It's just the thermostat right?

the bad weather beater has developed an over heating issue.

Only below 65 mph.

I can set the cruise at freeway speeds for 80 miles and she'll sit right at 205 degrees.

As soon as I Get to stop-n-go surface streets, the temperature rises fairly rapidly. I creeped along in a traffic jam today for 20 minutes and it just barely touched the red while running the heat full blast.

Please tell me it's only the $8 thermostat

I'd be thinking fan/airflow. When you're on the freeway, you have airflow. When you're stopped, none.

The last time I had a thermostat go bad, it overheated regardless of what I was doing. Are you sure it's not a fan issue?

Maybe I'll have to rig up a mirror kit to see the fans...

either fan or believe it or not headgasket....

low on coolant?

I vote fan too. Engine driven, the clutch is gone. Electric, anyone's guess, could be the motor, relay, thermal switch, or any piece of wire connecting them.

Good luck.

I would think fan also, more air = better cooling. I would try a radiator flush, depending on the age/condition of the vehicle. If it's like my stuff and not new, it may have sludge, rust flakes and mineral deposits blocking off some of the fins.

Dan

Rig up a simple manual switch setup to one of the existing fans.

I'm thinking wax switch for the fan. Try turning on the A/C with lowest inside fan setting that normaly turns on the rad fan. If you can see the A/C compressor pull the wire going to the clutch coil. This will run rad fan but not realy run the a/c.

44

I had the same thing happen to my '91 Jetta. Took the radiator out and had it gone through by the local radiator shop. Turns out, the passages for the air to move through were pretty clogged up.

clogged r5adiator is my first guess.

Grtechguy wrote: Maybe I'll have to rig up a mirror kit to see the fans...

Why not just warm it up in the driveway and see if the fan kicks on(???) Or throw 12v at it assuming it's electric?

As every one said, Fan But the fan normally will only come on in city driving. Air flow/coolant flow are something to look at. Any speed over 35 mph is usually sufficient to cool without the fans running.

Make sure you don't have a mat of junk between the rad and condenser. Its strange how much stuff stops there.

I agree its either an air flow or coolant flow problem.

poopshovel wrote:

Grtechguy wrote: Maybe I'll have to rig up a mirror kit to see the fans...

Why not just warm it up in the driveway and see if the fan kicks on(???) Or throw 12v at it assuming it's electric?

I can't see the fans from above, this is shoe-horned in to say the least

+1 for fan or clogged radiator. If it's the thermostat you should get pretty much the same behavior regardless of speed.

I will say this.. I had a similar problem with a fiat. The thermostat got stuck half way open (or closed) and at low engine speeds.. could not allow enough coolant to pass.

have you tried this? Leave it in a lower gear and kick the revs up at a slower speed?

racinginc215 wrote: Well seeing that I'll chime in Waterpump. Impeller is being eaten away. I'd pull the engine swap the waterpump and then put it into a Fiero.

Only reasonable response so far.

I'd guess fan too. At least first thing to check. When you're driving in town and it starts to get hot, pull into a parking lot and check it. If you really can't see it at all, you certainly should be able to hear the fan. Or shine a flashlight through the grill. I'd think you could see the blades spinning though the radiator. Maybe have to shine the flashlight on the engine behind the fan.

most fans keep running even after the engine is shut down

you should be able to hear the fan if/when it kicks on... but i'd pull out the mirror on a stick and check...

if the fan is go i'd replace the thermostat and flush the cooling system... just for good measure i'd prob do them anyway...

as mentioned... could be a clogged up radiator (inside or out)... when you move it gets enough heat transfer to stay cool but not so much when stop/go hits.

My Venture van will get hot driving slower in the city. The fans never kick on.

However, when I run the A/C the fans are on all the time and we never over heat.

Also check for blocked radiator. The outside cooling fins can be all silted up or clogged with leaves, dead bugs, or pedestrians. Backflush with hose from inside engine compartment to outside.

Well, it's going to be till Monday before I get a chance to even take a look at the car. But, a few good suggestions. Just hoping it's something simple.

Any one want a 96 Aurora? 134K on the clock?

Grtechguy wrote: Well, it's going to be till Monday before I get a chance to even take a look at the car. But, a few good suggestions. Just hoping it's something simple. Any one want a 96 Aurora? 134K on the clock?

Yes, yes I do.