Generation III External Engine LS1 | LS6 | Bolt-Ons | Intakes | Exhaust | Ignition | Accessories
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Engine cooling question.................

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 1, 2004 | 11:43 PM
  #1  
Quickin's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Veteran
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,117
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
Default Engine cooling question.................

What on earth can be making my engine hot?

FACTS:
There is nothing stuck up in front of my radiator

The coolant is totally full

The coolant starts to flow after I let it idle for awhile

The fans are working just fine, they were checked thoroughly

My air dam in front is perfect

Symptoms:

If I drive in the city on a hot day (A/C OFF), the temp will go right up to the 210 mark, which in my engine equals about 230 degrees, according to the scanner.

If I put the air on it will quickly go right past the 210 mark and keep on going if I let it. I have to then put the heat on full blast to get it to come back down.

If I'm on the HWY on a hot day the temp will rise to about 215 degrees(scanner). If I put the A/C "on" it will go up to the 210 mark and maybe a little past.

The engine before rebuild never went above the 155 degree mark no matter where or how I drove it with the A/C OFF. With the A/C ON in the city on a hot day the most it would ever go is about 185 on the gauge. It never once saw the 210 mark.

It seems that when I turn the A/C 'on" all hell breaks loose. Because sometimes it'll stabilize and not climb, but as soon as I turn the A/C "on", BAM!!! The needle moves like a widshield wiper.

Could the thermostat be sticking open?

Can a water pump that does not leak, not pump water properly?

Can a failing bearing on the compressor be dragging my engine down when the A/C is "off", and then just totally killing it when its "on"?

Any ideas? I'm getting pissed now
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2004 | 12:01 AM
  #2  
jimmyblue's Avatar
Moderator
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 12,604
Likes: 7
From: East Central Florida
Default

A/C puts a big heat load on the cooling stack.
There is some stuff I see in HPTuners about
whether climate control overrides fans (force
them on?). Have not messed with this but there
could have been something set wrong there.
I would be looking at ECT as seen by the PCM.
and relay control signals, against what you know
the PCM fan settings are. If the fans themselves
have checked out then I would suspect a problem
with controls - either not heard or not asserted
or misguided.
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2004 | 12:21 AM
  #3  
Quickin's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Veteran
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,117
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
Default

Originally Posted by jimmyblue
A/C puts a big heat load on the cooling stack.
There is some stuff I see in HPTuners about
whether climate control overrides fans (force
them on?). Have not messed with this but there
could have been something set wrong there.
I would be looking at ECT as seen by the PCM.
and relay control signals, against what you know
the PCM fan settings are. If the fans themselves
have checked out then I would suspect a problem
with controls - either not heard or not asserted
or misguided.
This means I have to go back to the tuner for the PCM change, right??????

Is there a way I can check to see if the PCM is set wrong with ATAP or some other way before I drive 220 miles?
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:14 AM.

story-0
10 Reasons Daily Driving a Swap Project SUCKS! (& 1 Reason to Do It Anyway)

Slideshow: 10 reasons daily-driving a swap project might not be for you. Or is it?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-17 09:39:05


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

Don't get dad new socks or a grill brush this year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 14:55:56


VIEW MORE
story-2
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-18 10:26:23


VIEW MORE
story-3
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-4
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-5
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-6
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-7
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE