I'm in C. Springs on business but need to drive back to Albuquerque Friday 19 Sep, and my temp on my 2000 C5 Coupe is acting funny. At stop lights, my temp climbs quickly to over 215 degrees. Then, when I start driving in slowly drops back to normal (190), but sometimes drops down to 185, then will climb back up to 194-194, then go back down to 190. I also noticed when I parked at work today the temp was at 225 (very slow traffic on the last few blocks to work), but my fan was not running. Any thoughts as to what the problem might be? (or do I have a problem?) What temp are the fans supposed to come on?

Cy


[Modified by Dittohead_nm, 2:12 PM 9/16/2003]

 

Hi,
Did you check the fluid level?
Steve

 

Hi - My temp acts like that, climbs when stuck in traffic, etc, when the #2 fan maxifuse (30 amp) is blown. You can check this easily- make sure the rt. side (passenger) fan runs when AC is on. The fuse is in the box in front of the battery. :chevy

 

You can bet what I'll be checking later - I've had the same thing happening with the water temp lately.

 

check your radiator and air conditioning coils to see if they are partly clogged with bugs and debree. mine was loaded with dead bugs after just 5000 miles of driveing. blow it out with an air hose or suck it out with a vacuem cleaner with a long flattened tube. ( It sure helps to have a car hoist when doing this.)

 

I have a 2001 C5 and your OEM fan settings are for both fans to come on at 235 deg F - unless you have the A/C on, then they come on at 205 Deg F for some reason.

I paid Chris at Speed Demon a few bucks and he painlessly edited my fan settings to come on at 185 Deg F (Fan #1) and 195 Deg F (Fan #2). It's embarrassing to be in a convertible top down, 80 degrees outside, stuck in slow traffic and running the A/C to keep the engine cool. Besides, there's something not quite right about letting an aluminum block and heads engine heat up to 235 or 240 Deg F and then cyle back down to 190 Deg F and then cycle back up ... you get the message. Remember warped aluminum heads?

Stupid GM thinking again. But in all fairness, I had to do the same thing to my 1993 40th convertible. Go figure.

Your temperatures seem normal. The other guys posts are also applicable - you may have debris, dead bugs, etc blocking some of your air flow across the radiator, etc. causing your temperature to fluctuate.

When you get home, have the fan settings changed - and no the dealer will not do it, GM will not allow them to.

Have fun.

 

Thanks all - I think I solved it - the coolant level is low! I am going to use this opportunity to go ahead and install the low-temp thermostat I've have sitting on my shelf for a year now and also re-fill with new collant (its time any way),

Cy