Need help with cooling system problem
Need help with cooling system problem I've got a 98 Z that is not warming up. It takes to long to warm up and when it does warm up it only get to 160 instead of normal 210. I flushed my radiator added new coolant and changed the thermostat but still no difference. If I let it sit and run it will heat up to 210 but not while I'm driving. Any advice on what might be the problem would be greatly appreciated. Thanks 
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Did the car warm up faster in previous winters? How did it act before (temp gage wise)?
Remember, the '98 temp gage actually works (pretty much a dummy gage from '99 and up) so don't compare it's behavior to your '01 car, if that's the concern.
Remember, the '98 temp gage actually works (pretty much a dummy gage from '99 and up) so don't compare it's behavior to your '01 car, if that's the concern.
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From: MI
Originally Posted by RPM WS6
Did the car warm up faster in previous winters? How did it act before (temp gage wise)?
Remember, the '98 temp gage actually works (pretty much a dummy gage from '99 and up) so don't compare it's behavior to your '01 car, if that's the concern.
Remember, the '98 temp gage actually works (pretty much a dummy gage from '99 and up) so don't compare it's behavior to your '01 car, if that's the concern.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,629
Likes: 2,549
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Originally Posted by smokin' joe 00 ss
I have a 2000 and my temp gage and the temp of my auto-tap reading are very close.
My '98 pretty much shows every change in temp and is right along with A-tap. It's been discussed many times that the '99 and up gage is basically useless.
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Verdad Gallardo well from my experiences with a-tap and the temp gauge is that it takes about 25-30deg +/- change for the temp guage to move from 210 so even though it might sit at 210 temp could still actually be 180 or even 230. i wouldnt worry about it to much if you are worried about overheating try some waterwetter. works wonders. the reason the gauge is less functional is because GM doesent want people comming in everytime the gauge twitchs, from the factory they are designed to run hot to help with emmisions.
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From: MI
Originally Posted by RPM WS6
After some fan re-programming I was able to get my '00 car to run as cool as 190* with the stock stat via A-tap. My temp gage always read 210. A friend with a '00 Z28 installed a 160 stat and had his fans re-programmed, his running temps were 170* on my A-tap. His gage still read 210.
My '98 pretty much shows every change in temp and is right along with A-tap. It's been discussed many times that the '99 and up gage is basically useless.
My '98 pretty much shows every change in temp and is right along with A-tap. It's been discussed many times that the '99 and up gage is basically useless.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,629
Likes: 2,549
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Originally Posted by smokin' joe 00 ss
My gage I don't think has ever read over 190* even with the stock thermo in, I'm running a 180* in it now and it still run's in the 175* range. Still my gage follow's my a-tap really close. Is the part for the 98 temp sending unit any different 99 up sending unit?
My old '99 and '00 always went right to 210 and never moved after inital warmup even when a-tap would show 190. Same with all the other '99-up LS1s I've a-tapped. The '98s are the only ones I ever see that actually show near accurate running temps on the gage.
PS. I did some testing on this, and I've found that the stock stats and aftermarket 180 stats seem to keep the motor at the exact same temps with the same fan settings. I even went so far as to set the fans (with LS1 Edit) so they would run constantly on high speed once the temps were above 180 just to see which stat would get cooler. Both the stock unit and the Hypertech 180 never went lower than 190, and 190 was rare (only when it was really cool out). Usually the temps were 192-194 at cruise, or 194-196 at idle with fans on high full time.