Is this a problem? (cooling) - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Polyphobic · 10-05-2004, 06:37 AM

Since 1995 my 1994 Grand Am has ran at 160 F. The exception being the more difficult drives (ex: rush hr when it is 100F out and mountain driving).

Last March it started running a tiny bit warmer (160F-180F). Then in the last few months started roving between 160F-220F depending on the driving conditions. It will stay at 160F if I am not stopping and starting (continuous highway or street driving). I recently took it into the shop to have the cooling system flushed and they also informed me that the fan is working fine. It's supposed to kick on at 210F according to them. Another strange thing is when it runs at 220F the temperature seems to go down quickly when starting from a stop or turning.

Is this a normal occurence with high mileage older cars or could it be a symptom of a problem (water pump, thermostat, temp sensor)? It has never overheated and does not leak coolant. Overheating is considered 280F on my car's temp guage. It also doesn't go through antifreeze very fast. Maybe 16oz in 5 months.

Thanks

merkerguitars · 10-05-2004, 08:16 AM

Well a car that old will probably develop some problems with the coolant system. First thing you can do is check your thermostat. That is probably due by now. Once you change your thermostat you can test it by sticking it in a pot of boiling water with a temperature gauge if it doesn't open or doesn't open until its really really hot (like over 200 degrees) If your water pump was out you would probably be leaking antifreeze at a good rate. Temp sensors don't really go bad...you would have a really bad or no reading at all...So yup i'm guessing it's the thermostat...which engine does your car have in it?

RaDiAn · 10-05-2004, 08:38 AM

I had this problem to with my1989 V6 2.8 Chevy Corsica, that I've had for 8 years. I replaced all of the easy things first like...theromstat, tempsensor, gauge sensor. Still after all of that I had the same problem. One of the things I should have asked myself was did I maintain the cooling system? NO! What does the fluid look like (does it look like antifreeze or is it dark brown).

What does the inside of the radiator look like. So I opened the cap and not so suprised to find it was full of deposits. I replaced the radiator and it's been running cool ever since. Now it does heat up in traffic, but the fan kicks on, and the response time of how fast it cools is much much better, and now on the highway on a rather hot day it will heat just above half and lower.

Polyphobic · 10-05-2004, 09:12 AM

It's the 4 cylinder version. I can't remember how many versions there are with this car.
The one piece of my car I neglected was the cooling system. Stupid me. I just had it flushed and the fluid was nasty.
Anyhow, the next time I take the car in I will have them take a look at the thermostat. Currently, it is not getting close to overheating and is running fine. Guess I will keep an eye on it.

MSD · 10-05-2004, 01:17 PM

Replace the thermostat and flsuh the radiator at the same time.

zeeznutz · 10-09-2004, 07:30 PM

my civic would rise above normal and then if I made a turn it would drop , It ended up being a hose with a pinhole in it. I changed out my thermo and changed a hoses that were a little too mushy when pushed on and have had no problems at all since.

10-05-2004, 06:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
Polyphobic Runt Location: Denver	Is this a problem? (cooling) Since 1995 my 1994 Grand Am has ran at 160 F. The exception being the more difficult drives (ex: rush hr when it is 100F out and mountain driving). Last March it started running a tiny bit warmer (160F-180F). Then in the last few months started roving between 160F-220F depending on the driving conditions. It will stay at 160F if I am not stopping and starting (continuous highway or street driving). I recently took it into the shop to have the cooling system flushed and they also informed me that the fan is working fine. It's supposed to kick on at 210F according to them. Another strange thing is when it runs at 220F the temperature seems to go down quickly when starting from a stop or turning. Is this a normal occurence with high mileage older cars or could it be a symptom of a problem (water pump, thermostat, temp sensor)? It has never overheated and does not leak coolant. Overheating is considered 280F on my car's temp guage. It also doesn't go through antifreeze very fast. Maybe 16oz in 5 months. Thanks __________________ <--The great infidel-->

10-05-2004, 08:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
merkerguitars Buffering......... Location: Wisconsin...	Well a car that old will probably develop some problems with the coolant system. First thing you can do is check your thermostat. That is probably due by now. Once you change your thermostat you can test it by sticking it in a pot of boiling water with a temperature gauge if it doesn't open or doesn't open until its really really hot (like over 200 degrees) If your water pump was out you would probably be leaking antifreeze at a good rate. Temp sensors don't really go bad...you would have a really bad or no reading at all...So yup i'm guessing it's the thermostat...which engine does your car have in it? __________________ Donate now! Ask me How! Please use the search function it is your friend. Look at my mustang please feel free to comment! http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=26985

10-05-2004, 09:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
Polyphobic Runt Location: Denver	It's the 4 cylinder version. I can't remember how many versions there are with this car. The one piece of my car I neglected was the cooling system. Stupid me. I just had it flushed and the fluid was nasty. Anyhow, the next time I take the car in I will have them take a look at the thermostat. Currently, it is not getting close to overheating and is running fine. Guess I will keep an eye on it. __________________ <--The great infidel-->

10-05-2004, 08:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
RaDiAn Addict	I had this problem to with my1989 V6 2.8 Chevy Corsica, that I've had for 8 years. I replaced all of the easy things first like...theromstat, tempsensor, gauge sensor. Still after all of that I had the same problem. One of the things I should have asked myself was did I maintain the cooling system? NO! What does the fluid look like (does it look like antifreeze or is it dark brown). What does the inside of the radiator look like. So I opened the cap and not so suprised to find it was full of deposits. I replaced the radiator and it's been running cool ever since. Now it does heat up in traffic, but the fan kicks on, and the response time of how fast it cools is much much better, and now on the highway on a rather hot day it will heat just above half and lower.

10-05-2004, 01:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
MSD The sky calls to us ... Super Moderator Location: CT	Replace the thermostat and flsuh the radiator at the same time.

10-09-2004, 07:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
zeeznutz Upright	my civic would rise above normal and then if I made a turn it would drop , It ended up being a hose with a pinhole in it. I changed out my thermo and changed a hoses that were a little too mushy when pushed on and have had no problems at all since.