98 TA overheating????

**98RedTA** · 03-20-2014, 04:31 PM

Had to change my radiator a few weeks ago. Since the weather around here is getting a little warmer I've noticed my temp gauge on my car is creeping up to just past 210 if I'm sitting idle at a red light. . If I turn my a/c on my temp comes down to just under 210. And if I'm driving down the highway it stays right at the first notch (180?) is this normal?

And my coolant is full and no leaks

**pajeff02** · 03-21-2014, 02:15 AM

Well, the '98s are the only 4th gens with functional temp gauges so it is likely that it is reading correctly. However, just for fun, it wouldn't hurt to verify temps with a laser temp gun. Was the thermostat also changed when you swapped in the radiator? Are your fans plugged back in and coming on as they should? I think the stock settings are actually up over 200 degrees somewhere, I'd have to open up my tune file to take a look.

**98RedTA** · 03-21-2014, 02:43 AM

No I didn't change the thermostat. I can try the laser gun and see what it reads. And the fans are plugged back in. It almost seems to me like I'm not getting enough air flow across the radiator.

I had thought about putting a switch in place so I can turn on the fans manually and see if that works. Or can I have someone tune my computer to where they can make them come on sooner than what's setup from the factory?

**pajeff02** · 03-21-2014, 03:00 AM

Fan settings can be changed in the tune. A stationary run up to full temp while monitoring things with a temp gun might not be a bad idea -- you can verify when the fans are coming on and that they activate properly. Turning on the A/C kicks the fans on irrespective of the engine temp once the car is warmed up, that's why you see a drop in temp.

**RONS98TA** · 03-21-2014, 07:10 AM

I think because you said when driving you temp is at 180, that 1 of your fans isn't working. Or they could be on just the low setting and not going into high, Double check the connections on the fans 1st.

**98RedTA** · 03-21-2014, 07:12 AM

Will do. I'll let y'all know. If it's just an unplugged fan I'll feel like a complete idiot. LOL

**RONS98TA** · 03-21-2014, 07:26 AM

It may look plugged in, but it may not be clicked in all the way. Also check all the wires to make sure they are in the connectors and not loose or broken.

***SMWS6TA*** · 03-21-2014, 08:06 AM

check the pins too.

**pajeff02** · 03-21-2014, 10:42 AM

Good point -- wouldn't hurt to unplug stuff and do a visual inspection of the connectors.

**Too Fast** · 03-21-2014, 07:06 PM

Low speed fan won't come on until about ~220F. High speed comes on about ~228. Speaking about OE calibration.

**pajeff02** · 03-22-2014, 05:06 AM

Stock thermostat opens around 198 degrees if I recall correctly - so temps over 200 degrees with the stock setup are the norm. I didn't install aftermarket gauges until after I had already swapped out the thermostat and re-tuned the fans, so I never got to see what our engine ran in stock format.

**98RedTA** · 03-22-2014, 09:57 AM

I checked my connections to the fans and they were both plugged in. I unplugged them and plugged them back in to make sure. Maybe it's normal for the LS1's to run a little over 210 like was stated. I'll just have to keep an eye on it

**pajeff02** · 03-22-2014, 11:24 AM

Going down the road, the engine will generally run 5 to 15 degrees hotter than the thermostat rating depending upon outside temp, humidity and engine load. On a super hot day, idling in traffic with the A/C cranked our temp gauge climbed to 203 once. That was with a 180 degree thermostat and reprogrammed fan settings -- that's the warmest I have witnessed.

**raynor139** · 03-22-2014, 12:39 PM

Yeah 210 sounds like a normal temp for a stock thermostat. Engines typically run 10-20 degrees above what the thermostats are rated at. I have a 160 in my car and its typically between 170-185 depending on the time of year and how hard the car has been run. Highest ive seen is 198 after some hot lapping.