Here's the deal,

I have always watched my gagues religiously in the 3 years I have owned my car, and lately it seems to not be overheating, but running VERY warm. The gague never got over 220 before the fan would turn on, now its slipping to about 230 before it turns on. Also, if I shut the car off with the gague reading 220 or so, I can hear a gurgling under the hood, from coolant being sucked into (or out of???) the overflow. The only other time I ever heard this was when my buddy's '83 Z was overheating hardcore.

The radiator looks like brand new (it is the original), but the coolant is almost 3 years old. Should I try just changing the water pump and coolant? Should I look for something else? This car will be making a 1,000 mile road trip in another month, and I don't want to take any chances.

Thanks to anyone who can help...

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Jason E

'89 Camaro RS
Medium Grey Metallic
2.8, A4, T-tops, 91k miles

'97 Z28 w/30th Anniversary package
LT1, M6, t-tops
White with orange stripes, killer system, 42k miles

Speed Kills...Wanna live forever? Drive a Ford.
Long Live #3...

 

Also, it appears the car is running warmer all the time, and it seems like the engine fan is turning on a lot more than it used to. Also, when running at night on the open road after being at a stop light, it seems to take a lot longer to cool back down to 195 (where it should be).

Help!

 

Try changing the coolant first. If thats not it, try flushing out your radiator. Mines doing the same thing now that its hot, and mine needs to be flushed as well.

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1989 Firebird
2.8 v6, t5 swapped in

Ram Hi-po clutch, Cold Air, 1.6 rockers,Lakewood LCA's, Lakewood Lift bars, Wonder Bar, 3" y-pipe, Random Tech Cat, 3" I-pipe, Flowmasters, MSd 6a, MSD Coil (Fireball in future) Accel 8.8 wires, MSD Ignition Module, Auto Meter Gauges (Water, Clock (needed one) Fuel Pressure, and 5" monster tach)TB Bypass, 4th Gen Seats

Coming for my v6:
Panhard Bar, 4thgen front seats, Nitrous, Line Lock, and Ram Air 2 hood

"I'd rather run last in a full out race, than to not have run at all"

 

I would suggest a power coolant flush...you will be amazed at what comes out even though you think the coolant is good and clean...I have done a power flush to a car tha had 40k on it. A literal pound of black and brown sludge was removed.

 

I always do the coolant flush with mine too. Like I said, I did it 3 years ago, so no doubt it is due.

But, if I'm draining the coolant anyways, how much more work and money is it to replace the water pump too? Because if it is the water pump, then I have to drain and refill the coolant anyways...

Thanks for the help so far.

 

its not too bad..i did it in 2 hours. U need to remove the power steering bracket and assembly to get to 2 of the bolts

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1989 Firebird
2.8 v6, t5 swapped in

Ram Hi-po clutch, Cold Air, 1.6 rockers,Lakewood LCA's, Lakewood Lift bars, Wonder Bar, 3" y-pipe, Random Tech Cat, 3" I-pipe, Flowmasters, MSd 6a, MSD Coil (Fireball in future) Accel 8.8 wires, MSD Ignition Module, Auto Meter Gauges (Water, Clock (needed one) Fuel Pressure, and 5" monster tach)TB Bypass, 4th Gen Seats

Coming for my v6:
Panhard Bar, 4thgen front seats, Nitrous, Line Lock, and Ram Air 2 hood

"I'd rather run last in a full out race, than to not have run at all"

 

I have to change my water pump also, is it that easy to replace the water pump?Graeme'sFirebird

 

yea..its not too bad. U need some torx bits or allen wrenches, a power steering pulley puller, a hammer and some wrenches. Drain the coolant, then take off the heater hose running to the water pump. Next, take the pulley puller and take off the power steering pulley. Now take off the power steering pump and assembly so you can get to the last 2-3 bolts. Just unbolt all the bolts and then carefully take off the water pump. I scraped the area surrounding my water pump to make sure i got a good seal. then just put everything back in.

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1989 Firebird
2.8 v6, t5 swapped in

Ram Hi-po clutch, Cold Air, 1.6 rockers,Lakewood LCA's, Lakewood Lift bars, Wonder Bar, 3" y-pipe, Random Tech Cat, 3" I-pipe, Flowmasters, MSd 6a, MSD Coil (Fireball in future) Accel 8.8 wires, MSD Ignition Module, Auto Meter Gauges (Water, Clock (needed one) Fuel Pressure, and 5" monster tach)TB Bypass, 4th Gen Seats

Coming for my v6:
Panhard Bar, 4thgen front seats, Nitrous, Line Lock, and Ram Air 2 hood

"I'd rather run last in a full out race, than to not have run at all"

 

i didn't have to remove the power steering pulley to remove the water pump. i just took it off its bracket and i pushed the p/s pump to the side. took me awhile, but i did it.

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Stock 2.8 MPFI auto w/ Flowmaster ?? Series (dunno what my dad put in), More to come......
New Pioneer Head Unit
Targa E-910 7-Band Equalizer w/ crossover
2x 10" Pioneer subs powered by 300 Watt Jensen amp
2- 6x9" Pioneer (rear)
More to come..... (hey, i dont got a job yet)

 

I'd say the pump's fine... might be something else. How's the air dam? Is there any crap between the radiator and a/c condensor? Does the car get this hot when you're driving, or when you're stopped? My car likes 190 or so when I'm driving; stop me for a light or in a parking spot, and that temp goes up fast.


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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!

 

Really? I had to remove the pulled to get to one bolt holding the pump bracket on...

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1989 Firebird
2.8 v6, t5 swapped in

Ram Hi-po clutch, Cold Air, 1.6 rockers,Lakewood LCA's, Lakewood Lift bars, Wonder Bar, 3" y-pipe, Random Tech Cat, 3" I-pipe, Flowmasters, MSd 6a, MSD Coil (Fireball in future) Accel 8.8 wires, MSD Ignition Module, Auto Meter Gauges (Water, Clock (needed one) Fuel Pressure, and 5" monster tach)TB Bypass, 4th Gen Seats

Coming for my v6:
Panhard Bar, 4thgen front seats, Nitrous, Line Lock, and Ram Air 2 hood

"I'd rather run last in a full out race, than to not have run at all"

 

yea, at first i thought i'd need a pulley puller but then my dad saw that you could move it aside. i think there were like at least 4 bolts to loosen, either in front of the p/s pump and in back, and i think i loosened the a/c compressor bolt, but i'm not totally sure.

 

Tom, the airdam is fine, it stays around 190 just like yours, and now goes up to 230 on a regular basis in traffic. In case some of you didn't see my other post, I have tried to MAKE it do the gurgling overflow tank thing again, and I have not been able to. A tech at work says its fine...who the hell knows

 

Yeah, I did see it... maybe your car felt lonely and needed some attention from you

Yeah, here's a fun fact for an '82-'86 / '87-up difference... 87-up's have an extra boss on the water pump to take a screw from the power steering pump... imagine our surprise when putting the '86 2.8 into the '89 camaro!


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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!