Help: 97 lt1 overheating randomly
Help: 97 lt1 overheating randomly My trans-am started overheating all of a sudden, granted i just bought the car but the guy said it never overheated so i took his word for it. it has new radiator on it. But i was driving down the road in town and notice the temp guage go up almost to the 3rd white line 3/4 mark. and the check guage light came on. i immediatly pull over and nothing is leaking but i can hear how hot it is. The fans are popping on and everything so anywayz i get on the highway and it stays at 210 just a **** hair under but as soon as i get back to town it steadily starts to rise anyone had this problem b4? i would like to try and fix it myself b4 i take it to some mechanic that will charge me an arm and leg just to diagnose it. im hoping its just a thermostat or something little like that any info/help would be greatly appreciated thanks alot............
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
a low temp (160*) thermostat will fix that but you need a tune or a manual fan switch so that the fans will cut on earlier. mine did exactly what you are talking about on the way home with it. they are just tuned to run hot from the factory.my coolant boiled right up out of the recovery tank. i parked it until my thermostat and tune got to me and with that it hasnt done it since
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Ok i took the thermostat completly out and it isnt overheating but it goes right around 210 and then goes back down i went to buy a 160 degree thermostat and they didnt have any so i just got another 180 until i can find a 160. the radiatior cap is my next thing to check
yeah i checked all of that stuff right off the bat yesterday when it happened i had to add a little but not much i filled the resivour i hear people say that when this happened to me that fluied came pouring out and all that but it didnt to mine i could hear it boiling inside the motor tho..........
yeah everything is in place the radiator isnt bad at all. I turned the ac on and it stayed right around 210 but with the ac off it goes outrageous. but i hear the fans coming on at idle so idk what the deal is, i think ima go ahead and take it to the shop and let em fix it
9 Second Club
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 301
Likes: 0
From: ringgold,ga
like others have said, bleed the system. with the car cut off and the radiator cap off fill radiator to top and crack the bleeders one at a time. if it has air you should here it. it might take several times. when its full, water and or antifreeze will run out. you'll have to keep adding water till its completely bled. also, the secondary fan cuts on when the a/c is on. your primary fan may not be working. this is very common. either the ground or hot wire is not making a good connection to the fan. check both. you can also run your primary fan to a relay and then to a manual switch. you also mentioned that it had a new radiator. make sure the small hose directly under the cap is going to the overflow. i've seen some guys mistakenly have it backwards with the early lt1s and run it the engine. this will cause temp problems.
all i would say is get a tune. i live in phoenix az and my car frequently went to about 210 (hardly ever over) but the second fan isnt supposed to kick on until like 215 or some outrageous number. i got a tune and now the car never goes about 185. in dead stop in 110 degree weather it sits right at 185 then right as soon as i start driving again it goes to like 165. and a tune can or pretty much has to be a mail order tune, unless you know someone close with tuner cat or lt1 edit.
Launching!
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: LSU - 2007 National Champs
Just curious why it has a NEW radiator in it and the guy says it never overheated on him. Obviously it did something to warrant a new radiator. Mine ran warmer than I liked when I bought it too. It would stay around 190* while driving, but if I sat at a long red light, it would go over 200. But after a 160 stat and tune, the car never sees 185 now.