Coolant Temperature...I need your help :(
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I really don't think your coolant temp is out of the range it should be. Like was mentioned above, the temp will rise when just sitting there idling since there is no air flow going past the radiator. Your fans should eventually come on and lower the temp once it gets to about 230 degrees.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,951
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From: Puyallup WA
Thank you everyone for your help! I see that this may be normal. Yes, I have a 2000 Corvette. I want to add that I am in New York and the average temperature these days is around 40 degrees. I'm by no means in any warm weather area.
If I sit in idle, the car will steadily raise up to 200 degrees...then 203....then 205...at that point, I shut the car. While i'm driving, the car stays at a consistant 190/192 degrees. This normal as well?
If I sit in idle, the car will steadily raise up to 200 degrees...then 203....then 205...at that point, I shut the car. While i'm driving, the car stays at a consistant 190/192 degrees. This normal as well?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: 4th on the list of top 100 in USA Ga.
Your coolant temp is normal from what you are describing, a big factor is the ambient temp. In stop and go traffic in 80 degree weather, my coolant temps would get up to 225 or 230 until the second fan would kick on and bring them back down to 220 or so. The engine was designed to run that way.
You can check in between the ac condensor (sits in front of your radiator) and radiator to make sure there is not a lot of debris stuck up there. These cars act like vaccum cleaners since they sit so low to the ground they suck up a lot.
You can check in between the ac condensor (sits in front of your radiator) and radiator to make sure there is not a lot of debris stuck up there. These cars act like vaccum cleaners since they sit so low to the ground they suck up a lot.
220 -230 is normal for C-5's
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Waldorf MD
Here is the cooling fan operation for 1997-2000 C5s:
The PCM will also enable the cooling fans after the ignition is turned off. When the engine coolant temperature exceeds 140°C (284°F) and the ignition is turned off, the cooling fans will be enabled on low speed.
Low Speed Cooling Fans
The low speed cooling fans are controlled by the PCM based on the following inputs:
The A/C system
The Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor
The Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS).
The PCM will turn the low speed cooling fans ON when any of the following conditions exist at idle:
Certain PCM Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) are set.
ECT above 104°C (219°F) will enable low speed fans.
A/C head pressure above 219 psi.
Once the low speed fans are turned ON by Engine Coolant Temperature, the PCM will turn the fans OFF when that temperature has dropped about 6°C (11°F). If the low speed cooling fans are turned ON by high A/C head pressure, the PCM will turn the fans OFF when the pressure has dropped to 150 psi. The minimum ON time for the low speed cooling fans is 50 seconds.
When engine speed is above 3500 RPM for 12 seconds and the engine oil temperature is above 127°C (261°F), the low speed cooling fans will be turned ON.
High Speed Cooling Fans
The High Speed Cooling Fans are controlled by the PCM based on the following inputs:
The A/C system
The Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor
The Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS).
The PCM will enable high speed cooling for both fans when any of the following conditions exist:
Certain PCM Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) set.
ECT above 109°C (228°F).
A/C head pressure above 225 psi.
Once the high speed cooling fans are turned ON by the Engine coolant temperature, the PCM will turn the fans OFF when that temperature has dropped about 6°C (11°F). If the high speed cooling fans are turned ON by high A/C head pressure, the PCM will turn the fans OFF when the pressure has dropped to 180 psi. The minimum ON time for the high speed cooling fans is 26 seconds.
The PCM will also enable the cooling fans after the ignition is turned off. When the engine coolant temperature exceeds 140°C (284°F) and the ignition is turned off, the cooling fans will be enabled on low speed.
Low Speed Cooling Fans
The low speed cooling fans are controlled by the PCM based on the following inputs:
The A/C system
The Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor
The Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS).
The PCM will turn the low speed cooling fans ON when any of the following conditions exist at idle:
Certain PCM Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) are set.
ECT above 104°C (219°F) will enable low speed fans.
A/C head pressure above 219 psi.
Once the low speed fans are turned ON by Engine Coolant Temperature, the PCM will turn the fans OFF when that temperature has dropped about 6°C (11°F). If the low speed cooling fans are turned ON by high A/C head pressure, the PCM will turn the fans OFF when the pressure has dropped to 150 psi. The minimum ON time for the low speed cooling fans is 50 seconds.
When engine speed is above 3500 RPM for 12 seconds and the engine oil temperature is above 127°C (261°F), the low speed cooling fans will be turned ON.
High Speed Cooling Fans
The High Speed Cooling Fans are controlled by the PCM based on the following inputs:
The A/C system
The Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor
The Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS).
The PCM will enable high speed cooling for both fans when any of the following conditions exist:
Certain PCM Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) set.
ECT above 109°C (228°F).
A/C head pressure above 225 psi.
Once the high speed cooling fans are turned ON by the Engine coolant temperature, the PCM will turn the fans OFF when that temperature has dropped about 6°C (11°F). If the high speed cooling fans are turned ON by high A/C head pressure, the PCM will turn the fans OFF when the pressure has dropped to 180 psi. The minimum ON time for the high speed cooling fans is 26 seconds.
