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Topic: Overheating... wait no... Yeah it is (Read 888 times) previous topic - next topic

Overheating... wait no... Yeah it is

So I drove my car about 20 miles from school to home yesterday with no problems. Temp was right in the middle like always. Well it sat for about 3 hours and I headed to my Grams. About 5 miles in I here a beep and my temp is up.

I pulled over and let it sit for about 15 mins started right up and  was off with the gauge back to normal. I almost  made it there and it was screaming at me again.

Same thing on the way home. Pulled over once sat for about 10. Drove home.

The thing was it would jump from the top down to the middle in a few minutes and then it would go up and stay there.

I did the heater. Was trying to gain speed slowly and get the air flow moving which both helped some.

what was odd was the jumping. I thought the Tstat might be sticking or something. I checked my level too and I look low so I will try that but I wanted to know if it might be the Tstat too
1986 Cougar LS

Overheating... wait no... Yeah it is

Reply #1 –
Don't always believe the factory gauges. I had the same thing happen to me and it was a bad voltage regulator on the instrument cluster that would cause the gauge to spike. Make sure the upper rad hose is getting hot (t-stat) opening properly and check the coolant temp with another gauge if you can.  Does the system build coolant pressure? Upper rad hose should be tight when at operating temp. Check the overflow tank and make sure the Rad cap is holding pressure properly.
1988 Thunderbird
306 HO w/ A9P processor
AOD w/ Transgo Reprogrammer
Full Digital Dash w/ twin Cyberdyne A-pillar gauges 
245/50/16 Tires on Snowflakes
Engine swap - CA smog compliant

Overheating... wait no... Yeah it is

Reply #2 –
Check everything 88BlueBird said but also don't forget the fan clutch. Mine was getting warm last year and it turned out the fan clutch was shot. Changed it and sloved the problem.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.
 

Overheating... wait no... Yeah it is

Reply #3 –
My 88 does this from time to time but its not just the temp gage its the fuel gage, temp gage, and oil PS, all peg out and then just as they all go up they all return to normal??
87 TC
HO Swap, T5 Swap, Mach Springs, CHE Upper and Lower control arms, Mach Chin spoiler, soon to be Procharged.

:evilgrin: Nitrous is like a hot chick with an STD you want to hit it but are scared of the consequences. :evilgrin:

Overheating... wait no... Yeah it is

Reply #4 –
when they all do it its the instument voltage regulator.
[ivr].