Okay we changed out the thermostat and the gasket and the coolant temp sensor and put antifreeze in the car. Its only when its at a stop for just a little bit the car just heats up so badly. I dont know what else is causing the problem other than maybe my fan isnt kicking on???? but when u drive constantly the car stays at its normal temperature. i always have to shut off my car when i get to school because it will get over 220 and 230 and just stay there. and im having an idle issue right now and when it gets that hot anyway it doesnt want to idle worth crap. when i bought the car my friend told me the car didnt start expierencing the idle problem until he had the car serviced for an oil change i believe and thats when the car started surging really bad and wouldnt idle. Im stomped and about to take it to a repair shop. but i wanted to hear everybodies thoughts first. its a 350 TPI stock motor.

 

common problem with these cars but I think I read somewhere that they were meant to run hot like this. Correct me if I am wrong anybody.

 

only thing i didnt do when i changed out the coolant temp sensor was disconnect my negative on my battery and i read someplace you were suppost to do that. is that true? but would the coolant temp sensor be the real problem? i dont seem to think so but i maybe wrong.

 

Did you bleed the cooling system of air after you changed stuff out?

 

No i didnt. I dont know, i mean i know the spark plugs need to be changed. I mean i have un hooked up sensors that dont know where they go, but i think there the nitrous hook up when the car had the nitrous kit on it before.

 

we have all had this kind of problem. one thing to check for, and its really simple, in addition to seeing if the fan goes on, is to look for a plastic bag in front of the radiator. that place sucks up everything on the road and you have to keep it clean. i was running hot and not sure why then i was doing something else and i saw the darn bag. so look around there. sometimes you even pick up leaves and other stuff.
but you may need a new radiator too. if you replace a stock one, spent the extra money and get a really good one, used if you have to, it will pay in the long run.
but before you spend any more money full the thing up with nice green coolant, run it until it gets hot, park where you can see green on the ground, raise the hood and wait as it runs. does the fan go on? do you see green on the manifold? is there a break in the t fitting that routes hot coolant to the heater?
get a wiring diagram and see where thos hookups go.
others will add to the list - it goes with being a 3rd gen owner.