than spec?
Your fan comes on at 228
190? Why?
I Want it to turn on at 190 because it is my daily driver in the summer and some days in traffic it will get really hot and i dont exactly like that, not very good for wear and tear. And like i said currently the fans dont come on at all so if i can choose when they come on that wpuld be better.
Reply
Old Oct 13, 2022 | 12:34 PM
  #7  
Jackdawgs14's Avatar
Jackdawgs14
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 25
Likes: 2
Default

Originally Posted by Tom400CFI
The fan is controlled by the ECM. It sounds like you swapped the coolant temp sensor in the cylinder head that sends signal to the temp gauge in your dash, for a temp switch....thinking that would change your fan temps?

I believe that the two ways to get your fan to come on at a lower temp are:
1. reprogram that parameter in the ECM
2. Wire up your own temp switches, relay(s) and run the fan that way.
I was trying to do it the second way but there is no scematic anywhere on how to do it and i cant figure it out. And in the process the dash now only says low or 300° no inbetween.
Reply
Old Oct 13, 2022 | 01:39 PM
  #8  
Tom400CFI's Avatar
Tom400CFI
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Default

O.K.

I can help you through that. I've done it on a Trans Am that I installed electric fan(s) on. Do you have one fan? Or two? I'm GUESSING that you simply have the single, one speed fan?
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Oct 14, 2022 | 12:31 AM
  #9  
Jackdawgs14's Avatar
Jackdawgs14
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 25
Likes: 2
Default

Originally Posted by Tom400CFI
The fan is controlled by the ECM. It sounds like you swapped the coolant temp sensor in the cylinder head that sends signal to the temp gauge in your dash, for a temp switch....thinking that would change your fan temps?

I believe that the two ways to get your fan to come on at a lower temp are:
1. reprogram that parameter in the ECM
2. Wire up your own temp switches, relay(s) and run the fan that way.
Originally Posted by Tom400CFI
O.K.

I can help you through that. I've done it on a Trans Am that I installed electric fan(s) on. Do you have one fan? Or two? I'm GUESSING that you simply have the single, one speed fan?
Yes just the single stock fan.
Reply
Old Oct 14, 2022 | 03:13 PM
  #10  
Tom400CFI's Avatar
Tom400CFI
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Default

O.K. well that's pretty easy. You Need:
*4 or 5 pin relay (doesn't matter which) 35a capacity or so
*40A Maxi fuse and holder (or something similar)
*Wire
*A coolant temp switch spec'd to your on/off preference (closes at, say 200* and opens at 190, for example)

Both of your cylinder heads have two 3/8" pipe thread holes in them. I believe the driver's side already has one of those filled with a sensor or switch...but pick any other available spot and that is where your switch will go. It's nice if you happen to find a temp switch that is the range you want AND the right size pipe thread, but you can use pipe bushings to get other-sized switches to work and the coolant will interface with the switch probe enough to work just dandy.
There are single wire switches and two wire. Sing obviously grounds the pin, to the body. In either case, you can run keyed power to the trigger pins on your relay, then to the switch in the head.... (then to ground if it's a two pin).

Run power from B+, to your maxi fuse, then to the switched side of your relay, then to the B+side of the fan motor.

Remove or stow to the side, the factory fan wiring, and then assemble the above, loom it and secure it properly and you should now have a fan that runs w/in your preferred temp range.
Reply
Old Oct 14, 2022 | 03:51 PM
  #11  
Jackdawgs14's Avatar
Jackdawgs14
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 25
Likes: 2
Default

Originally Posted by Tom400CFI
O.K. well that's pretty easy. You Need:
*4 or 5 pin relay (doesn't matter which) 35a capacity or so
*40A Maxi fuse and holder (or something similar)
*Wire
*A coolant temp switch spec'd to your on/off preference (closes at, say 200* and opens at 190, for example)

Both of your cylinder heads have two 3/8" pipe thread holes in them. I believe the driver's side already has one of those filled with a sensor or switch...but pick any other available spot and that is where your switch will go. It's nice if you happen to find a temp switch that is the range you want AND the right size pipe thread, but you can use pipe bushings to get other-sized switches to work and the coolant will interface with the switch probe enough to work just dandy.
There are single wire switches and two wire. Sing obviously grounds the pin, to the body. In either case, you can run keyed power to the trigger pins on your relay, then to the switch in the head.... (then to ground if it's a two pin).

Run power from B+, to your maxi fuse, then to the switched side of your relay, then to the B+side of the fan motor.

Remove or stow to the side, the factory fan wiring, and then assemble the above, loom it and secure it properly and you should now have a fan that runs w/in your preferred temp range.
Thank you i will try that whenever i have time
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Coolant Temp Problems





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:45 AM.

story-0
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE