a friend of a friend has an 02 ss and he just installed some SLP H/C package. i know most of you (including myself) would say he should've gone with something other than SLP like FMS or TR but hey, he already installed it.

he also installed some other bolt-ons and a 160 deg thermostat, he also has his fan setting set at 160. his car drives fine and temps saty fine when driving, but when stopping in traffic it overheats.
so what would you guys think is wrong with it? could it be a bad thermostat? fans are working fine though.

thanks in advance

 

Did you bleed all the air out of the coolant system?

 

My initial thought exactly.

 

Didn't you just answer your own question? Cools while moving, doesn't cool in traffic. That means it is capable of cooling if conditions are right. You can just keep driving and never stop or fix the fan. In the summertime the thermostat is going to open regardless of whether your moving or not. In January in Minnesota it may be different. Once the ECT reaches the set point the fans should be ON and if the A/C clutch is engaged the fans should be ON regardless. You should check your fan system more closely.

 

He did say fans are working fine at the end of the post.

 

i was thinking there may still be air in there..

 

I had the same problem with mine after I installed the heads cam, most likely its just an air pocket in the cooling system. Run it and keep filing it with coolant.

 

i recommend loosening the front coolant line till you dont see anymore air bubbles.

 

Which coolant line exactly would be the one to take off to look for the bubbles?

 

The one that goes from the throttlebody to the radiator near the fill cap.

 

the coolant plug thats on the front of the driverside head. thats the one ive found great luck with.

 

Did you install the head gaskets correctly?

 

you can also start the car with the radiator cap off, then have someone rev the engine. keep the coolant above the line that goes off towards the throttlebody. the coolant level will drop when he revs, but keep filling it up. Worked well twice for me when flushing my system.