Quickin

I just picked up my car today and drove it home. The engine is friggin awesome, just like last time, THANKS Agostino Racing Engines for the rebuild.

But its getting hot fast while driving in the city, When I had the engine for its first year I could drive around in 95 degree Florida heat with the A/C on max and it would never get to the 210 mark. Today it went right to the 210 mark and it was going to pass it without the air on and driving like a granny. I had to put the heat on high to get it back down.

On the hwy it went down to about 195 without the A/C on, usually it would sit right over the 180 tick mark. Usually with the A/C on on the HWY it would maybe move to 190-195.

Basically now, it will go right past the 210 mark if I don't put the heat on full blast. I don't think I ever heard the fan come on and I have a squeaking noise coming from the front of the engine like a belt or bearing.

Any thought? Thanks.

Richie Carbone

iTrader: (3)

Do you hear the squeaking for a couple of seconds after the car is shutdown?

If so it's the bearings in the fan motor. They are inexpensive and aren'y that hard to swap out.

Good luck. Glad to see ARE got you straight.

Richie Carbone

iTrader: (3)

If it's not the fans there could also be air in the cooling system. Easy to fix.

Quickin

Thanks. Yes I can here the squeak if I turn the fan with my hand.

How does a bad bearing hurt the spinning? Is it just not spinning as fast as it should?

Question:
Can I just lift the car and do it myself with regular tools? Do I just drop the fans and tear them apart and the bearings will just come out easily?

Quickin

I thought about that, how do I fix this problem? I might as well do both.

Quickin

Yeah man, ARE did things for me that pretty much blew me away, I can't thank them enough. I basically got a new motor under warranty.

Quickin

Damn, one more question: Where do I get the bearings?

Thanks.

Richie Carbone

iTrader: (3)

If the bearings are squeaking it means the fan motor is shot and is not spinning fast enough to keep things cool.

You can't replace the bearings, you would have to replace both fan motors, you just have to remove the shroud that the fans are attached to and swap them. Last time I checked they cost $60~$70 each.


As for removing any air from the system, let the car run with the radiator cap off for a few minutes and see if the level goes down when it's up to operating temp, if it goes down alot add some more coolant/distilled water mix 50/50 and top it off and replace the cap. That will ensure that all of the air is removed form the system.

It's more than likely the fan or fans are done.. especially on a 98 with some age and milage.

Good luck.

Post up the #'s when it's tuned.

Quickin

Damn, I feel like a putts. I misunderstood you, I thought you were saying to swap out the bearings only

Thanks a helluvallot man, I'll get some new ones tomorrow if my dealership is open.

Or is there a cheaper place?

Richie Carbone

iTrader: (3)

If you can get the part #'s you can order them from www.GMparts.com it might take 1-2 weeks to get them but they will be half the price that a dealer will charge you.

Quickin

I appreciate it man.

Richie Carbone

iTrader: (3)

No problem!

Quickin

Richie,

My fans are spinning when the temp gauge in the cluster gets to about 160, but I can't hear them spinning. I just reached in and felt them spinning. I thought when they kicked on in the past they were pretty loud and easily heard from standing near the car. Is this what failed bearings causes?
My coolant started to flow and the level only dropped like 1 inch and continued to flow.

Is there another web address, that one isn't working.
Thanks.

Richie Carbone

iTrader: (3)

\

OOOPS! Sorry about the web address, it's www.GMpartsdirect.com

It was a little late lastnight when I posted that.

The fans might be spinning, but they might not be spinning fast enough to keep the engine cool. If one or both are squeaking it means the fan or fans are on the way out.

Quickin

OK, I'll change them both out.

Thanks.

jimmyblue

iTrader: (11)

Did the new engine come with new PCM, or the old
PCM reprogrammed? The stock low-speed fan and
high-speed fan settings would be about 210F and
224F (?).

Low speed fans might not be "hearable" against a
healthy motor, barely against stock. High speed
you should be able to notice. Might check that all
ducting is properly tight; the little draw-through
electric fans depend on that backside radiator
ducting to get the air to run through, rather than
around.

With a hotter motor (more cubes and probably
higher CR into the same water jacket) you may
want to go find yourself a higher-capacity radiator
anyway.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Well, you might want to check to see if:
-fans are coming on
-Verify what size thermostat is in there
-Check your tuning, has that been changed?
-Top up coolant cold in the radiator, if it's low it can run hotter, top it up to the top and let it run a bit and if it drops a bit top it a bit more

You have a very expensive engine I would be very careful and diligent on this issue.

Quickin

-Fans are both coming on, but seem slow and you can't hear them spinning.

-160 thermostat

-Tuning wasn't touched

-I let it run yesterday until it started to flow and the level moved maybe an inch down while it was flowing.

My friend is gonna check my fans tomorrow.

I assume that fans are really meant for city driving, stop and go when there's no real airflow from the air dam to help cool the water. On the HWY I run fine. As soon as I slow down it gets hot.

Richie Carbone

iTrader: (3)

The fans shut off once you hit 35 MPH once above 35 there is sufficient air flow to keep things cool.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Check fans and fuses/fuse relays.