I just bought a 1995 T/A this weekend and I am experiencing some weird cooling issues. The car is extremely modified ( i.e. making 390 hp at the wheels) and is built to be driven daily.

Here is what I tried to post at FBody.com.

I just bought this car from Craig over the weekend and the problem only arose since I have had it. Craig only drove the car a grand total of maybe 800 miles last year and since I have had it I have drove it about 150-175.

The weather here is really hot ( 110 degrees or so) but I think the car should be running much cooler than it is. The Low Coolant warning indicator comes on as soon as the car hits 160 degrees. After the first start of the day, the light remains on for the rest of the day as soon as the car is started.

Both fans are working properly. Thermostat is a 160 degree unit. All fluid levels are up to par.

What happens is when the car gets hot ( over 215 degrees or so) it still runs fine, and shows no signs of overheating. However in 5 mins after it's parked there will be a huge puddle of freeze on the ground. If I pop the hood the coolant reservoir cap is bubbling just slightly. After putting the car on a lift and taking the plastic covering off, I have confirmed that the cooloant is only coming out of the reservoir. This is odd to me because I don't hear the boiling sound AND there is no steam whatsoever. The car's temp gauge is only reading like 225 or 235.

What the hell is going on here? From what I have explained to my Dad's master mechanic in Hawaii, we think the radiator is stuffed up. The thermostat could also be malfuntioning ( i.e. not stuck but only opening some of the time.) I don't know. I am not looking forward to putting out 400-500 bucks for a good radiator though.

What do you guys think?

Thanks in Advance guys, Matt

Here is a link to the thread over at Fbody.com:
http://www.fbody.com/cgi-bin/lt1/read.cgi?msgid=126590

 

Anyone with a fourth-gen....

Where is the coolant level sensor located???

 

it's located on the passenger side tank. it sounds like you may have some air trapped in the system. you may try bleeding the system. one bleeder is located on the thermostat housing while the other is located on the banjo a hose (easily found) get a new OEM 15lb cap from gm. the original 18lb cap has been discontinued due to overheating problems with stock LT1's. i never had a problem? i learned this when i replaced my radiator + cap on my 94' formy.

 

You mean the coolant reservoir located on the pass. side underneath the battery??? That is where my coolant tank is on the 95' not sure if yours is the same. I don't remember seeing any sensor or wiring under there when I had it on the lift?

 

on the radiator passenger side tank. not the overflow reservoir. that sensor servs no purpose other than to annoy you if you check your coolant religiously as i do. :sillylol: it came on, on mine, and i disconnected the damn thing so the light wouldn't be on. i have no need for it.

 

Ok, so you are telling me I can just disconnect the sensor so I don't have to see the light all the time. I don't exactly see what you mean by ' passenger side tank' . I guess I've never heard that term applied to the radiator.

So is there a sensor in the reservoir or not? Which sensor is the one producing the warning indicator?

Geez.....I am confused by your last post....hope I'm not being too annoying.

 

1. yes disconnect it and the light will go off.

2. the black plastic thing on the passenger side where the radiator cap is. that black part is the passenger side tank. look to the engine side of where the battery is. that's where the sensor is. it's in that vicinity. kinda hard to find will all that crap in the way on a fourthgen.

3. there is no sensor is located in the reservoir.

 

I pulled the plug on that stupid sensor, no light. Thanks a bunch. There is nothing more annoying than a bright dash warning screwing up the beauty of 155 mph gauges!

The sensor must be faulty because the fluid level has been to the tip top of the radiator for days, I even bled the system.

 

yeah those sensors are so gay. on ALL of my friends fourthgens that damn light came on. i told them how to get rid of it. those sensors must have been defective since mine turned on around 60K. on my friends cars they also turned on with relatively "low" mileage. as mentioned all systems were properly filled and bled. yes that light is/was annoying