Radiator Fixed, car running pretty hot still??

Whelan · 03-26-2003, 10:38 PM

OK so I got the new radiator in, thermostat, and cylinder head temp sensor. All is good and running fine, but my temp gage is showing very hot?

I am considering that when I was putting the sensors in I mistook the temperature sensor below the radiator hose for the cylinder head sensor and ended up ****ing it up somehow. Both are in correctly now but I guess tomorrow I will go replace the cylinder temp sensor again and the gage sensor as well.

Could one bad sensor such as the gage one make the car do this? Also the fan doesnt kick on like it should, so I am guessing it is one of these two?

Whelan · 03-26-2003, 11:21 PM

Update:

Well the fluid in the resevior was pretty hot as well after a short drive. The car once the work was done stayed below 1/2 for awhile, but the fan never kicked on and it continued to over 3/4. Now, the fan will kick on if I hit the A/C switch so the fan is fine.

I am sure the radiator is flowing fine because all the hoses have fluid in them and its circulating. The only thing I can think of is the cylinder temp sensor again and the temp gage sensor. Any other thoughts?

adam92sl · 03-26-2003, 11:32 PM

I feel for you man. Much learned here on that end.
Do a search on this forum for my posts. Someone posted the colors of the connections. One is brown and one is gray. When mine was screwed up, the 2-wire main CTS, it idled like crap for the first couple of minutes. (The dealership gave me the wrong one.) Also, the main 2-wire CTS (under the radiator hose) will have a resistance reading. So if you have an ohmeter.....

Whelan · 03-26-2003, 11:50 PM

I dont think its an electrical problem.

When I had the cylinder head sensor I tried to put it where the temp gage sensor goes, it went in, but the plug wouldnt fit on the prongs so I kinda forced it a bit. I think I damaged a pron doing it and then realized I had the wrong one so I put the temp gage sensor back and put the cylinder sensor where it goes just next to it. I think the sensor got damaged somehow and might as well replaced the temp gage one too. We shall see.

miamisl2 · 03-27-2003, 04:42 AM

you probably screewed up the connector but it might not be too bad, i bought a cts and after putting it in, i noticed the progs were different and i put the old one back in, i think they mightve gave me the other one, ill see tomorrow...

whisper · 03-27-2003, 04:53 AM

91 to like 96 the normal fan on is at 226 F on the tem gauge that is sight past 3/4....per design... dont ask me why?!?! the best way to check a ect is to use a scan tool to watch the pcm's temp and a thermometer in the resivor ... (carefull it will start to boil over close to fan on)...you want to see less than a 12 degree temp diff between resivor to pcm temp...

amazinghl · 03-28-2003, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whelan

Update:

Well the fluid in the resevior was pretty hot as well after a short drive. The car once the work was done stayed below 1/2 for awhile, but the fan never kicked on and it continued to over 3/4. Now, the fan will kick on if I hit the A/C switch so the fan is fine.

I am sure the radiator is flowing fine because all the hoses have fluid in them and its circulating. The only thing I can think of is the cylinder temp sensor again and the temp gage sensor. Any other thoughts?

From what you're describing, the temperature is NORMAL. Unless your car GOES into the RED zone, you're FINE.

Joeybagodonuts · 03-28-2003, 02:21 PM

3/4 is NOT normal, thats why saturn recalibrated allot of the early cars guages and updated them.
all saturns should run between 1/4 and 1/2 MAX. of course if the guage is off and your at 170 you can have saturn recalibrate it (maybe tommy knows how) but when we do a new head temp sensor we NEVER send a car out running at 3/4 NEVER.

amazinghl · 03-30-2003, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whelan

Update:

Well the fluid in the resevior was pretty hot as well after a short drive. The car once the work was done stayed below 1/2 for awhile, but the fan never kicked on and it continued to over 3/4. Now, the fan will kick on if I hit the A/C switch so the fan is fine.

Joey, I think you misunderstood him.

If you're crusing around on a highway and you get 3/4, that's NOT noraml

BUT if you leave your car idel and stationary, it WILL get HOT. My fan doesn't kick it until the needle ALMOST touch the redline.

From what he's describing, it is NORMAL.

Joeybagodonuts · 03-30-2003, 07:21 PM

no, its not, thats why saturn recalinrated some of the gauges, cause they SHOULDNT be touching or near the redline. a good running saturn should be at 1/4 gauge, 1/2 max, going to 3/4 on an aluminum engine will lead to early demise, i have a 93 sl2 MINT in the shop right now, car had 53k on it, perfect, well the woman constantly drove it up around 3/4 thinking it was "normal" well let me tell you, thats the only saturn ive ever seen run with
60 psi compression in one cyl, 50 in another and 00 dude! no ****, two cyls completely dead, and less then 120 between the other TWO LOL. anyway losing a head gasket to the average consumer is big money, id wire my fan to come on with the key before id let any car i own run up at the top range of its gauge.