Cooling Discuss all of the aspects of cooling that you can think of! Radiators, transmissions, electric fans, etc.

Cooling problem? Or sensor?

Old Dec 11, 2011 | 11:28 PM
  #1  
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Car: 88 Firebird WS6 red
Engine: 305 TBI
Cooling problem? Or sensor?

Hey guys it's me again
I got a problem with my firebird again

When I start it, it starts fine and it idles fine. BUT when I run it on the freeway after it has been idling at 190-220 it starts to go up to 280
I don't think it over heats because I think the engine should turn off or atleast start acting funny but it doesn't.

I wanna know if there is some type of sensor.

I looked up on ALLDATA about the sensor and having low current resistance when HOT and having high resistance when COLD.
I don't know what sensors it could be but I do not think the engine is overheating.

Any thoughts?
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 08:17 AM
  #2  
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Car: 1987 Black IROC-Z (SOLD)
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

Do you have a AIR DAM under your car?? Without one results in cooling problems.
Attached Thumbnails Cooling problem? Or sensor?-front_air_dam_1_camaro.jpg  
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 11:14 AM
  #3  
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From: Inner cities, MN
Car: 88 Firebird WS6 red
Engine: 305 TBI
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

I think it does, what is the purpose of that ?
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 12:16 PM
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Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

Originally Posted by olveracm
I think it does, what is the purpose of that ?
Look under the car and see if you have one. Major part of the cooling system at speeds above 45 mph when your fans should be off.
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 01:18 PM
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Car: 88 Firebird WS6 red
Engine: 305 TBI
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

Thanks I will check it out when I get home !
Thanks
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 05:55 PM
  #6  
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Car: 88 Firebird WS6 red
Engine: 305 TBI
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 06:01 PM
  #7  
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From: Inner cities, MN
Car: 88 Firebird WS6 red
Engine: 305 TBI
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

I don't think it has one.
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 07:04 PM
  #8  
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Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

Originally Posted by olveracm
I don't think it has one.
Well you found your overheating problem.
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Old Dec 13, 2011 | 06:42 PM
  #9  
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Car: 88 Firebird WS6 red
Engine: 305 TBI
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

thanks
Is it really that usefull?
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Old Dec 13, 2011 | 07:12 PM
  #10  
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Car: 88 Firebird WS6 red
Engine: 305 TBI
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

ok so I have read here and yes it is
answered my own question /
thanks everyone!
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Old Dec 13, 2011 | 07:18 PM
  #11  
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Car: 1986 Trans Am/1988 Camaro Iroc-Z
Engine: 305 TPI/350 TPI
Transmission: 700r4
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

Originally Posted by olveracm
thanks
Is it really that usefull?
Yea man i had the exact same problem youre having, overheating when i get on the highway but holds temp at idle and I refused to believe that a piece of plastic was causing my car to overheat despite the numerous times people have told me otherwise on this site.... I bought one and like magic my overheating problem vanished!!!!..... Get The Air Dam........
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Old Dec 13, 2011 | 08:40 PM
  #12  
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From: Inner cities, MN
Car: 88 Firebird WS6 red
Engine: 305 TBI
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

Haha wow that sucks
Well now I have to buy it

U know of any good places that might sell it?
are NAPA or Autozone not included since it is a body shop?
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Old Dec 13, 2011 | 09:53 PM
  #13  
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Car: 1986 Trans Am/1988 Camaro Iroc-Z
Engine: 305 TPI/350 TPI
Transmission: 700r4
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

Im pretty sure autozone or Napa doesnst sell them, I got mine off ebay for like 50 bucks, but I think hawks and thirdgen ranch sells them as well....
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Old Dec 14, 2011 | 06:16 AM
  #14  
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From: Elwood, IN
Car: 1986 camaro Sports Coupe
Engine: L31 350
Transmission: 89 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42 gov lock
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

Third gen ranch has them for like $30 shipped. But MAN your radiator support is rusty O.O wow!!
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Old Dec 14, 2011 | 05:42 PM
  #15  
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From: Inner cities, MN
Car: 88 Firebird WS6 red
Engine: 305 TBI
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

Oooh alright thanks!
And evilemokid94 I know, You think it will still support it?
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Old Dec 14, 2011 | 06:55 PM
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From: Inner cities, MN
Car: 88 Firebird WS6 red
Engine: 305 TBI
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/82-92-CAMARO...53#ht_226wt_65

Will this one work guys?
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Old Dec 14, 2011 | 08:36 PM
  #17  
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Car: 88 Pontiac GTA and 4 Camaros
Engine: 5.7
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

Trust what everybody says about the airdam!!!!! Everything you described sounded like a bad/no airdam. The pic proved it all. You NEED that and your problem will be solved.
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Old Dec 15, 2011 | 05:14 AM
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From: Elwood, IN
Car: 1986 camaro Sports Coupe
Engine: L31 350
Transmission: 89 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42 gov lock
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

Yes the one you posted will work
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Old Dec 15, 2011 | 02:08 PM
  #19  
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From: Inner cities, MN
Car: 88 Firebird WS6 red
Engine: 305 TBI
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

Thanks!
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Old Jan 14, 2012 | 03:14 AM
  #20  
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Car: 88 Firebird WS6 red
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Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

Hey guys just got the air dam on Wednesday.. What I guys think about it.
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Last edited by olveracm; Jan 14, 2012 at 03:15 AM. Reason: Picture
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Old Jan 14, 2012 | 03:17 AM
  #21  
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From: Inner cities, MN
Car: 88 Firebird WS6 red
Engine: 305 TBI
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

Is it big enough?
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Old Jan 14, 2012 | 06:30 PM
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Car: 1986 Trans Am/1988 Camaro Iroc-Z
Engine: 305 TPI/350 TPI
Transmission: 700r4
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

Looks good!, did it fix your overheating problem?
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Old Jan 14, 2012 | 06:35 PM
  #23  
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Car: 1989 Camaro RS--
Engine: MPFI
Transmission: 700r4
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

Looks good, Let us know if it fixed your problem. After I put mine on it stopped over heating
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Old Jan 14, 2012 | 11:22 PM
  #24  
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From: Inner cities, MN
Car: 88 Firebird WS6 red
Engine: 305 TBI
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

Alright just making sure it's not to small..
And I wish I could tell you but it snowed the day I put it one (how ironic) and now I'm waiting for it to clear up.
I will let u guys know ASAP as soon as a drive again in the freeway.
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Old Jan 15, 2012 | 09:36 AM
  #25  
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Car: 91 Camaro RS
Engine: empty bay (for now)
Transmission: Built T-56
Axle/Gears: 3.42 stock posi disc
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

the airdam doesnt "scoop" air and force it through the radiator. it creates a low pressure zone that sucks air up into the radiator behind it. there have been a few people that actually trimmed down the stock airdam for ground clearance and i dont belive they had any problems. so if its a stock airdam from a 3rd gen f body, no its not too small .

on a side note, the air dam is actually MORE important on the birds, just for the fact they have less air flow comming in from the front of the car than the camaros (they dont have a grill opening after all).
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Old Jan 15, 2012 | 10:33 AM
  #26  
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From: Inner cities, MN
Car: 88 Firebird WS6 red
Engine: 305 TBI
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

"no its not too small ." <-- Haha
But ooh here i thought it did scoop up air. Hmm.. Thanks!

"MORE important on the birds, just for the fact they have less air flow comming in from the front of the car (they dont have a grill opening after all)." <--- yeah I figured that out my self.. Cause yeah there is no grill. But I wanna drive it soon.
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Old Jan 16, 2012 | 10:31 PM
  #27  
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Car: 87 Formula/ 00 Xtreme
Engine: TPI 305/ v6
Transmission: struggling t-5/ 4l60E
Axle/Gears: 3.08/ 3.23
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

Originally Posted by travis401
the airdam doesnt "scoop" air and force it through the radiator. it creates a low pressure zone that sucks air up into the radiator behind it. .
To add, the baffling/ducting under the nose works in conjunction with the air dam to draw air through the radiator.
The baffle works similar to an upside down airplane wing.

51 & 52 vary on base or t/a. The air dam you bought appears to be the center section to a Camaro (T/A is very similar)
104 (L & R) are the side pieces to 51 for t/a
49 & 50 are the baffle parts under the nose
Attached Thumbnails Cooling problem? Or sensor?-birdfrontbreak.jpg  

Last edited by deadbird; Jan 16, 2012 at 10:37 PM.
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Old Jan 17, 2012 | 10:33 PM
  #28  
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From: Inner cities, MN
Car: 88 Firebird WS6 red
Engine: 305 TBI
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

yeah Thats true..
But i still have left to try to drive it.
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Old Jan 28, 2012 | 06:42 PM
  #29  
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From: Inner cities, MN
Car: 88 Firebird WS6 red
Engine: 305 TBI
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

well, so today i finally got the bird on the highway.. uhhhh.. it reached 220 degrees. or so, (almost 220) uhhhh... eventually when we got off the freeway, it reached the 3/4 of the guage.. seems to be a little better, because last time it hit red line or what ever that # is. uhhhh.. HELP! i think that if we stayed on the freeway, it would have gone higher..
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Old Feb 1, 2012 | 11:59 PM
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Car: 87 Formula/ 00 Xtreme
Engine: TPI 305/ v6
Transmission: struggling t-5/ 4l60E
Axle/Gears: 3.08/ 3.23
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

check to make sure the is no garbage between your radiator and condenser. make sure the condenser fins are mostly straight.

A 305 TBI is almost to weak to produce enough HP to make it run hot if it didn't even have a radiator. If the air dam didn't help, there is something else blocking the air flow past the radiator.
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Old Feb 8, 2012 | 01:11 PM
  #31  
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From: Inner cities, MN
Car: 88 Firebird WS6 red
Engine: 305 TBI
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

Thanks deadbird i did figure it out.. it was the timming.. it was way off.. the engine used to sound sloppy and now it sounds realy smooth..

only problem is that when i get on the freeway it went over to 220 and then almost over heated and then after like 2 mins it dropped down to 1/4 of the guage..

you think it's the collant?

how much should i get if i need a whole system flush??
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Old Feb 8, 2012 | 06:59 PM
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Axle/Gears: 3.42 stock posi disc
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

sounds like the tstat may have gotten stuck closed until it heated up to 220 then opened.
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Old Feb 8, 2012 | 10:58 PM
  #33  
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From: Inner cities, MN
Car: 88 Firebird WS6 red
Engine: 305 TBI
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

Originally Posted by travis401
sounds like the tstat may have gotten stuck closed until it heated up to 220 then opened.
Yeah the thing it that it's new.. I don't know how or what I'm gonna do a whole coolant flush tomorow and change the coolant tempature switch tomorrow.
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Old Feb 9, 2012 | 09:40 AM
  #34  
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Transmission: Built T-56
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Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

new parts can be bad too...
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Old Feb 9, 2012 | 10:24 PM
  #35  
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Axle/Gears: 3.08/ 3.23
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

Originally Posted by travis401
new parts can be bad too...
+10
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Old Feb 10, 2012 | 10:15 AM
  #36  
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From: Inner cities, MN
Car: 88 Firebird WS6 red
Engine: 305 TBI
Re: Cooling problem? Or sensor?

Originally Posted by deadbird
+10
Alright well it was the coolant.. I did the flush and it worked just fine..
It didn't over heat on the street and on the freeway.. It seemed to work.. but it was running cool. which is fine cause before it was running really hot!
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