Arc00TA

iTrader: (17)

Car is a 98 A4 formula, bone stock.

I've been noticing lately that my car gets pretty warm at stoplights, but goes right back down when I resume driving. Highway temp is around 180 or a little lower, but as soon as I sit at a light or whatever for more than 30 seconds it climbs up to around 210-215 and holds there. Is this normal and I'm just not used to seeing the 99+ gauges doing it?

98TAjwh

iTrader: (4)

mine gets slightly hotter when sitting or in stop and go traffic, but nowhere near 210. i have a 160* stat though so at on the highway it's around 170-180 and climbs to about 190 if it's sitting.

Arc00TA

iTrader: (17)

Hmm, I'm gonna guess its normal with a stock 195* thermostat then. It doesn't have any problems I was just curious.

98pontiac

mine almost never gets above 160...

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

You are probably due for a condensor cleaning. Or make sure that BOTH of your fans are still working. The fans are supposed to come on and off TOGETHER and also operate in both low and high settings together. If the fans are good.....then its most likely a dirty condensor. When they get real dirty you'll get hot in stop and go traffic or when you come to a stop, because the fans have a hard time pulling the outside air through the dirty condensor, then through the radiator for cooling.

Check this:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/general-m...irty+condensor

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Arc00TA

iTrader: (17)

I'm going to pull it out this weekend and flush it real good, and clean the crap out. I'm sure its due after 12 years.

ls1jorge

iTrader: (5)

i've never had a problem with my car getting hot with 173k miles, depending on pervious owner

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

In my write-up thread I banged all the crap out, without disconnecting the A/C lines.

But the last time I did it I went ahead and disconnected them and took the condensor completely out to clean it. I think that way is more advisable. Its pretty darn easy and cheap to recharge it with refridgerant.

Each time I've cleaned it over the past 12 years, the engine ran ridiculously cooler in hot weather and stop and go traffic.

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Arc00TA

iTrader: (17)

Yeah I just spent 30 minutes rinsing the radiator and condenser off with my hose, they were full of nasty crap and leaves, and a plastic shopping bag. It runs about 25* cooler now, but it still gets hot when it sits. One thing I noticed is that even if it gets up to like 210+ the fans don't turn on at all. I haven't seen them turn on once yet. I let it idle for about 20 minutes but it didn't go above 210 and the fans stayed off.

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

You really need to take the condensor out to clean it right, tiny debris gets all jammed into the cooling fins and closes off almost 50% of the cooling ability over time.

But....I think you just found your problem. If your fans aren't coming on, you will start getting hot the second you slow down and stop.

Check fuses, if both aren't working I'd say your motors are good.

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slow

iTrader: (7)

Stock the fans don't come on until 228 degrees or so, program them to come on sooner, and you will be much better.

Using the hypertech thermostat and the reccomended 180 degree stat settings from them, my car never got over 210, and normally was around 192-196.

Cleaning the condensor made a noticable difference even with 2 year old coolant in the system. Using a hose and removing the unit from the car, I was able to flush a lot of crap out of the condensor, and then vacuumed and recharged the system with 2 12oz cans (1.5#) of Dupont R134a and your good to go.

Ryan

neutron82

iTrader: (26)

my 98 ran the same way until i had it tuned, now it will stay around 185-190 while sitting no matter what and it will go down a little while driving... my fans are on alot more than they used to be though