runnin a little hot

[OnixV6]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Colin:
F.Y.I. the 160* thermos don't work with the 3.1L V6 unless you have a chip upgrade. 180's will, but the 160's will give you all kinds of problems and errors due to the fact that the computer gets all kinds of messed up data and won't let it open at 160. Just some food for thought.

P.S.--if you're really runnin' hot after a thermo change, try a fan switch.

[ April 18, 2003: Message edited by: Colin ]<hr></blockquote>

the t-stat is not computer-controlled. you won't see any wires hooked up to it.

[3.4 slow to go]

unless it's just for MAF engines, the ecm will get a reading on engine coolant temp & make corrections based on it.

[OnixV6]

MAF doesn't matter. the t-stat will still open and close independent of the ECM.

[Colin]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>MAF doesn't matter. the t-stat will still open and close independent of the ECM. <hr></blockquote>

If this is true, why does nearly every repair manual say "do not drive a car without a thermostat becuase the 'computer' will stay in open loop. . ." Now, being a college senior with a semester left in getting a Bachelor's in Computer Science, I can tell you that when a "computer" stays in open loop, it continuously reads the same data over and over again (i.e. temp), and never makes any adjustments, as 3.4 said. So, the thermostat MAY NOT "open and close" directly by computer, but the computer does monitor and/or control the thermostat's status and engine temperature.

[ April 26, 2003: Message edited by: Colin ]</p>

[OnixV6]

the ECM reads the temp off the coolant sensor, not through the t-stat. being a computer programmer for over 10 years, i think know what a computer can be programmed to do. :rolleyes:

computer does NOT monitor and/or control the thermostat's status.

[3.4 slow to go]

wasn't talking a bout a computer controlled t-stat, just want to make sure you don't overcool the engine, & have the ecm read that the engine hasn't warmed up yet & have car run in open loop all the time. will kill emissions.

[91CamaroRS]

Im not sure but I think I may have solved the problem... Over a friends house I tested the mixture of coolant:water. Turns out the mixture was off and I was slowly evaporating water out of the system until it got bad enough for me to notice. Added the right mixture and got things running, no problems. Boiling points over 260 so as long as I stay outta the red, the car'll be fine.

Still gotta check to see if the fans working though.. dont want that to shut down sitting in traffic on a hot summer florida day :(