I have a 1995 Z28 convertible with 75,000+ miles. My car has been getting pretty hot as of late (runs at 3/4 mark and sometimes over that). Their is a little red light that keeps coming on (red light under the RPM number 6). OK I was told this meant my radiator was low so I checked it. Turns out the radiator is full yet the light keeps coming on. Once the light comes on the engine temperature just keeps going up. Today I came home just for like 5 minutes today and when I got back in my car it was over the 3/4 mark. My fans do not seem to be working either so I have a fan switch on the way. But still I cannot understand why does the radiator light keep coming on even though my radiator is full. Plus even if my fans are not working my car is still heating up to quick. Could anyone help me out here please?

Thanks,

Chris

 

Thermostat might be sticking. Sounds about what was happening with my car a week back. I'd check that out.

 

2nd question, well if I purchased a 160 T-stat would it work like stock one if I didn't have anyway to program it? Or would it screw up and cause more problems?

 

It will work just like stock. They wont come on until like 225 degrees. The reprogram would just be fore the fans.

 

i believe one fan comes on at 190, then a 2nd at 225. the second will also come on anytime you have the a/c running. maybe you have an bubble in your coolant lines too, try bleeding it. the bleeders are just to the right of the intake elbow, they look like copper valves and can be opened with a flathead screwdriver. goodluck.

 

You might want to try flushing it out if thats the original coolant in there..

 

Well this is interesting, I forgot to menition that the wires going to my air pump are melted. Maybe that has something to do with my fans not wanting to work? When I take the air pump fuse out the fans will only come on if the car is moving and the SES light stays on when the fuse is out.

 

Also dont forget to check your ECT...the little sensor on the front of the water pump. Mine was doing the same thing yours was. Check it out.

 

my LT1 was having serious heating problems too. i had to get a 160 thermostat, manual fan switch and a new radiator. do what everyone else here suggests also.. bleed ur lines, flushing etc.

 

Is the 'heat' mark going over the 3/4 mark bad?

My car is regularily a bit over 3/4 mark. It will sit there for a couple minutes, then slowly start to go down.

 

not good, mine never goes over the 1/4 mark..

 

Darn.. What should my first step be? I have checked the levels of the rad and the rad overflow, topped both up, and the problem still occurs.

 

"Loading", like mentioned before, u might have an air pocket.. try bleeding ur system. also mentioned before ur stat could b sticking, slight warp in the head, slight crack in the head gasket, weak rad cap, bad igniton timing, weak/damaged water pump etc.. could all cause ur LT1 problems.. if u want detailed step by steps on any of these, PM me and i will walk u through

-Mike

..also highly recommend a manual fans switch and 160 stat..

 

Replace the thermo and flush the coolant. That should fix it. Lets us know how it turns out

 

Replace the t-stat and make sure you bleed out the system. I have seen where air pockets get in the heads and that is exactly what happens. A 160 will cause drivabilty problems at highway speeds due to the engine going below 180* and the CPU wanting to make up for it by richining the A/F mix, thinking it's a cold motor. The programming is set to run above 180*

 

the 160 stat will only slightly increase ur fuel consumption without reprogramming, no "driveability" problems..