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Update on overheating prob w/ my '90.


TheBlackMoon

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For those who care, the overheating prob is back. Not as bad as when I had all of the work done and replaced all of the relays, but now and again, after I put my foot in her and then have to wait at a light, she'll start creeping. <P>Took her to a shop for a computer diagnostic (my mech doesn't have equipment that advanced), but they tried to do a conventional assessment, suggesting that my regular mech may not have been knowlegeable enough to handle the problem. Forget the fact that they had never heard of or seen a Reatta before I brought mine in.<P>Needless to say, she played with them! Wouldn't over heat while sitting in idle, kept the fan at low speed and basically acted like a very good little girl. Asked me to bring her in on Monday and leave her for a few days. I've agreed, but warned them again that this car is <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">POSSESSED! </span></span> shocked.gif" border="0 <BR>They'll find out the hard way, as they are not charging me to assess the prob, only to fix it. Maybe Tuesday or so, I'll tell them "I told you so!" and ask them to do the diagnostic as I originally requested! Some people just never listen!

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Here's just a shot in the dark, but maybe it will help you. Neither of my Reattas have ever had an overheating problem, but my first Corvette overheated all the time, especially at a stoplight with the AC running. It shot up to 250F. I took it in to my mechanic and they ran it through diagnostics, replaced the thermostat, flushed the coolant, etc. but the problem kept occuring. One day I met another Corvette guy in a parking lot and told him about my overheating problem and he immediately said "the radiator's plugged. You have to pull it and clean it." Thinking he was full of hooey, the next weekend I nevertheless pulled out my service manual and removed the radiator. Half the dirt from the free world was lodged between the cooling fins, and the housing itself was crammed with leaves and other garbage. I carefully blasted the fins clean with a garden hose, reinstalled, added coolant, and what do you know my coolant temp never again went above 215F, even on the hottest days with the AC on full blast.<P>Since Reattas are bottom-breathers like Corvettes, I highly suspect that a lot of phantom cooling problems could be related to the clogged radiator phenomenon. <P>Just a suggestion.

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Ha,ha,ha,ha!!!!! LMAO!!! grin.gif" border="0 <BR>I've been thinking a trip to visit CanadianGirl is probably in my future, personnally. smile.gif" border="0 I'm intent on pulling that d*mned radiator this weekend and back-hosing the fins, Bill. Depends heavily on the weather, as it's trying to get cold down here now. That'll make it a nasty job to get her to overheat so I can find the prob. I've already been in touch with Brenda about it and this weekend is basically "Hell-Week" for troubleshooting. Thanks. Any more suggestions will well be appreciated, but please be aware, I've explored every conceivable "traditional" remedy for this prob already; even replacing the fluid with one of those chemical treatments that are supposed to reduce op temps by 40degs. Nothing has worked so far.<P>But <B>I AM DETERMINED AND WILL PREVAIL!!!!</B> wink.gif" border="0

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Tough one!! Bummer:-((<P>Am I correct in recalling that Brenda's recommendation to replace the relay fixed (at least temporarily) the problem? And do I recall that you have installed a larger capacity fan?<P>If yes ... then the new fan might be drawing more current than the relay is designed to carry. The relay will work for awhile and get hot, Over several cycles the points will burn and pit, resistance will increase, current will drop, fan will run slower and car will over heat.<P>You also might have a weak oxidized connection someplace that is heating up and causing a similar cycling and increase in resistance. I would at least inspect the relay for any signs of everheating. Use a chemical contact cleaner to remove oxidation from the relay base receptacle.<P>Is there a chance that the hoses are collapsing and reducing coolant flow?<P>Are all the blades on the water pump?<P>Snow was forecast today but didn't materialize. Give me a couple of weeks or so and will send a few cubic yards to aid in cooling. UPS OK?<P>Robert

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Guest wally888

Until a short time ago I could not relate to nor visualize Tom J.'s heat problem as I saw only numbers on my 89. It would easily go to 208, even 213 before the fan quickly reduced temp to 203 or less.<BR> Now that I am driving the 91:<BR> It wants to run at noon but is often at one (one click clockwise) however will rise to two even three on occasion but quickly recovers. Think all is normal.

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One of the things people tend to forget is that factory instrumentation is notoriously inaccurate. One of the first things GM recommends is to check with a calibrated gauge. Not just talking about the coolant either - oil and voltage is just as bad.<P>For example the CRT always shows voltage in the 13.4-13.6vdc range when the engine is running. Have measured 14.4vdc at the battery where it really counts.<P>Maybe the speedometer has ingrained a certain amount of FUD. Personally had too many Jaguars in my yout to be able to ignore the oil pressure.<P>Basically the gauges boil down to this: is it between "enough" and "too much". If so then OK. Is it changing the wrong way ? If not, no worries.<P>Am still going to change the calibration of the cooling fans and raise the idle speed a bit when the a/c is on but that is just fiddling.

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