during the day, usually runs around 190-200 in the city, now about 220-240. during the evenings, usually around 180, now about 190. what gives. have hypertech 160 tstat, its been less than a year, could it be bad already?

Thanks,
Chan

 

I've got a minor hose issue or a water pump going out. Fans could be going bad. DexCool may have turned to DexSludge. So many options... ;)

 

Check underneath your radiator shroud and make sure you dont have a bunch of junk in there, leaves, bag, BIRDS NEST :lol: :jester

 

lots of dead bugs, maybe i need to clean that out? no birds nests :)

Chan :D

 

Tell Tweety I said hi.

 

Go ahead and clean out the Rad. Did you program you computer for lower temps? If you do that you will have a very cool running car. I did mine and the temps never got over 195 with the stock Thermo.

With the new setup that I am getting installed in the next 10 days. The Car will run even cooler than that. :) 165 deg thermo, 1st fan on at 165... 2nd fan on at 170.. Gonna be a beast!! :eek: :eek:

Its all about Thermos, rads & Computer tuning to keep your car cool.

What year is your car? I have a Hypertech for a 99 which would do the trick for your car.

vetterdstr :cheers:

 

Hi Steve I have a '98. I'm using the Hypertech for it and have thier 160 stat in it. Just the past few days has it gone higher than normal. During the day, even over 100 outside, with A/C on, it usually never got over 210. Now over 230. In the evenings with A/C on, usually never over 180, now 192. Without A/C in the evening around 176-178, now about 185. What is going on, maybe t-stat is bad. Been only about a year with it? :confused:

thanks,
chan

 

Maybe a flush of the cooling system will help? The thermostat shouldn't be shot after only one year. Did you listen to make sure both fans are definitely coming on? Sorry, I'm not trying to ask you a lot of questions, just making sure you have everything covered.

 

I would check the T-stat. When are your fans coming on? the same times/temps? or not at all? It should not hit 240 Ever!! Sounds like your fans are not working at all now...

vetterdstr :cheers:

 

Some of these aftermarket thermos are just shimmed and might be failing.
I would check out the thermo and make sure it is functioning at the right temps.
mike

 

The fans do both come on, around the same times, about 175 or so. When I replaced the t-stat last year, i completly had the cooling system flushed. I think its the stat, but im not sure.

Thanks,
Chan


[Modified by whip383, 11:19 AM 9/2/2002]

 

Logic here would dictate that if you are running as low as 192 in the evenings, that means your TStat is opening at least that low so that would not explain the reason for you running so hot during the day unless the TStat is opening at a higher temp and therefore doesn't open fully until you hit the higher daytime temps. Something else could be wrong here and whatever it is could be on the brink of catastrophic failure and cause your car to overheat badly. I'd have the cooling system checked for leaks and verify that your coolant is not getting low or lower. If (big if) you have a blown head gasket and it's loosing coolant, that could explain what is going on. That's not meant to frighten you, but have it checked out before it overheats and does some real damage or leaves you stranded. It could be a few things. Does it seem to be getting worse? Have you checked your coolant level at operating temps? I would pull the TSTat and check it's operation.

 

just checked coolant level, it hasnt dropped a bit. If that hasnt gone down, is there any other way for the head gasket to show failure? ok, ill be calling the shop tomm to see when i can get it in. except when and if they find the t-stat wack, they are going to order a gm 190 stat, not my hypertech. any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Chan

 

Chan, if you don't have coolant in your oil or aren't losing coolant, then it's not the head gaskets. Changing the TStat is a simple process if you are just the tiniest bit mechanically inclined. You do have to drain the radiator and place rags under the waterpump to catch stray coolant, but it really is an easy thing to do. I wouldn't trust a dealer to do mine if it were my only choice. I suggest you pull the TStat, and drop into hot water on the stove and see where it opens. If it opens higher than it should, that's probably your problem. You could just replace it with a new one and be on your way. Take it to the dealer (unless you have a very good dealer which is the exception, not the rule) and you face many snafus, blunders and injustices, IMO.

 

the harderst thing is to get the hypertech unit from a alocal dealer . ill see what i can do. thanks for ur help. any other companys that may work for a 160 tstat?

chan

 

I had the same problem and got it fix and never run over 180 now by cleaning lots of crap out between radiator and ac condensor, having fans both kick on around 170, running more distilled water and less coolant with 2 bottles of water wetter. You probably have a bunch of junk between radiator and condensor suffocating your enjine. It is possible also that your stat is sticking shut and not properly opening/closing.

Goodluck,

Nitrovette

 

I have the same problem.

The front of the radiator is clear of debris.

Someone suggested checking between the radiator and the AC condensor.

Can you see this from the bottom or the top of the car or do you have to remove the plastic shroud?

Thanks

 

i was about the ask the same question. should i take the shroud off. i looked under the car yesterday at a buddys house who has a lift. there are a few bug s up there, but nothing that seems to be alarming. now, between the ac and the radiator, i dont know. too hot to look right now, im scared to drive the car now, and i know my dealer wont be able to look at until next week, fri at the earliest. i have to take it to the dealer because of the gmpp.

thanks,
chan

 

There is a similar thread going on the C5 Registry mail exploder.
I too am seeing higher coolant temps this summer than I used to. My engine and cooling system are stock. I have done the following:

Cleaned in front of the AC condenser.
Cleaned between the AC condenser and radiator.
Drain, back-flushed, and refilled with 50/50 Dex-Cool/water + 1 bottle Water Wetter.
Replaced thermostat with new OEM unit.

All of this provided some improvement but not back to the way it used to be. I run "on the thermostat" at 190-196 while cruising at 70 MPH as long as the ambient temp is below 95. Above 95 the coolant temp rises evenly with the ambient. It was 111 the other day, and my coolant was 216 while cruising. My coolant temp in traffic is 220-235, and I have hit as high as 250 on the track.

My opinion is that the aluminum radiator has lost heat transfer efficiency. This could be due to clogging or just small chemical deposits on the inside and/or outside of the coils. At this point I think the only thing left to do is replace the radiator. I will probably go with the over sized one for an added cushion on the track.

 

well thanks for the info. i still have some warranty left and will be taking it to the dealer on tues of next week. i doubt that they will give me a new radiator, but maybe they can clean some stuff out, if it still overheats, then ill ask for the radiator. thanks for all of ur help. hit 242 today, it was about 104 out today.

Chan