DACTARI

iTrader: (1)

Was on freeway when suddenly got "engine hot" message from computer and car went into reduced power mode. No engine coolant temp reading at all just ----. Ambient outside temp is 47 degrees.

Am I safe to drive the 20 mins back on the freeway while monitoring oil temp??!!

Help dudes!

DACTARI

iTrader: (1)

What is a safe oil temp range?

CancerJCC

iTrader: (4)

Around 225* oil temp if your gauge is accurate (had the many grounding fixes completed).

Check the coolant levels and what was the exact message shown?

Bowtie70SS

iTrader: (10)

I would not run it with the engine temp over 240. Let it sit a few minutes to cool off, sometimes they will open up. Make sure you have plenty of water in it.

CancerJCC

iTrader: (4)

And no i wouldnt risk driving it if your genuinely over heating. A little bit of pain now getting it towed might save your top end.

RADEoN

iTrader: (12)

Are you sure its the thermostat? If its reading --- for the coolant temperature, I'd suspect a bad sensor. Put your heat on 90 and full blast and see if its hot. Also, check the sensor wiring (drivers side front of engine, screwed into the head)

DACTARI

iTrader: (1)

Not sure what's going on. Pulled over, popped hood and removed engine cover, let it cool then drove home with the heater on full blast, coasting on downhills and engine off at lights, etc.

Will have it towed to the mechanic who just put in the tstat (day before yesterday). I had only been drivin for ten minutes when whatever failed, and it was reading about 180 before it went out I think.

FuzzyLog1c

iTrader: (4)

Couple of possibilities:

1. You forgot to connect (or broke off) the engine coolant temperature probe. It is located on the driver side front corner of the engine block. Look behind your power steering reservoir.

2. You have a coolant leak. Please check your coolant level in the reservoir before starting the car. MAKE SURE the engine has had enough time to cool down before opening the cap.

I can't imagine any other failure modes that would cause this. Typically, a botched installation or bad thermostat causes it to get stuck open, not shut.

GA95DCMSS

iTrader: (13)

To add to Fuzzys post, if the cooling system wasn't properly bled, there may be an air pocket in there somewhere, reducing cooling system efficiency.

AAIIIC

iTrader: (19)

I'm with RADEoN and Fuzzy, I'd suspect the coolant temperature sensor before the t-stat.

RADEoN

iTrader: (12)

The --- is weird. Makes me think its a bad sensor.

RADEoN

iTrader: (12)

I'll tell you what dactari, unplug the sensor on the head, you're gonna throw a check engine light. See if that gets rid of the engine power reduced error. My dad thinks you have an air pocket.

DACTARI

iTrader: (1)

OK, will wait for it to cool, then will check coolant level and try to maybe burp and air pocket. Then what else, unplug and replug the sensor?

I want to emphasize the temp was normal, then is suddenly read ----, then got a message "engine hot-- a/c off".

I JUST had the 160 tstat installed the day before yesterday when I got my tune done. that's the most logical thing to have failed, since it's the only new part. sensor doesn't make sense because i was driving for 3 weeks on it since the rad was put back in.

good2go

corvettes do this sometimes. It's a tune issue. If the temp doesn't come up to what the ECM expects as quick as it expects it displays overtemp on the DIC and no coolant temp. You're not really overheating, it's the 160 thermostat. It usually happens in the fall, when you start a cold car and get right on the freeway where the airflow keeps the coolant cooler than stop and go driving.

DACTARI

iTrader: (1)

I'll bet this is it.

RADEoN

iTrader: (12)

Makes sense. Kind of like the car figuring the coolant sensor is way off so it automatically shuts it off (aka the ---), and goes into limp mode just in case.

FuzzyLog1c

iTrader: (4)

Or the sensor or its wiring harness failed. A whole lot of people have put 160 degree thermostats in their cars and don't have them retuned.

lollygagger8

iTrader: (7)

Also, make sure the ding dong put water back in and not just straight Dexcool.

DACTARI

iTrader: (1)

He's a legit, knoweldgeable, experience tuner/mechanic. I saw him put 50/50 dexcool/water in it.

DACTARI

iTrader: (1)

Just got back from my tuner. good2go was right. He had already turned off code P0126 (collant temp insufficient for stable operation), but had not turned off P0128 (coolant thermostat malfunction). He said turning off P0126 would avoid the above situation from recurring.

All my sensors and wiring looked like they were in good shape.

Thanks everyone, and especially good2go, for sharing your knowledge.