Overheating problem.

[Xist]

Originally Posted by johnlvs2run

How did you wire them together, and why do you feel the fan control circuit had an issue?

I don't use a/c, but could use the fan on long hills. I'm thinking to take the a/c out and see if the extra space helps the engine keep cool.

I have read that cutting coroplast to direct air into the radiator and AC condenser increases their efficiency.

[j12piprius]

Originally Posted by Xist

I have read that cutting coroplast to direct air into the radiator and AC condenser increases their efficiency.

There is quite a bit of sideways space between the radiator and the grill. However I'd have to take the radiator out or the grill off to get access. I wonder how much that would help.

[XYZ]

Originally Posted by johnlvs2run

How did you wire them together, and why do you feel the fan control circuit had an issue?

I simply wired the fans in parallel using wiring taps, and it solved the problem. It seemed that by the time the radiator fan came on it was too little, too late. My "cure" was obviously not the correct solution for the problem, but it worked. Everything else checked out in the cooling system, so it wasn't a mechanical or hydro problem. The temps only went too high when under severe load or in very hot weather. The only thing I didn't diagnose fully was the fan circuit and the sensor controlling it.

I don't use a/c, but could use the fan on long hills. I'm thinking to take the a/c out and see if the extra space helps the engine keep cool.

No - "extra space" won't cure anything, but activating and running both fans on a radiator cools things down faster than one fan can.

I kept the A/C, and that still worked, too. There were days when the A/C was needed, to defog the windshield and occasionally to keep me cool in summer. As long as the A/C is still working, why tear it out?

[j12piprius]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll look to see what wiring taps are just in case.

I've never used a/c, even when it's over 100 degrees out, but it's not extremely humid here. I pulled the fuse on the a/c fan because it kept coming on at 185 degrees. The regular fan comes on at 206.

[Baltothewolf]

Well I just replaced the radiator. It was so annoying to do it uhg. Anyway I'll be testing it later on and I'll let you guys know

I took it for a spin and the temps still stay dead at 203F. I believe this is normal operating temperature.

[Baltothewolf]

Nope. Didn't fix it. Still overheating. Sigh... I'm completely lost at this point. I don't have the money to replace the head gasket, or the water pump and those are the last 2 things it could be.

[user removed]

Make sure you bleed it a few times before assuming it's anything else. Run the heater to get any air pocket out of the heater core. The radiator shop test was pretty conclusive.
They can also test the coolant for the presence of combustion gases which would indicate a head gasket problem.

regards
mech

[XYZ]

Originally Posted by Baltothewolf

Nope. Didn't fix it. Still overheating. Sigh... I'm completely lost at this point. I don't have the money to replace the head gasket, or the water pump and those are the last 2 things it could be.

Sorry to hear that you wasted your $$$ prematurely in buying a new radiator.

Did you read and comprehend what I mentioned in previous posts about fan circuits and sensors?

I can't guarantee with certainty that your problem is identical to what mine was, but I did propose the possible cause and a viable solution, based on my similar experience. I never did get to the root of the cooling problem on that car - but I did find a way to prevent it from causing further problems of overheating.

Read it. Think it. Say it. Do it.

[Baltothewolf]

Oh the radiator was definitely part of the problem, I had my little bro cover up the upper radiator hose thingy and I put a hose in the top so water had to go out the bottom hose (this was with the radiator out) and water flow was really low when comparing it to the new one.

The fans come on at 206 I already tested it multiple times.

I have a ton of coolant laying around so I'm gonna bleed again here in a little bit. If that doesn't work I'm gonna pull the water pump off and inspect it.

[Baltothewolf]

So I just took the car out for some A-B-A testing.

Run#1: heater on full but not blowing: 224F.
Run#2: Heater on full blast vent pulling in outside air: 213F.
Run#3: AC on full blast, but set to maximum heat: 208F.

Why... I don't understand these results help.