I've heard on computer errors due to 160 thermos...Do they really throw codes and cause the car to run crappier? I'd like to switch from stock 195 to 160 because my cooling fans dont work right now and I'm afraid I might overheat in traffic or something.Is 160 or 180 my best bet?

 

I'd be worried enough not to drive it. Back when I had my Firebird the fan stopped working while I was driving somewhere. I rolled the windows down and turned the heat on full hot and ran the interior fan on high. Temps still got higher than normal, but at least I was able to get home. I wouldn't drive a Firebird without a working fan(s).

I don't think it will cause any codes. Never had a problem with my 180* in the Camaro. You may still have a problem with sitting in traffic even with a lower thermostat. If you sit too long or too often even with the 160* not having any airflow will let temps rise. The lower temp stat just lets the water go to the radiator sooner, doesn't lower the temp the engine will reach when sitting. If your fans were always coming on in traffic before, you'd be better off running a switch to turn the fans on manually.

What's up with your fans? Wiring? sensor? (don't remember what was wrong with mine, been too long ago)

 

A 160 thermostat may cause your cars FI to stay in OPEN LOOP (thats bad). Unless you have an aftermarket chip. Also you will have no heat in the winter time, trust me I know! 180 thermo. is ok, but i would check more into why the fans arent operating properly.

 

GET THE FAN(S) FIXED!!! If you get stuck in traffic you'll be screwed. If the fan motor itself is toast, you can probably use any electric fan from any car in a junkard; just use strips of metal to make an adapter plate. Or you could probably buy an aftermarket electrical fan for $50 or so from summit racing. If the wiring's bad, fix the wiring!! Fast!!

A 160 stat won't help you in traffic; you need airflow over the radiator to stay at 160 (or 180 or 195 or etc). And when you're stuck in traffic with no fan, there's no airflow... and suddenly your head gaskets explode.

I'm in NJ, and used to run a 160 'stat in the summer, and a 195 in the winter. Then one year I got lazy (haha) and left the 160 in for the winter. The car wouldn't go into closed loop on a cold day. Didn't make sense; the GM book says the coolant must reach 77 degrees to go into closed loop- but apparently it never could with the 160 stat in.

I put the 195 'stat in late that winter, and the car went into closed loop ok. But to continue my laziness, I've left that 195 stat in for a few summers already. One of these days (haha, again) I'll get around to putting the 160 back in for the summer months, but go back to 195 for the winter like I used to.

 

when my fan motor broke the motor cost about 40.00 at AZ and took me about an hour to replace and be back on the road.

 

Mine cost $30 & was fixed by side of road.
Manifold coolant temp sensor is the culprit or the fan switch in the head, passenger side rear.
Fix the fan not operating problem.