I took the IRCO to work today and had the AC on for the first time since last summer. Normally I drive with the windows down and T-tops in the trunk but with the 95 degree today I decided to use the AC. After being on the highway for 25-some miles I noticed the temp was near the red line. I immediately turned on the heater and opened the windows. The temp immeditaely went back to normal for the remaining 10 miles of my commute. It stayed at normal temp when I turned the temp selector to cool and set the HVAC control to vent as opposed to AC.

With the air off the car runs perfectly cool, with it on it got VERY hot. I checked and the electric fan does come on whenever the AC is on. The AC is frigid and was converted to R-134 a few years ago. Other than overheating the AC works perfectly.

The car is an 86 LG4 with 44k original miles. It just had a major tune-up. The coolant is "Mountain Dew" green.

Any thoughts?

 

Are you overheating if you let it idle with A/C on (and fan on, of course)? If yes, that would point to cooling system trouble, if not, I'd say you have a problem with supply of cooling air while moving, i.e. air dam or something blocking it.

Sorry for this question but it needs to be asked: did you check the radiator and A/C condenser for blockage, bent fins, dirt? That right there would give you some extra degrees. Been there myself.

Lou

 

I thought IRCO's had air cooled motors?

1) Check coolant level.
2) Check pressure cap.
3) Check that air dam is in place, and intact.
4) With cold engine, remove upper radiator shroud, so the top end of the radiator can be leaned back. Clean out any leaves/sticks/squirrels/fords or other crap that has accumulated in there. Then take a garden hose spray nozzle and hose both the radiator and condenser out, both ways, washing first in the reverse direction of normal airflow.

 

Thanks for the advice. I'll perform a generic cooling system check ASAP.

It's odd how the car drives perfectly cool with the AC off but sometimes gets hot with the AC on. It has never run hot with the HVAC turned off.

 

I waited for an overheat to test the fans via running my A/C. It has no freon charge or been updated, so it blows nice and warm and offers little to anything, but was advised to run to see if my fans came on. Since I waited for temp over 220, not sure if that's a factor but my fans stayed dormant. I'll be having a facility look at mine to determine what is at fault, but I can't recall the fans not working prior to the car being shut down over the winter and the radiator replaced...terminal leak, now in the gasket section!

Bill