2003 Vette OVERHEATING?!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,458
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From: HOUSTON TEXAS Smoke 'em if you got 'em.
2003 Vette OVERHEATING?!
Yesterday,
I was driving my Vette home from work in 98 degree heat. I stopped at the store (parked and turned off engine). When I came back out and cranked it up and drove, the coolant temperature was at approximately 245 degrees! Luckily, I was only a half a mile from home.
This morning (84 degrees), I start her up to drive to work, and I am watching the coolant / oil temp like a hawk. I put the DIC on the temps and took off to work.
The car warmed up and stabilized at about 219 degrees. Then I stepped on the throttle hard for about 5-7 seconds, and the temp went up to 230! Then, when I got out of the throtle, the temp went back down to 219. I didn't know the temp fluctuated that much. (oil temp stayed at 233)
Is this fluctuation normal? Is the 219 degree coolant and 233 degree oil temp normal?
Any input would be appriciated
I was driving my Vette home from work in 98 degree heat. I stopped at the store (parked and turned off engine). When I came back out and cranked it up and drove, the coolant temperature was at approximately 245 degrees! Luckily, I was only a half a mile from home.
This morning (84 degrees), I start her up to drive to work, and I am watching the coolant / oil temp like a hawk. I put the DIC on the temps and took off to work.
The car warmed up and stabilized at about 219 degrees. Then I stepped on the throttle hard for about 5-7 seconds, and the temp went up to 230! Then, when I got out of the throtle, the temp went back down to 219. I didn't know the temp fluctuated that much. (oil temp stayed at 233)
Is this fluctuation normal? Is the 219 degree coolant and 233 degree oil temp normal?
Any input would be appriciated
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 896
Likes: 1
From: Overland Park KS
Doesn't sound normal to me. My '02 is completely stock and in yesterday's 105 degree temps and stop-n-go traffic mine never passed the 203 degree mark (as reported by the DIC). My temps are between 194 and 198 degrees 95% of the time and I've yet to see it cross the 205 boundary.
I'd definitely have it checked out.
I'd definitely have it checked out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
Originally Posted by N2 TRBL
Yesterday,
I was driving my Vette home from work in 98 degree heat. I stopped at the store (parked and turned off engine). When I came back out and cranked it up and drove, the coolant temperature was at approximately 245 degrees! Luckily, I was only a half a mile from home.
This morning (84 degrees), I start her up to drive to work, and I am watching the coolant / oil temp like a hawk. I put the DIC on the temps and took off to work.
The car warmed up and stabilized at about 219 degrees. Then I stepped on the throttle hard for about 5-7 seconds, and the temp went up to 230! Then, when I got out of the throtle, the temp went back down to 219. I didn't know the temp fluctuated that much. (oil temp stayed at 233)
Is this fluctuation normal? Is the 219 degree coolant and 233 degree oil temp normal?
Any input would be appriciated
I was driving my Vette home from work in 98 degree heat. I stopped at the store (parked and turned off engine). When I came back out and cranked it up and drove, the coolant temperature was at approximately 245 degrees! Luckily, I was only a half a mile from home.
This morning (84 degrees), I start her up to drive to work, and I am watching the coolant / oil temp like a hawk. I put the DIC on the temps and took off to work.
The car warmed up and stabilized at about 219 degrees. Then I stepped on the throttle hard for about 5-7 seconds, and the temp went up to 230! Then, when I got out of the throtle, the temp went back down to 219. I didn't know the temp fluctuated that much. (oil temp stayed at 233)
Is this fluctuation normal? Is the 219 degree coolant and 233 degree oil temp normal?
Any input would be appriciated
Have you checked in front of the AC condenser for debris? Plastic bag would block a lot of cooling air flow.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,374
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville Florida
Originally Posted by mapman
Given that you checked for coolant level.
Have you checked in front of the AC condenser for debris? Plastic bag would block a lot of cooling air flow.
Have you checked in front of the AC condenser for debris? Plastic bag would block a lot of cooling air flow.
Mine tries to suck up every plastic bag out there. Now I habitually check under there, and the front drains, too. C5 owners should get a break on the cost of their tags for vacuuming up public roads
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 0
From: HOUSTON TEXAS Smoke 'em if you got 'em.
Originally Posted by CAJUNY2KC5
Mine tries to suck up every plastic bag out there. Now I habitually check under there, and the front drains, too. C5 owners should get a break on the cost of their tags for vacuuming up public roads
Thanks everyone...
It was the Ol' plastic bag int the radiator hole trick...i'm glad it was something stupid...whew :bb
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Get on the ground and look up into the radiator. There may be lots of grass, leaves and road garbage up there. Take a high pressure air hose and blow the chit out. A small amount to grass at the top of the radiator will cause temps to rise like you discribe.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,374
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville Florida
Originally Posted by AU N EGL
Get on the ground and look up into the radiator. There may be lots of grass, leaves and road garbage up there. Take a high pressure air hose and blow the chit out. A small amount to grass at the top of the radiator will cause temps to rise like you discribe.
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by AFVETTE
Glad that was your problem, for a minute it sounded like a stuck t-stat.
Tom
Tom
If he in fact had a stuck thermostat, the temperature would not have come down just because he let off the gas. I've had this type of problem a few times over the years in my 68 and the temp gage would keep climbing until it was pegged. Luckily, my stock block and heads were all cast iron, so no permanent damage occured.
Regarding the bag: Recently, when jmzvet and I were getting ready to lower my car, Jim reached up and pulled out a plastic bag that was trapped on the radiator. It does happen, so check periodically when you think of it.
