Our 3.1 Rally Sport runs 220-240 in traffic, red line on the factory gauge is I think 260. On the highway it's 210 or so, and this is in cool weather. The car is moving to Savannah from northern VA and it gets in the high 90's here in the summer. It seems to me it's going to go into overheat once it gets summer not to mention when the necessary AC is used.
The fan kicks on and off, not sure what temp.
1- what is the normal operating temparature?
2- is there a lower temp fan switch or thermostat reccomended?

Eric

 

i put a homemade cold air intake made out of like 5 dollars worth of dryer duct from home depot, that seemed to dropped my running temperature quite a bit. you might try flushing the radiotor too.
-pat

 

If you still have the stock temp thermostat in your car, I recomend dropping it to at least a 180 degree one. I live in tucson and my car made it thru our 110+ degree weather with the 180 degree thermo. Now my car runs around 180-210 most of the time! If that still doesn't work out for you there is a wiring diagram that can allow you to hook your cooling fan up to a toggle switch. I have yet to do this but I will do it soon! Also, you could just get the fan running the whole time and your car should run cool as ICE! I don't remember who has that wiring diagram for the toggle switch but it is really easy to do and it will probably be posted pretty soon. Good luck!

 

Well I have no idea what's in there now so replacement would be a good idea. I know it's hot out there, my brother lives there too. Not a gearhead however! But if you know anyone needing a bankruptcy lawyer, I can give you his number!

 

I threw a toggle switch on mine to control traffic temps. It's pretty easy & cheap. Find the fan relay, run a wire though the firewall, hook up the switch, connect to ground. It kind of "ghetto" but, hey, it works.

 

There's a really good tech article about using a custom fan switch and thermostat. It ways all the pros and cons. Also it recomends a setup up that will give both cooler runing in the sumer with out giving up your heater in the summer. All with out having to swap stats for winter and summer. here's the link

https://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/tech/cool.shtml

 

i have never changed or looked at the thermostat in my car, but i am assuming it is the stock 190 since the rest of the car was stock when i bought it. but i never get about 220 in traffic and run consistently at 180 on the highway