Ive been told by some people on here that the reason my fan hasnt been coming on is because I wrapped my fan switch with teflon tape and its not allowing it to ground itself....I have a feeling that this is what the problem is...but some people on here have also been saying that that doesnt make a difference...I dont want to have to take it out and not make a difference. Now lets say that is the problem....should I not use any teflon tape at all...and hope it doesnt leak....or should i cut the teflon tape in half and only wrap half/quarter of the threads so it seals, but thread is still left to grip the head....if I do that.......should I wrap the tape around the outside/middle/inside of the threaded area? Thanks for the info (oh and I think Im FINALLY getting to the bottom of the overheating thing....everythign works but the fan switch....but now I think my radiator is leaking)

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http://users.ticnet.com/mult68
1992 Teal Camaro RS
T-Tops
305 TBI V8
Open air element
3" Flowmaster Exhaust System w/Quad Tips
Aiwa CD/Mp3 player
10 Disc CD Changer
Rockford Fosgate Speakers
SLP Headers Coming
Dynomax High Flow Cat Coming
More to come.

 

run your engine until its hot. jumper the outside edge of the sensor (the flats for wrenching on it) to your intake manifold. if the fan kicks on you have found your problem.
yes it does make a difference. the fan relay gets its ground through the temp switch, if you isolate it (too much tape) it cannot complete the circuit.

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85 IROC 350 11:1keith blacks,.555lift erson roller cam,1.5 crane roller rockers,edelbrock intake,holley 4150 750dbl pumper, nitrous oxide,full length heddman headers,true dual exhaust, 11"stall converter, 700R4, 3.73 locker

 

Hey Mult68! I believe I may have been the first one to mention the teflon tape thing. I only know this because it happened to me also, but my grounding problem was due to new paint on the block, not tape, but I am still having problems with mine as well. I had to laugh as I read your post to keep from crying. My radiator also developed a leak as I was testing the temp switch. It was a hairline crack on one of the cheap, plastic tanks on the radiator that would only leak once the temp got to around 220 degrees. I ended up replacing it for 120.00 at Auotozone, but the replacement is plastic free and much better than the original!! I also installed an aftermarket adjustable cooling fan kit, and the fan worked great for a week, then the relay went bad on me. Now I have to wait on a new one through the mail because it's a different relay than the stock one. Go figure. To answer your question, I think that you should remove ALL the tape off the switch and screw it back into the block. The switch is brass (or copper) and should seal if you install it tight enough. What Bottledpower suggested also sounds like a good idea to me! Good luck!!!!!

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-1983 L69 Camaro Z28 305 H.O. (Bored .030 over,Teflon oil seals,Melling oil pump,Hyperetic pistons,chrome-moly rings,2040 Crane compu-cam) T-tops, 3:73 Open rear, BW T-5, Rebuilt E4ME 4 Barrel, Duel Snorkle, Rhino Clutch, 2040 Compu-cam, LS1 valve springs, porting, PST front end kit with new springs, K&N Filter and runs great but ain't streetable yet!!....Future Mods: JUNK IT if this keeps up!!

[This message has been edited by Confuzed1 (edited April 05, 2001).]

 

Hey confuzed....yeah i think my radiator is leaking from the EXACT same spot you are talkin about.........in addition to that...i THINK my water pump may be going out on me...but im not sure....when I turn the car on...there is a horrible vibrating/popping sound coming from somewhere...and you can feel it when you have your hand on the shifter....i hope its just the pump and not my engine dying due to it overheating so badly.......or possibly the transmission?????? We shall see.

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http://users.ticnet.com/mult68
1992 Teal Camaro RS
T-Tops
305 TBI V8
Open air element
3" Flowmaster Exhaust System w/Quad Tips
Aiwa CD/Mp3 player
10 Disc CD Changer
Rockford Fosgate Speakers
SLP Headers Coming
Dynomax High Flow Cat Coming
More to come.

[This message has been edited by mult68 (edited April 05, 2001).]

 

They make a teflon sealer its like silicone and comes in a tube. The stuff I used was from GM but parts stores should have it also. Ive used this to seal coolant , oil sensors and plugs without problems.

 

you ought to have a good ground with the tape, but i prefer and use the liquid teflon sealer. lot easier to use. i alway have to stop and think about which way to wrap the tape on the threads ,usually figure it out after i put the tape on backwards first.

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ICON Motorsports

1st & 3rd

 

lol ede, I just did my engine swap and I think out of the 10 fittings I used the tape on at least 5 were taped backwards .
Still, I like the tape just because of the feel. Just double up and screw it in, no mess.

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, Jon (350 TBI! getting 23mpg highway)
91 Red RS w/grey int, sq stereo (Alpine v12, kicker solo, MB quart premium etc)AIM: JPrevost

• Holley 670 TB unit w/ 1/2" spacer/adapter
• Edelbrock RPM vortec intake
• 350ho 330hp vortec crate motor
• 8" harm. balancer
• Stewart stage 2 water pump w/160 thermo
• SLP tri-y headers to full 3"
• Rebuilt trans w/ SLP shift kit
• Centerline 16x8's all around
• 36/24 mm sway bars
• Full poly bushings, even motor mounts
• SLP LCA and panhard
• Alston SFCs
• Edelbrock 3 point STB
• Global west steering brace aka wonderbar
• Eibach pro kit springs
• Bilstien high perf. struts and shocks
• All this and I still have AC

My websiteAny questions?

 

I just had a message on this... I checked between the block & edge of the sensor with an ohm-meter, and sure enough, the threads cut through the tape and hit the block, as Vader told me.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

I agree that yes, in most cases if the sensor is tight enough in the block, the threads of the sensor will cut through the tape and ground. But, if you apply either 2 layers of tape, or not tighten the sensor in the block tight enough, it won't ground. Teflon tape can also be a great insulator if the threads dont cut through the tape. Trust me, it's not impossible because it happened to me. I checked it with a Ohmeter also to verify this. Just thought that I would share the experience I had with my car because Mult68's car had the same symtoms my car had. That's what the board is about - right?

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-1983 L69 Camaro Z28 305 H.O. (Bored .030 over,Teflon oil seals,Melling oil pump,Hyperetic pistons,chrome-moly rings,2040 Crane compu-cam) T-tops, 3:73 Open rear, BW T-5, Rebuilt E4ME 4 Barrel, Duel Snorkle, Rhino Clutch, 2040 Compu-cam, LS1 valve springs, porting, PST front end kit with new springs, K&N Filter and runs great but ain't streetable yet!!....Future Mods: JUNK IT if this keeps up!!