Car running hot.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 716
Likes: 0
From: Long Island City NY
Car running hot.
OK, fellas. It seems like I'm having my first problem with my car. I bought this car this past December with 49K miles on it. It's got about 54K miles and it's a 99 Vert. It's about 88 degrees in Houston now, kind of hot, and I just went out for a drive around the city. No highway driving, but just a few minutes into the drive, I notice that the air conditioning is not blowing cold. I look at the temp guage and it read about 230. I drove home and the temps got to 239 and I shut it off. All this in about a 15 minute drive. I suppose that it's a engine cooling problem with the radiator being right next to the air condensor. Any ideas? I hope that this isn't going to cost an arm and a leg.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Originally Posted by SJTrance
OK, fellas. It seems like I'm having my first problem with my car. I bought this car this past December with 49K miles on it. It's got about 54K miles and it's a 99 Vert. It's about 88 degrees in Houston now, kind of hot, and I just went out for a drive around the city. No highway driving, but just a few minutes into the drive, I notice that the air conditioning is not blowing cold. I look at the temp guage and it read about 230. I drove home and the temps got to 239 and I shut it off. All this in about a 15 minute drive. I suppose that it's a engine cooling problem with the radiator being right next to the air condensor. Any ideas? I hope that this isn't going to cost an arm and a leg.
you may have sucked up a plastic bag... I flush my radiator fins a nd condensor with water and comporessed air once a year in the spring...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,762
Likes: 2
From: Murphy TX
Something else I noticed on my '04 when it was running a little hot - the foam that is supposed to seal the radiator to the shroud was coming off so the air was flowing AROUND the radiator instead of through it.
I fixed it with some thicker weatherstripping and now the car runs ~10 degrees cooler.
Just a suggestion - yours is probably just dirty/clogged.
I fixed it with some thicker weatherstripping and now the car runs ~10 degrees cooler.
Just a suggestion - yours is probably just dirty/clogged.
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 716
Likes: 0
From: Long Island City NY
I just drove back from work and the temp seems to be stabilizing at 190-200. Yesterday, I did drive over a plastic bag and I didn't see it come back out. When I get a chance tomm, I'll try to get under the car and take a look. The good thing is that I live 4 minutes away from work. Thanks for the heads up. The car will go in for a full cooling system evaluation at Corvettes of Houston. These guys have done right by me in the past.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,437
Likes: 0
From: UNDER THE HOOD
Originally Posted by TomT
First thing is to trash the thermstat and put in a 160 degree thermostat.
Next, take it for the same ride and post what happens.
I await the results.
Good luck.
Next, take it for the same ride and post what happens.
I await the results.
Good luck.
If there is no mechanical problem get a real radiator.Ya can leave the t-stat alone unless it's stuck. 160 is too cool
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,024
Likes: 108
From: Ocala, Fl. State of Confusion
There is probably a misconception out there that needs a bit of clarification.
A 160 degree thermostat DOES NOT run at 160 degrees.
Mine runs at 176 on the highway on the hottest days and gets to 195 in heavy traffic. Never runs at 160 degrees.
Just wanted to vent, since a lot of people think that a 160 runs too cold. 175-195 is perfect and thats what you get with a 160.
A 160 degree thermostat DOES NOT run at 160 degrees.
Mine runs at 176 on the highway on the hottest days and gets to 195 in heavy traffic. Never runs at 160 degrees.
Just wanted to vent, since a lot of people think that a 160 runs too cold. 175-195 is perfect and thats what you get with a 160.
Racer
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 315
Likes: 1
From: Canton GA.
I have a 170 T-Stat and the Vette runs at 187 driving and 203 at lights with the A/C on. One time it did get hotter than those temps and found a platic lawn bag and a bunch of leaves stuck up in the radiator. I might put a bottom screen on next
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,437
Likes: 0
From: UNDER THE HOOD
Originally Posted by TomT
There is probably a misconception out there that needs a bit of clarification.
A 160 degree thermostat DOES NOT run at 160 degrees.
Mine runs at 176 on the highway on the hottest days and gets to 195 in heavy traffic. Never runs at 160 degrees.
Just wanted to vent, since a lot of people think that a 160 runs too cold. 175-195 is perfect and thats what you get with a 160.
A 160 degree thermostat DOES NOT run at 160 degrees.
Mine runs at 176 on the highway on the hottest days and gets to 195 in heavy traffic. Never runs at 160 degrees.
Just wanted to vent, since a lot of people think that a 160 runs too cold. 175-195 is perfect and thats what you get with a 160.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
From: New Braunfels TX
Same problem, got the fix
Originally Posted by SJTrance
OK, fellas. It seems like I'm having my first problem with my car. I bought this car this past December with 49K miles on it. It's got about 54K miles and it's a 99 Vert. It's about 88 degrees in Houston now, kind of hot, and I just went out for a drive around the city. No highway driving, but just a few minutes into the drive, I notice that the air conditioning is not blowing cold. I look at the temp guage and it read about 230. I drove home and the temps got to 239 and I shut it off. All this in about a 15 minute drive. I suppose that it's a engine cooling problem with the radiator being right next to the air condensor. Any ideas? I hope that this isn't going to cost an arm and a leg.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Originally Posted by fmpros
I just went through that whole senario. Finally took it to the dealer. It ended up being 1) new radiator installed, 2) new thermostat installed, 3) new A/C module installed. I have about 60k on my 2000 vert, basically stock but for a VaraRam. Went from 230 - 240 with ANY driving to hard to get over 190 on a hot day with ANY kind of driving. About 1000.00; fortuantely under warranty.
The low speed cooling fan is commanded on when the coolant temperature reaches 108°C (226°F). It is turned off if the coolant temperature lowers to 104°C (219°F). The high speed cooling fan is commanded on when the coolant temperature reaches 113°C (235°F). It is turned off if the coolant temperature lowers to 108°C (226°F). When the A/C is on and the coolant temperature reaches 85°C (185°F), the low speed cooling fan will be turned on at vehicle speeds less than 56 kPh (35 mph).
This is right from the tech manual.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
From: New Braunfels TX
??
Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
Programed into the pcm are fan settings to turn on the high speed coolant fan at 235 F... these temps are designed into the cooling sytem... if your car runs no hotter than 190... your fooling yourself or there is something wrong with your car...
The low speed cooling fan is commanded on when the coolant temperature reaches 108°C (226°F). It is turned off if the coolant temperature lowers to 104°C (219°F). The high speed cooling fan is commanded on when the coolant temperature reaches 113°C (235°F). It is turned off if the coolant temperature lowers to 108°C (226°F). When the A/C is on and the coolant temperature reaches 85°C (185°F), the low speed cooling fan will be turned on at vehicle speeds less than 56 kPh (35 mph).
This is right from the tech manual.
The low speed cooling fan is commanded on when the coolant temperature reaches 108°C (226°F). It is turned off if the coolant temperature lowers to 104°C (219°F). The high speed cooling fan is commanded on when the coolant temperature reaches 113°C (235°F). It is turned off if the coolant temperature lowers to 108°C (226°F). When the A/C is on and the coolant temperature reaches 85°C (185°F), the low speed cooling fan will be turned on at vehicle speeds less than 56 kPh (35 mph).
This is right from the tech manual.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 866
Likes: 1
From: Bakersfield, Blown 402 Z06 Ca
I have a 160 T-Stat and my car will run 220 to 230 with the AC on,on a hot day of 95 to 104. When it gets to 230 I turn the AC off and it cools back down to 190. A 160 T-Stat will open to let the water flow sooner but it won't make the car run any cooler. You should be able to hear the fans when they both come on. It's normal for this car to run that hot. Freeway it runs 185 to 190 with the AC on. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,024
Likes: 108
From: Ocala, Fl. State of Confusion
Now that your car is "fixed" I shall repeat myself. Junk the stock thermostat, put in a 160-180, have the fan temps recalibrated (I did it with Hypertech) and be happy. (Last time before the "I told you so". )
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,269
Likes: 50
From: Dallas Texas
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'09-'10
Hey Guys, remember these cars have all aluminum engines. Aluminum has a higher coeffecient of heat transfer and expansion than cast iron. We are all to quick to remember the old days when at 220-230F you were steaming. Plus, your running almost 7 qts. of synthetic oil which also works as a cooling agent. Maybe GM should leave the numbers off the Temp guage.