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I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I, as a test subject, fully confirm the following on all 2002 Fbodies when a 160degF stat is used.
(((THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO 2001 AND PRIOR MODELS)))
1 - After several hundred miles the temperature gauge will die
2 - The fans will turn on high when the temp gauge fails
3 - The only fix is th reset the PCM using a Tech2
It just so happens mine failed more than once crossing the great nation - because of the 160 stat. Our cars cannot sense whether the thermostat is working properly or not, but in the 02's they set the lowest coolant temp limit higher and now a 160stat is "too cold" for the computers' settings. In order to remedy this issue I am now running a 180°F stat, whee go GM.
Now before all you "But 160degrees IS too cold" people go an rant me out, I will follow that while crossing the desert at 87mph in 110degF heat with a 163degF watertemp I got right about 37mpg!!! When the a$$hole at the dealer I took it to about the condition (since my 2000 Firebird didnt do this) replaced my stat with a 195 and handed me back my 160 I immediately dropped to 27mpg doing the same speed - ARGH! The 180deg stat I installed the next morning brought me back to around 32... farg.
In conclusion I say we need a fix for this - does hypertech make a programmer for the 02? I sure hope its out because I'm tired of running this 180.
(((THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO 2001 AND PRIOR MODELS)))
1 - After several hundred miles the temperature gauge will die
2 - The fans will turn on high when the temp gauge fails
3 - The only fix is th reset the PCM using a Tech2
It just so happens mine failed more than once crossing the great nation - because of the 160 stat. Our cars cannot sense whether the thermostat is working properly or not, but in the 02's they set the lowest coolant temp limit higher and now a 160stat is "too cold" for the computers' settings. In order to remedy this issue I am now running a 180°F stat, whee go GM.
Now before all you "But 160degrees IS too cold" people go an rant me out, I will follow that while crossing the desert at 87mph in 110degF heat with a 163degF watertemp I got right about 37mpg!!! When the a$$hole at the dealer I took it to about the condition (since my 2000 Firebird didnt do this) replaced my stat with a 195 and handed me back my 160 I immediately dropped to 27mpg doing the same speed - ARGH! The 180deg stat I installed the next morning brought me back to around 32... farg.
In conclusion I say we need a fix for this - does hypertech make a programmer for the 02? I sure hope its out because I'm tired of running this 180.
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