I've had my 89 IROC (350) since August, and the temp has never been right. Runs like a champ no matter what temp. The hottest I've ever seen the car get was 160 in the Las Vegas heat (110's). Most of the time, the gauge sneaks right past the first line, and never makes it to what looks like 130. I know the engine cannot actually run at that temp. I hear the fan kick on at certain times, so I know the car is hittin the upper temps.

I like Autometer gauges and have been looking at Covan's Classic setups, but I don't like how the turn signals/SES lights etc look. I was thinking maybe a 3 gauge pod under middle vents with volts and oil pressure too.

I wanted to see if it could be the sending unit possible jammed, clogged, or temporarily insane. I don't like replacing that sensor because no matter what, I get a hairfull of coolant. The car is completely stock, and I've only upgraded the cap/rotor/coil so far. The coil was the stock one from 89, so I wouldn't be surprised if the thermostat was from 89 either. If it were replaced, it's only because the guy before was convinced by the dealership to replace it.

What do you guys think?

 

why dont you do the sending unit replacement before getting autometer guages. this may even fix your stock guage. either way though you will end up doing it because the autometer's come with a sending unit to use.

 

I don't know if this is a common occurance in the sending units, or if something else could be the culprit. I might as well replace the old stuff just because.

 

its usually the culprit another culprit is you're radiator cap not keeping enough pressure in the coolant that could do that. OR it could have thermostat that is really low like 150 and making it open sooner. Or it could be bad and have a fail safe like most today and just completely open so its flowing and not restricting then opening when getting hot.

 

quick question, if the radiator cap is not keep as much pressure in wouldnt it leak coolent?

 

If the radiator cap spring is weak it will lift an let coolant into the overflow.Have you noticed that the overflow container is full even when the car is cool?

 

never looked, gonna have to check that out.

Something that I never mentioned and I should have is that the heat is never hot. It'll get warm, but not hot like my Firebird. I have to get my brother's car outta the garage to work on mine.

 

if you go to the parts store you can get a crayon that melts at ~180 and another ~ 200 (I can't remeber the exact name of the markers but the parts guys siould know). Buy the lowest temp crayon, mark a couple of your radiator or heater hoses, & see if it melts. thats a simple way to check out coolant temp on a parked car in idle. then you can go from there

 

Yea hope that might helped yea on the radiator cap. sorry for not telling you the symptons. Sounds like it could be the thermastat. Being low but look for everything first and it could be a bad sensor but not likely since the car isn't getting hot. I had a problem with that it was b/c the thermastat was fully open and not closing when cold. That could be the best bet. One way to find out if the thermastat is working is boil some water and make sure the thermastat is cold and it should be close and when you put it in the hot water it should open if not that might you're problem one way to make to find out on that cheap with little time.

 

I've just gotta take the time to pop the thermostat off and see if it's stuck open. I checked the coolant, and it's at the normal level the whole time. I also checked to see if the vacuum was on at the coolant piece that re-routes fluid to the heater core. I couldnt feel anything from either side. Now I gotta check that line and see if it's broken, or if a diaphram has crapped out.