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Do you Think I have a cooling problem

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Tifosi1, May 11, 2006.

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  1. Tifosi1

    Tifosi1 Formula 3

    Feb 17, 2002
    1,560
    Pearl River, LA
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    Kelly J. Vince
    #1 Tifosi1, May 11, 2006
    I put in a new Radiator fan switch. 1980 308 with newly rotted out radiator. Problem is, the fans don't come on until the temp gauge is at 230. Hash mark pass the 195f.

    Do you think for some reason the coolant is gaining 30 Degrees in temp just getting to the temp sensor on top of the motor.

    I think I have either a bad temp sensor and or a bad gauge.
    any ideas.

    I plan on puting a stick thermoter on the bottom of the radiator to see what it reads, I' guessing it will read 195 and the fans will come on.

    Kelly
     
  2. 308GTS

    308GTS Formula 3

    Dec 27, 2001
    2,223
    TN
    #2 308GTS, May 11, 2006
    I would either remove the radiator fan switch and put in it hot water with a thermometer and check for continuity with a V meter. Once it opens read the temp and make sure it opens at 195 or before.

    Also, I would replace the sending unit as it is only $17. I would first remove the coolant gauge and clean the contacts and reinstall. See if that helps.
     
  3. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
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    Feb 24, 2006
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    Mike
    #3 miketuason, May 11, 2006
    Yes it sounds like a faulty temp switch. This is what I did to mine , I got a low temp fan switch that kicks in around 175F, since I live in a quite warm area average about 98f I don't have to wait until it reaches 195F for the fan to come on. And on top of that I added an extra togle switch just in case the fan temp sensor become faulty again I can just turn on the fan manualy anytime this is just a back up just in case. I sugest to everyone to this which it does'nt harm anything.

    Mike
     
  4. Doc

    Doc Formula Junior

    Sep 13, 2001
    886
    Latham, New York
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    Bill Van Dyne
    #4 Doc, May 11, 2006
    While it is likely the fan switch, are you sure that you thoroughly bled the system properly when you refilled it? There could be a large air pocket in the system which can cause funny things to happen. When i first changed the coolant in my old '85 308, similar symptoms happened because I didn't do a proper bleed. Once I did, the system took on almost another gallon of coolant--quite an air pocket!
     
  5. Tifosi1

    Tifosi1 Formula 3

    Feb 17, 2002
    1,560
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    Kelly J. Vince
    #5 Tifosi1, May 11, 2006
    Doc, yes the system has had the air taken out. I know the radiator is not the problem becasue on the highway the temp goes way below 195F, but once you get in traffic it goes to 230 and I can see the fans are not on yet, but they soon kick on and it never goes above 235.

    Thanks for eveyrone's advice. I'm going to check it all out this Satruday and let yawl know what i find.

    Kelly
     
  6. Perfusion

    Perfusion F1 Rookie

    Oct 16, 2004
    4,151
    Marietta, GA
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    Aaron
    #6 Perfusion, May 11, 2006
    Is the fan switch the part that cross-references to a VW part and is located at the bottom-right of the front side of the radiator? My fans are hard-wired (temporarily) to just always be on (by the previous owner), and I figure I should go ahead and replace that faulty part so that my car doesn't take so long to come up to temp.

    More details on the manual toggle switch you installed would be great, too. Although it doesn't get *too* hot here in the Bay Area during the summer, all it would take is one bad traffic jam at the wrong time of day to prove that theory wrong...

    Aaron
     
  7. Darolls

    Darolls F1 Veteran
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    Sparky
    #7 Darolls, May 11, 2006
    First, I'd replace the "rotted out" radiator. ;)
     
  8. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
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    #8 miketuason, May 11, 2006
    Yes I believe the fan temp switch is from a VW and its the two prong type not the three prong. T FIAT is the same except FIAT also kicks on at 190f. I also wired the AC condenser fan with the rad. fan to come on at the same time. Its nice to have both fan on for better cooling.
     
  9. Meister

    Meister F1 Veteran
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    Apr 27, 2001
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    The Meister
    #9 Meister, May 12, 2006
    When I updated my fan, I went with an adjustable unit and that has it's own temp sensor. You stick the senser in the upper rad hose and then you can control the temp at which it kicks in...thus eliminating the thermo switch in the bottom of the rad, old fans, old wiring, etc.

    I don't know if this fan unit would fit with the A/C condensor on though, so unless you've removed it like I did it might not be an option.
     
  10. Tifosi1

    Tifosi1 Formula 3

    Feb 17, 2002
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    Kelly J. Vince
    #10 Tifosi1, May 13, 2006
    After much thought I got a stick thermometer and check it calibration in a glass of water. I had gone for a drive and the car was warm hash mark between 195 and 250. I let it cool down and put the thermetor in the cooling tank with the cap hold the thermometer in place. Can warmed up nicely and the dash gauge matched the thermometer exactly until it got above 195. Accord to the thermetor the coolant got up to 205 and that is when the fans in front of the cat kicked in, they brought the coolant down to 200 and kicked off.

    So my friends order and new sending unit and or a new gauge. Also, do I need to take in the intake plenum off to replace the sending unit, or just unscrew the oil filter and try it that way?

    Let me know what yawl think.

    Kelly
     
  11. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
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    #11 miketuason, May 14, 2006
    You know your fan might be turning on at the right temp but turning off too soon or its not staying on long enough, therefor its a bad sending unit.
     

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