If it's not BS.. then by all means let me know

First of all .. I am under the impression that a fan cooling the radiator should come on at about hmmm 180-190 or so .. like the thermostat ... anyway ya know what I mean


Took my car back to the dealership.. so THEY could fix the problem .. without me paying for it... (no.1 reason)


They took it to an electrical shop ... and the overheating problem was fixed.. supposedly


I drove the car... temp went up.. up.. up.. and it was like.. wait a damn minute... 220 degrees and rising ... almost 230... to hell with this.. I turned the AC on low and it cooled down

See a short or something in the wiring causes this:


Fan won't come on to cool the engine... unless... ya turn the AC on ..


Called them and said the problem still exists ... the guy told me the electrical shop had told him... the fan won't come on until the temp reaches.. 222 .. yes.. two hundred and twentytwo ... degrees



uhmmmm hello ... ok.. if I'm wrong by all means... PLEASE SAY SO NOW

 

You're wrong...you have a 195 stat and the fans won't kick on until about what they said. Remember too that the gauge in the car is probably a little off. If you want the fan to come on sooner then you must buy the part to have the fan come on sooner.

 

Sorry man, but your mechanic isn't lying to you. Your car's fan will only turn on around the 220 degree mark. You can, however, make it come on at any time the car is on by grounding the fan switch wire (green one on the passenger side of the block) to anything metal. You can even get creative and ground it via a switch in the cabin if you really feel like routing a wire into it which isnt really a big deal.

Check out the COOLING board for a lot more help too.

 

guess as short can make it only come on with the a/c

but usually turning the a/c on makes the car run warmer

also I wouldn't be shocked if the fan came on at aroudn 210-220 but I'm not sure off the top of my head


might want to try the

lots of info there that I know I have seen in the past



it works wonders

 

Info from a search......

"The engine was based on a 195 average operating temp. With electric fans GM allowed the temp to go to about 222-225 degrees before turning on the primary fan. The secondary fan kicks on at 238 degrees. On a properly operating TG the primary fan should keep the temp on average around 210-215."

 

Not to get off topic, but what part is that? I'm ignorant and I want one (just being honest, lol).

 

ok thanks guys

yeah I'd like to know what part it is too ... since .. the temp was crawling towards 240

what's the max temp the engine should be running at ?

See without me turning the AC on.. it won't cool down but just keeps climbing up to 240

 

Try here:
http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...h.asp&x=52&y=9

 

is this when idling or when driving around at something more then stop and go?


if your driving your care shouldn't be getting that hot unless you do a lot of stop and go


does the fan turn on right as you turn the a/c on?

what about when the car isn't warmed up and you turn the a/c on does the fan come on then? or what if you start the car when it is cold turn the a/c on and leave it on at around what temp does the fan come on then?

 

With the '91 TBI car the fan is temperature controlled by the switch located in the passenger side head between cylinders 6 & 8. The wire is exposed to a lot of heat from the exhaust which makes the wire and connector brittle and breakage-prone. Check it to make sure it is OK. To test the relay and associated wiring pull the connector off the switch and ground it to the engine (the wire). This will force the fan to turn on.

To lower the turn on temperature to about 205 F, use a fan switch from an '87 GN (Turbo Buick). It is a direct replacement with the lower on/off temperatures. Part may be 3053190, not sure if it is still a valid number. The 205 turn on is a good choice when used with the stock 195 thermostat.

RBob.

 

That's the part I used. I got the # from the HO 350 Camaro Conversion parts list, your info explains why I found one at a local Pontiac dealer, not Chevy.

 

Also - one probably stupid question, sorry - do you still have the black rubber front air dams on the car? If not, that can easily be part of your overheating problem as well.

I know, they scrape the ground, speed bupms, etc., but they are still required for the cooling system on our cars.....

 

This works well, too.

Part number 609-106: http://www.madvet.com/shop?frame=1.138.944

 

Are they hard to install? ... for someone with only screwdrivers and a box cutter in her toolbox as of now and little mechanical ability? Worst comes to worst, if it's really easy but I need more tools, I can get loaners from Kragen and do it in their lot...

 

Just the switch, no harness right?

 

I still have the airdam "fins" (as I like to call them), I dropped the idea of replacing them with a meshgrill when I noticed what way they're directed *lol* .. at the radiator


Through downtown yeah.... 230-240 .... as soon as it crawls up to 240 I turn the AC on


However I don't have the AC running when the engine's cold.. I let it warm up a bit whiel driving.. and see how it goes



OK hmmm should I replace the thermostat... to a 180 degree ? Living in San Diego.. .can get hot some days... and lots of traffic..


Also.. waterpump is working.. but it has seen better days.. so. .for the future... should I get a stock one.. or.. one that flows 20 percent more ? (heard both sides before when working on other cars.. so wondered what's like with the 305 TBI)



WHAT is .. the normal .. temp for the 305 TBI anyway ? ... 3/4 of the way ?? which would make it ... 230-240 degrees

or is it.. around 210-215


ie... how low or high can one go... temp wise.. safely ?

 

Yep, it is a direct swap for the stock one. You'll probably have to jack the car up to see it and get to it. Just keep a bucket ready for all the coolant that spills out.

I have step-by-step instructions, if needed, just let me know.


Vorgath, just stick with a factory or factory replacement water pump. There really isn't any need for a higher flow one on a stock car. GM seemed to want the 305 TBIs to run normally at around 230*-240*. Too hot in my opinion. I personally run a 180* thermostat and a 200* fan switch all year round, and it's working quite well for me.

But, about your last question, I'd say keeping the car under 160* is too low of a temp. and over 250* is too high of a temp. to constantly run an engine. Keeping the car under 160* will mess with closed loop operation and 250* is practically boiling over.

 

Alright, thanks

So basically like most other engines, I'm used to keeping engiens running at 190 or lower (I've heard some CAN run at 170 but it's already running looooow so 180 is better) ... so... ok.. 180 thermostat and 200 fan switch will be something I'll get

thanks guys

 

Ugh

fan switch options

 

waow.. thanks

gotta read that one tomorrow when I'm less tired *l*

 

i think you are talking about the grill insert between the parking lights. they were refering to the air dam underneath the car, below the radiator.

 

I got it all hmmmm (except for the bodykit part on passenger side door that matches up to the sideskirt *LOL*)