88 bird running hot - F-Body Online

daveconner1984 · 06-30-2008, 12:22 PM

I just cleaned my entire cooling system, put a new raditor, new water pump, new hoses, and a 160 degree thermostat, and my engine gets up to like 220+ when i drive it, but when i park it and let it idle, it goes down to 150... should it be running that hot?.. ive checked the oil for a blown head gasket or cracked head, and the oil is good and clean, theres no steam or white smoke... whats goin on?

strc09 · 06-30-2008, 09:39 PM

Your car is fine.

Firebirds more so than the Camaros are bottom breathers and eventhough you have all new stuff in your car and a lower thermostat that doesn't mean it's going to run cooler. If you want to see a difference on your gage you're going to have to switch out the sensor that controls when the fans come on or have the ECM reprogramed. Even then you're probably not going to see that big of a difference just because the way the car is designed and how air flows to the radiator. The reason your car runs cooler while sitting is because of the fans. When the car is in motion the fans do not necessarily run unless you have the AC on. Is the car TBI or TPI? Actually, I don't think that matters...if your want you could always wire your fan to run constantly while the engine is running. Sorry if it sounds like I'm rambling. Just thinking and typing at the same time. HTH...have a good one.

daveconner1984 · 07-01-2008, 12:10 AM

My car is a TBI 305, i drove it earlier today at about 40mph and it kept climbing on up to 235, and i parked it and turned it off, and within a min. it was already down to 210.. it just seems like if i keep driving then the temp is gonna keep going up, and thats why i was so worried that i was hittin 235 when the highest the stock gauge goes is 260, so i assumed i was running too hot.. when i bought the car, the guy had the fan wired constantly to the switch.. also, i doubt that it makes a difference if my aftermarket temp gauge is ran into the top of the waterpump??.. what temp does your bird run when your out cruisin if you dont mind me askin?... thanx for the help

95camLT1Z28 · 07-01-2008, 11:30 AM

just invest in a manual fan switch

strc09 · 07-01-2008, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveconner1984

what temp does your bird run when your out cruisin if you dont mind me askin?... thanx for the help

Mine generally runs 210+ when I'm driving. It's a little harder for me to give you an accurate temp since I have the ditial gage pod and it only has three numbers on it with 120 at the botomr, 190 in the middle, and 260 at the top. Between each number is to marks. I'm going to venture a guess that mine runs about where yours is running. While the car is at idle though it generally hovers around 190ish even with a 160 t-stat just because of the fans. It's good that you're asking the questions...I was in a similar situation when I owned my first GenIII, but now I'm a little more comfortable. As long as it doesn't hit 260 I'm good.

daveconner1984 · 07-03-2008, 12:14 AM

well, im at a loss for what to do... i read how you said you run 210+, so i drove mine today, and just kept driving, and the temp just kept climbing, it never peaked out, and my gauge had just passed 245 and was worki its way up, so i had to park and shut it off... i even got hose and bypassed the heater core, and tried driving it again, and still the same result... it will keep climbing if i keep it on the road... i really have no idea what to do... ive changed everything but heads or head gaskets, and the cooling fan is working correctly.. im at a loss right now.. any ideas?

strc09 · 07-03-2008, 09:35 PM

It's got to be the sensor. There is a sensor in the passenger side head. Mine had melted and was telling my car that it was overheating. If you've got a new radiator, 160 t-stat, and the fan is working there should be no reason that it continues to rise. It's got to be the sensor or fan switch. I'd be willing to bet the sensor is the culprit though.

daveconner1984 · 07-04-2008, 12:57 AM

i would go with that theory but im using an aftermarket water temp gauge... see, its just freakin mind boggling...

strc09 · 07-04-2008, 07:28 AM

Okay...this is going to be a stupid question, but is the gage hooked up correctly? Also, does your factory gage still work and if so what does it read? I'm running out of ideas...

daveconner1984 · 07-04-2008, 11:28 AM

at this point, i dont think there are any stupid questions about this thing, lol... yea, it should be right... i installed it into the top of my waterpump via one of the adapters that came with the gauge, and i made sure not to kink the line... and nope, my stock one hasnt worked since i got it.. i replaced the coolant temp sensor a while back trying to get it to work with no success..