Cooling Problem / Low Coolant
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Staging Lane
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 62
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Cooling Problem/Low Coolant Did a search and it seems that the light can come on when the level is fine due to the sensor being wrong.
However, when the light comes on the car tends to run warmer. Normally driving down the road it will run 170*. When the light comes on driving it's fine, but when idling the temp will rise to 210* when the light is on. Granted, I know 210* isn't all that hot, just seems like a bit of a jump from normal.
I bought a new cap, one with a pressure release. When I parked the park I lifted the lever some to let the pressure release. After 5 secs or so the overflow bottle overflowed. Is this normal?
However, when the light comes on the car tends to run warmer. Normally driving down the road it will run 170*. When the light comes on driving it's fine, but when idling the temp will rise to 210* when the light is on. Granted, I know 210* isn't all that hot, just seems like a bit of a jump from normal.
I bought a new cap, one with a pressure release. When I parked the park I lifted the lever some to let the pressure release. After 5 secs or so the overflow bottle overflowed. Is this normal?
unless you have an aftermarket temp guage, our guauges do not read spot on. you might want try to replace the thermostat with one that comes on cooler and you could have your fans set on the ecu or get a fan switch to help aide in cooling.
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2005
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Originally Posted by snake charmer
unless you have an aftermarket temp guage, our guauges do not read spot on. you might want try to replace the thermostat with one that comes on cooler and you could have your fans set on the ecu or get a fan switch to help aide in cooling.
11 Second Club
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,311
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From: loudoun county,va
let me clarify the guages thing...
if you own an lt1, your guage work just fine....
if you own an ls1, then thank your uncle GM... they figured the average person would only worry if they saw the temp change from time to time (it is supposed to go up when you are idling, and down when the wind hits the radiator, and down when the fans kick on) so gm mad the guage to comfort you... it starts cold , then when you start the car it will slowly make its way to mid way... there it will stay... the only time it will move is if your car REALLY over heats... then it will slide into the red....
but until that happens you wont know...
now if i am not mistaken you have a 97?
if so then you have a lt1... and if it drops to 170 when you are driving then you have a 160* thermistat... and it goes to 210 when you are idling means you have a 160* TM but you have not had the fans changed to turn on and off within the 160* TM range... the fans are working like you have the stock 190* TM
i supose its possable your pcm does not like the big changes... dont know?
if you own an lt1, your guage work just fine....
if you own an ls1, then thank your uncle GM... they figured the average person would only worry if they saw the temp change from time to time (it is supposed to go up when you are idling, and down when the wind hits the radiator, and down when the fans kick on) so gm mad the guage to comfort you... it starts cold , then when you start the car it will slowly make its way to mid way... there it will stay... the only time it will move is if your car REALLY over heats... then it will slide into the red....
but until that happens you wont know...
now if i am not mistaken you have a 97?
if so then you have a lt1... and if it drops to 170 when you are driving then you have a 160* thermistat... and it goes to 210 when you are idling means you have a 160* TM but you have not had the fans changed to turn on and off within the 160* TM range... the fans are working like you have the stock 190* TM
i supose its possable your pcm does not like the big changes... dont know?
doesnt the 98 LS1s have a correct temp gauge?, anyways, my dads 94 LT1 does the same thing, light comes on but the level is fine, its very uncommon tho, it only has happened like 3 times sence he bought the car back in July, he just ignores it now
98's have functional temp guages (3wire sending unit) vs the 99-02 cars having dummy temp guages(2wire sending unit), in my experiences the temp gauge will sit dead center if the coolant is between 180-230 degrees. so unless it goes a lot further past mid way i wouldnt worry about it to much. GM designed these cars to run extremely hot in order to bring down the emissions rating.
